june2022 - 23

FEATURE
money, more growth, more opportunities. But
is that truly what you want? Maybe the answer
is yes, and maybe the answer is no. To create
balance, you need to figure out how much you
truly need to be happy and how you want to
spend your time. Ask yourself:
* How do you want to spend your time?
* How much money do you want to make?
* How many hours do you really want to work?
* What do you want to focus your time on?
Answering these questions will help you
figure out where you want to be and what will
make you happy. From here, you can create a
plan to help you reach your ideals.
our work-life balance goals.
What are your balance obstacles?
* Are you afraid of change?
* Are you chasing growth because that's what
" you're supposed to do " ?
* Are you living your life in accordance with other
people's or society's expectations?
To pinpoint your balance obstacles, you need
to be honest with yourself. Once you understand
what's stopping you from creating balance, you
can take steps to break down those barriers.
2
3
MAKE BALANCE A PART
OF YOUR FIRM'S CULTURE
If
you want to create more
balance in your life, make
balance a part of your firm's
culture. When it becomes a priority
for everyone at your firm, it's much easier
to make it a priority for yourself. After all, it's
your job as a firm owner to set an example
for your staff.
Better work-life balance means a happier,
more productive team. But how do you make
balance a part of your culture? We do a lot of
things at our firm to ensure it's a part of the
culture, a few of which include:
* We strive to keep our team working less than 45
hours a week, 55 during tax season.
PINPOINT YOUR BALANCE
" OBSTACLES "
What's stopping you from
creating more balance in your
life? These balance " obstacles "
are often self-limiting beliefs -
reasons we believe we can't pursue
As a firm owner,
you have the power
to create your ideal life
and your ideal firm.
* We encourage our team to take vacations and use
their personal time off.
* We also make sure that our managers have time
to train staff and that everyone has time to
ask questions.
Find out what work-life balance means to
your team, and work to help create that environment.
This may mean:
* When possible, being flexible with work hours.
This is especially true when it comes to overtime.
Some may be morning people, while others may
be night owls.
* Not forcing them to choose between work and
family. If you have a team member that wants
to pick up their kids from school and log back on
after, encourage them to do so.
* Encourag ing your staff to take breaks
and vacations.
* Ensuring that you're not overloading your team.
For example, when we see some staff members
working over 55 hours a week during busy season,
season and others working fewer hours, that
means it's time for a conversation about workload
and how to adjust it.
Knowing what your team values can help
you make balance an integral part of your
workplace culture.
4
SHIFT YOUR
PERSPECTIVE
Many firm owners might feel
guilty about prioritizing their
work-life balance. Taking a
break or shifting their priorities
can feel selfish or even irresponsible.
How often have you felt guilty about
enjoying downtime, believing that you should
have been doing something more productive?
Shift your perspective and start thinking
differently about living a balanced life. Consider
it an investment in your health, happiness, and
the future of your firm.
can prioritize and keep your plate from getting
too full. Alongside capacity planning, be sure
you're hiring before you are at capacity to avoid
overworking your staff and yourself.
who are a good fit for your firm and you enjoy
working with. Remember that it's your firm and
you're in control of your work. You don't have to
work with every client or take on every project.
5
6
7
ADOPT A HOBBY
Work is an integral part of
our
lives, but
it's not
the
only thing. To create more
balance and joy in your life,
adopt a hobby. Play a sport,
take up gardening, paint, read - do
something you love. For me, this means playing
basketball twice a week. Engaging in hobbies can
help reduce stress, improve social connections,
increase your happiness, and more.
Creating more balance in your life can help
you take control of your future and your happiness.
As a firm owner, you have the power to
create your ideal life and your ideal firm. It's just
a matter of figuring out what that means for you,
removing barriers, making balance a part of your
firm's culture, and shifting your perspective. ■
Christopher Hayden, CPA, CMA, CGMA is the managing
partner of Hayden Nelson & Yoder, a CPA firm based in
Pennsylvania. You can learn more about him and the firm
at https://hnycpas.com.
LEARN TO SAY " NO "
AND PRIORITIZE WORK
YOU LOVE
To create balance in your
life, you have to learn how
to say " no " and focus on doing
work you love.
Make sure that you're only taking on clients
FOCUS ON CAPACITY
PLANNING
Capacity planning can be a
highly effective tool in preventing
work overload. When
you know how much work your
firm can realistically handle, you
JUNE 2022 ■ www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com
23
https://www.hnycpas.com http://www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com
june2022

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