Has the profession reached a point-of-no-return in it’s ability to resist the forces of change?
Bruce Marcus thinks so.
His advice:
·Think forward, not backward.
·Listen to clients. Learn their businesses and industries, and to hear and understand problems before, not after, you give advice.
·Learn what other firms are doing in such forward-thinking ideas as value billing, two-tier structures, knowledge management and internal communications.
·Question everything you do. The question you ask yourself is, “This is the way it was done yesterday. Is there a better way to do it today and tomorrow?†A truly powerful question.
·Recognize that the shortage of brains and talent in these times is so acute that you can’t afford to concern yourselves with the race or color or age or gender in which those brains and talent come.
·Recognize that you may be accountants, but you’re in a business, and business requires trained and talented leadership, and flexible structures to meet the challenges of a dynamic environment.
And that’s just for starters. Do these things, and you’ll ride the wave of the tipping point. If you don’t at least try to do these things, then just sit back and watch your competitors, because they will be doing it. And growing and thriving, as you decline.