CPA_Practice_Advisor_March_2020 - 14

THE STAFFING & HR ADVISOR

10 WAYS

to Become a
Better Boss
in 2020

PAUL McDONALD

Senior Executive Director
Robert Half
paul.mcdonald@cpapracticeadvisor.com

DO PEOPLE REALLY leave managers, rather than firms? Research from staffing firm Robert
Half suggests there's some truth to this old saying. Nearly half (49%) of the professionals
polled in a recent survey said they'd quit a job because of a bad boss.

Whether you run a small accountancy firm or serve as a manager for
an international CPA firm, being in
charge is no easy task. So how you
can you make sure "that" manager
isn't you? Here are my top 10 tips:

COMMUNICATE
EFFECTIVELY.

You might be an expert tax professional,
but unless you can get your point across
well, you'll never be a great boss. Setting
clear objectives is a critical leadership
skill. Make sure your team knows
what the company and departmental
goals and priorities are and what each
employee's role is in reaching them.

BE
AVAILABLE.

Whether it's a five-minute daily chat or
a weekly round-up, taking time to check
in with your staff boosts motivation and
morale. Millennials in particular value
regular contact, and it's no coincidence
that professionals aged 18-34 are the
most likely to have resigned due to their
boss. Managing a multigenerational
staff presents a unique challenge - let
them know you're there to help and
that your door is virtually always open.

LISTEN AND
LEARN.

Many managers forget that communication is a two-way street. You may have
years of experience, but your team has

MARCH 2020 ■

unique skills - that's why you hired
them. Rather than dismissing their
thoughts and ideas, be open to fresh
points of view. Successful leaders listen
attentively to others and welcome
different perspectives.

BE
SUPPORTIVE.

Yes, you're the boss and the buck stops
with you, but cracking the whip only
builds resentment. If your staff are
struggling, don't write them off. Find
out what they need to do their jobs
better - perhaps they've been assigned
too many clients or maybe they need a
refresher course in new lease accounting
regulations.

EMPOWER
YOUR TEAM.

A good manager focuses on the "what"
not the "how," allowing their team the
autonomy to come up with their own
solutions for completing a task. Unless
an individual is under-performing, resist
the urge to micromanage. Your aim
should be to build a team of confident
workers who can think for themselves
rather than blindly following orders.

LEAD BY
EXAMPLE.

Your behavior and attitude set the tone
for the rest of your team, so make an
effort to be upbeat and enthusiastic.
Try to do this even when you're feeling

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stressed or overwhelmed to avoid
coming off as erratic. Set achievable
targets so your team can celebrate wins.
When delivering feedback, be specific so
your praise or advice feels constructive
and genuine.

BUILD
PERSONAL
RELATIONSHIPS.

Your staff spend a big part of their life at
work, so help them feel good about being
there. This is the differentiating factor of
truly great leaders. Let employees pick
out their own ergonomic furniture. Surprise them occasionally with morning
bagels or pizzas at lunch time. During
tax season, offer free in-office massages
or concierge services. Brainstorm ways
to be generous and show your appreciation for their hard work.

ENCOURAGE
WORK-LIFE
BALANCE.

Happy workers are productive workers,
so you don't want your team suffering
from burnout. If payroll staff work long
hours when things are busy, why not
let them work flexibly during quieter
periods? Being sensitive to your staff's
need to balance their time between
work and the rest of their lives is a key
driver of workplace happiness and the
sign of a savvy supervisor.

TAKE A
LEADERSHIP
COURSE.

Whether you've always dreamed of

being the boss or ended up there
just as a necessar y career move,
managing people is a complex skill.
Scrutinize your own performance
and identify areas where you could
improve. Whether it's how to write
supportive emails to recognize staff
on achievements or how to deliver
cr it ical feedback one-on-one, a
management training course is a
great way to level up your leadership
skills and help your team run more
efficiently.

BE
HUMAN.

When it comes to being the boss,
honesty, decency and empathy are
critical if you want people to trust and
respect you. Everyone has strengths
and weaknesses and to pretend
otherwise will only make you seem
inauthentic. If you've made a mistake,
for example, admit to it rather than
pushing the blame onto others. Your
team will be gratified to see that
you're human after all.
For some people, leadership
comes naturally; others have to
work hard at it. But never underestimate the effect your role has on
others. As well as taking charge,
you need to be a mentor, coach and
supportive guide. You won't get it
right all the time, but if you make
the effort to listen and learn, you'll
soon fine tune your skills and get
the best out of your team. ■

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