december2022january2023 - 17

THE LEADERSHIP ADVISOR
6 Tips To Help You Develop &
Upskill Your Team
AMY VETTER, CPA.CITP, CGMA
Mindful Technologist &
Keynote Speaker
@AmyVetterCPA
ACCOUNTANTS ARE OFTEN expected to wear many hats, making it difficult for them to
focus on the individual development of their team members. However, it's important to
understand that developing the skills of your staff members will positively impact their
career progression and the overall success of your business.
If you don't allow your team the opportunity
to learn new skills, your team members might
stagnate and become less valuable as employees.
This can lead to high turnover, which is bad news
for your business and can negatively impact client
relationships. The good news is that there are many
ways to level up your team members and help them
develop their skills. Here are six tips for developing
and upskilling your team:
HELP EMPLOYEES
UNDERSTAND THEIR
STRENGTHS AND
WEAKNESSES
It's important to understand what each member of
your team excels at, as well as their weaknesses. Sit
down with each employee individually or as a group
and ask them what they like doing most or what they
would like to see more of in their roles at the firm.
Once you've identified each employee's strengths
and weaknesses, put together a development plan
for each person based on those results. This should
include short-term goals for the next few weeks or
months and long-term goals for the next year plus.
CREATE A CULTURE WHERE
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
IS VALUED AND
PRIORITIZED
Create an environment where staff members know
they have permission to take time off from their
regular duties to pursue personal development
projects. Consider offering training programs,
including those that focus on improving general
soft skills like communication, collaboration, and
leadership - these skills are important for all staff
members regardless of their role or specialty within
the firm.
Have an open-door policy and encourage team
members to discuss their aspirations and career
goals. Make sure everyone knows they are welcome
to discuss any professional matters directly with
you at any time - this will help build trust among
colleagues and promote open communication
within your firm.
ENCOURAGE EMPLOYEES
TO TRY NEW THINGS AND
KEEP LEARNING
Don't pressure employees with goals, but provide a
direction for them to work toward. Ask them about
their interests and hobbies; if there's an opportunity
for cross-training (for example, if they have experience
in marketing), then let them know. Reward
them for completing training courses or certifications
with bonuses or extra time off.
PROVIDE ONGOING
FEEDBACK
Provide guidance when needed, but don't
get involved too much. The best way for someone
to learn something is by doing it themselves. So
let them do it wrong first and then step in, if
necessary, with advice and guidance afterward.
Allowing people to learn from their mistakes will
help them develop confidence too.
Set up regular performance reviews so that
employees can discuss their progress with you
and each other. This helps them identify areas
where they need improvement, allowing them
to receive constructive feedback on their performance
so they can improve on it going forward.
PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES
FOR YOUR TEAM MEMBERS
TO MENTOR OTHERS
In the accounting profession, mentoring has
been proven to be one of the most effective
ways to improve employee performance within
a company. Mentoring your employees is a great
way to help them learn new skills and acquire
valuable experience. The more experienced
members of your team can act as mentors for
junior employees, helping them build their
confidence and develop their knowledge base.
Create opportunities for peer-to-peer learning
through regular meetings or informal chats
where staff members can share best practices,
ask questions and get feedback on ideas they're
exploring. These meetings should be scheduled
at least once every quarter so everyone
stays engaged.
RECOGNIZE EMPLOYEES
FOR THEIR NEW SKILLS
AND ACHIEVEMENTS
Accountants are a diverse group of professionals
who have different reasons for wanting to upskill.
The most common reason is to advance their
careers, but many also have personal goals they're
trying to meet. Being recognized by your employer
as someone committed to learning new skills can be
very motivating. Recognition not only boosts morale
but also encourages employees to continue learning
and growing within your organization.
If a staff member takes on a new role or project
that requires additional expertise, recognize it by
giving them a promotion or bonus. This will encourage
them to continue developing their skills and
might encourage others in the office to do the same.
These six tips should give you plenty to think
about, but they're only the start of your journey.
Developing your team members is a process that
requires dedication, commitment, and organizational
leadership. If you want your team to truly
thrive, your best bet is to develop a unique approach
that suits your business model, vision, and mission.
When the employer invests in training, staff
members will experience growth both as people
and professionals, preparing them to take on new
responsibilities. This growth can benefit the firm's
bottom line and help create a culture of success that
you and your team can be proud of. ■
DECEMBER 2022/JANUARY 2023 ■ www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com
17
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