Comments on: Accountants Rank Soft Skills as More Important for Leaders Than Technical Skills http://cpatrendlines.com/2009/06/10/accountants-rank-soft-skills-as-more-important-for-leaders-than-technical-skills/ Business Intelligence and Market Insight for the Tax, Accounting and Financial Management Community Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:34:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Bob Malloney http://cpatrendlines.com/2009/06/10/accountants-rank-soft-skills-as-more-important-for-leaders-than-technical-skills/comment-page-1/#comment-545813 Bob Malloney Thu, 20 Aug 2009 11:05:01 +0000 http://cpatrendlines.com/?p=3708#comment-545813 I have provided soft skills training for 'big 4' accountants for over 20 years. During that time I have noticed two problems in soft skills development. The first is that many accountants, as mentioned above, simply do not have the time to take one or two days out of their schedule to develop their soft skills. The pressure for chargable hours is often stronger than the desire to enhance personal effectiveness. The second is that traditional training courses have to be arranged in advance and attended on specified dates. This can easily conflict with servicing client demands. When a conflict arises, the training plays second fiddle to the client. Hence high 'no-show' rates on courses. As a solution I have developed soft skills streaming videos that are available as a 'just-in-time' resource, 24 hours a day, and provide essential coaching in Time Management, Communication Skills, Negotiating and Relationship Selling. The videos are not intended to replace traitional face-to-face training, but do provide a valuable resource for those unable to spare the time for courses or needing just-in-time help. I have provided soft skills training for ‘big 4′ accountants for over 20 years. During that time I have noticed two problems in soft skills development. The first is that many accountants, as mentioned above, simply do not have the time to take one or two days out of their schedule to develop their soft skills. The pressure for chargable hours is often stronger than the desire to enhance personal effectiveness. The second is that traditional training courses have to be arranged in advance and attended on specified dates. This can easily conflict with servicing client demands. When a conflict arises, the training plays second fiddle to the client. Hence high ‘no-show’ rates on courses. As a solution I have developed soft skills streaming videos that are available as a ‘just-in-time’ resource, 24 hours a day, and provide essential coaching in Time Management, Communication Skills, Negotiating and Relationship Selling. The videos are not intended to replace traitional face-to-face training, but do provide a valuable resource for those unable to spare the time for courses or needing just-in-time help.

]]> By: The Power of Space (or, Time to Stop Playing Wack-a-Mole) « Service Minded http://cpatrendlines.com/2009/06/10/accountants-rank-soft-skills-as-more-important-for-leaders-than-technical-skills/comment-page-1/#comment-545744 The Power of Space (or, Time to Stop Playing Wack-a-Mole) « Service Minded Tue, 28 Jul 2009 19:21:07 +0000 http://cpatrendlines.com/?p=3708#comment-545744 [...] Professional services folks everywhere are overburdened. A survey this summer by the Institute of Management Accountants found that when asked what they need [...] [...] Professional services folks everywhere are overburdened. A survey this summer by the Institute of Management Accountants found that when asked what they need [...]

]]> By: Jeff Biesecker http://cpatrendlines.com/2009/06/10/accountants-rank-soft-skills-as-more-important-for-leaders-than-technical-skills/comment-page-1/#comment-545664 Jeff Biesecker Mon, 06 Jul 2009 23:00:33 +0000 http://cpatrendlines.com/?p=3708#comment-545664 These "soft skills" and there lack of emphasis may be part of the problem that is occurring in America today. Could some of the "holes" that have appeared is because people making that final decisions did not have enough technical skills. I believe there is too much emphasis on soft skills and not enough on skills. That said, get the move the undergraduate degress to Bach. of Arts instead of a Bach. of Science. "Soft" and "Hard" skills should reflect a more equal view and not one biased towards "social skills". The accounting professional is a big part of the one-trillion and counting national debt. These “soft skills” and there lack of emphasis may be part of the problem that is occurring in America today. Could some of the “holes” that have appeared is because people making that final decisions did not have enough technical skills. I believe there is too much emphasis on soft skills and not enough on skills. That said, get the move the undergraduate degress to Bach. of Arts instead of a Bach. of Science. “Soft” and “Hard” skills should reflect a more equal view and not one biased towards “social skills”. The accounting professional is a big part of the one-trillion and counting national debt.

]]> By: Noreen Hynes http://cpatrendlines.com/2009/06/10/accountants-rank-soft-skills-as-more-important-for-leaders-than-technical-skills/comment-page-1/#comment-545638 Noreen Hynes Fri, 26 Jun 2009 08:37:29 +0000 http://cpatrendlines.com/?p=3708#comment-545638 I am an Irish Chartered Accountant in the process of launching a new consultancy business called Corporate Consulting, www.corpotateconsulting.ie, the web site is not live yet but will be shortly. In the process of some research I carried out for this business I noticed that accountants were not very involved in business coaching and this is probably because they don't have the softer skills necessary. It is an area I am keen to get involved in as I have 30 years experience at FC and CEO level in both large private and public companies. I agree with Maree Harris and Brian Swanson, it is a real pity that communication skills are not part of the training of accountants. It would be most helpful to accountants right throughout their careers. I would also like to see a course in business coaching as part of the CPD training program. There are many accountants who want to change career especially coming near retirement and use their vast skills and experience to help businesses become even more successful. Who better to do this than accountants who have worked at senior level in the profession and in Industry. I am an Irish Chartered Accountant in the process of launching a new consultancy business called Corporate Consulting, http://www.corpotateconsulting.ie, the web site is not live yet but will be shortly.

In the process of some research I carried out for this business I noticed that accountants were not very involved in business coaching and this is probably because they don’t have the softer skills necessary. It is an area I am keen to get involved in as I have 30 years experience at FC and CEO level in both large private and public companies. I agree with Maree Harris and Brian Swanson, it is a real pity that communication skills are not part of the training of accountants. It would be most helpful to accountants right throughout their careers. I would also like to see a course in business coaching as part of the CPD training program. There are many accountants who want to change career especially coming near retirement and use their vast skills and experience to help businesses become even more successful. Who better to do this than accountants who have worked at senior level in the profession and in Industry.

]]> By: Maree Harris http://cpatrendlines.com/2009/06/10/accountants-rank-soft-skills-as-more-important-for-leaders-than-technical-skills/comment-page-1/#comment-545624 Maree Harris Fri, 19 Jun 2009 11:12:53 +0000 http://cpatrendlines.com/?p=3708#comment-545624 I found this study very useful and informative. I am doing quite a bit of work with accountants here in Australia around the development of soft skills. I am a specialist in the development of soft skills and have been invited to give talks to groups of accountants. These have been well attended. I have been also working with accountancy firms helping them to develop people management systems in their organisations that focus on soft skills. It is very satisfying to see some research coming out affirming what I am doing and what these accountancy firms are doing. Certainly here in Australia, it would seem that accountants may well be leading the way in this area in terms of professional service firms. I have developed 8 essential soft skills for leadership and this is what we are working on. More can be found about these on my website, but I would value the opportunity to talk more with anyone in the States who is working in this area. I would really like to share some ideas. I found this study very useful and informative. I am doing quite a bit of work with accountants here in Australia around the development of soft skills. I am a specialist in the development of soft skills and have been invited to give talks to groups of accountants. These have been well attended. I have been also working with accountancy firms helping them to develop people management systems in their organisations that focus on soft skills. It is very satisfying to see some research coming out affirming what I am doing and what these accountancy firms are doing. Certainly here in Australia, it would seem that accountants may well be leading the way in this area in terms of professional service firms. I have developed 8 essential soft skills for leadership and this is what we are working on. More can be found about these on my website, but I would value the opportunity to talk more with anyone in the States who is working in this area. I would really like to share some ideas.

]]> By: Brian Swanson http://cpatrendlines.com/2009/06/10/accountants-rank-soft-skills-as-more-important-for-leaders-than-technical-skills/comment-page-1/#comment-545602 Brian Swanson Thu, 11 Jun 2009 03:04:01 +0000 http://cpatrendlines.com/?p=3708#comment-545602 This study is very interesting. What has always struck me about accounting programs in Universities is that they focus on teaching the mehanical aspects of auditing or tax analysis. However, there seems to be an almost complete lack of leadership labratory classes (military term) that teaches motivation stratgies to help these same professionals understand how to interact and engage staff. What I have seen happen at Big 4 firms is those who have this natural ability tend to rise to the top while the technical experts seem to stay in the same position for much longer periods of time. This study is very interesting. What has always struck me about accounting programs in Universities is that they focus on teaching the mehanical aspects of auditing or tax analysis. However, there seems to be an almost complete lack of leadership labratory classes (military term) that teaches motivation stratgies to help these same professionals understand how to interact and engage staff.

What I have seen happen at Big 4 firms is those who have this natural ability tend to rise to the top while the technical experts seem to stay in the same position for much longer periods of time.

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