EPISODE · May 31, 2023 · 22 MIN
Winning the Accounting Talent Battle: John Fenton
from Accounting Voices
Welcome to the Accounting Influencers Podcast, going live every Monday and Thursday to 150 countries and 30,000 accounting practitioners, fintech specialists and influencers in the accountancy, CPA and bookkeeping space.In this episode of the Accounting Influencers Podcast, guest John Fenton shares valuable insights on how accountants can attract and retain top talent to grow their firms. John emphasizes the importance of measuring success based on the quality of relationships with customers, employees, and vendors. He advises accountants to create white space on their calendars to reflect on their firm's direction, clients, and ongoing projects.The conversation delves into the challenges faced by accounting firms in the current talent landscape. John discusses the battle for talent and the push and pull dynamics related to remote work and the return to office dilemma. He acknowledges the changing expectations and desires of the workforce, highlighting the importance of work-life balance and well-being. John also explores the concept of culture and its impact on the success of firms, emphasizing that the "soft" skills related to people, relationships, and culture are essential bedrocks for thriving businesses.In addressing the talent challenge, John suggests that firms need to focus on creating an environment where individuals can contribute to something bigger than themselves and align their values with the firm's values. He emphasizes the need for critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills in the profession, given the advancements in AI and technology.Listeners will gain valuable insights into talent retention strategies, creating a positive work culture, and addressing the evolving needs of the workforce. John's expertise provides actionable advice for accountants looking to attract and retain top talent while positioning their firms for growth in a competitive industry.You can watch this episode and more on our YouTube Channelhttps://www.youtube.com/@accountinginfluencersGuest BioJohn Fenton is a seasoned executive coach, speaker, and author who specializes in helping leaders navigate tough and complex situations. With a black belt in tai chi and over two decades of experience as a managing partner at BDO USA, John brings a unique perspective to leadership development.As the founder of John J Fenton Executive Coaching, John has worked with a diverse range of leaders, from managing partners at professional firms to board executives and CEOs. He understands the inner game of leadership, and his methodology focuses on developing the mindset, purpose, and culture necessary for success in today's rapidly changing world.John is also the author of the best-selling book 5 Minute MasteryTM, which provides practical advice and strategies for leaders who want clarity and more freedom. He is an award-winning speaker on executive leadership excellence, having spoken at conferences and events around the world.In addition to his professional accomplishments, John is a heart attack survivor and a strong advocate for wellbeing in the workplace. He is passionate about helping leaders overcome imposter syndrome, manage overwhelm, and develop emotional intelligence.John's three specialty topics are leading in challenging times, winning the talent battle, and the top five challenges for modern-day leaders. In all of his work, he emphasizes the importance of purpose, culture, diversity, equity, and trust, and provides actionable insights for leaders who want to thrive in 2023 and beyond.◣━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━◢If you like the show, we'd truly appreciate a review on whatever platform you listen. We'd love to get to know you!Main show website. For access to every single show with full shownotes: https://accountinginfluencers.com/podcastFor announcements of published shows, tagging guest so you can build your network and offer feedback on the show: https://www.linkedin.com/company/accountinginfluencersFor videos of all podcast interviews and bonus video content: https://bit.ly/AI-youtubehttps://www.instagram.com/accinfluencershttps://twitter.com/accinfluencershttps://www.facebook.com/accountinginfluencersThanks to our sponsors:Accountex. Accountex will return to ExCeL London UK on the 10-11 May 2023. Bringing together 250+ top fintech companies and cutting-edge start-ups, visitors can browse new software and stay up to date with the latest technology, tools and ideas in accountancy and finance. Alongside the exhibition, attendees will take away actionable tips from the CPD-accredited seminar programme, led by 200+ thought leaders shaping the profession.Accountex is Europe’s largest annual event for the accounting and finance profession. It attracts 8,000+ attendees and 250+ exhibitors. Attendees can get up to 16 CPD hours with 200+ free seminar sessions across 12 theatres.https://www.accountex.co.uk/london/
What this episode covers
Welcome to the Accounting Influencers Podcast, going live every Monday to 150 countries and 30,000 accounting practitioners, fintech specialists and influencers in the accountancy, CPA and bookkeeping space. In this Talent Special bonus, "Winning the Accounting Talent Battle" Rob Brown features Ashley Miller, an executive coach. Ashley shares insights into leadership, team dynamics, and influence. She discusses the importance of the human element in accounting and how firms can add value by understanding what motivates their employees. Ashley also describes creating emotional connections in the workplace and inspiring employees through communication and empathy. She suggests building trust by being vulnerable and creating a sense of belonging for employees. Furthermore, Ashley notes the unique opportunity for accounting firms to expand globally by recruiting diverse individuals. She concludes by challenging leaders to be self-aware and advocate for their own careers while being accountable. You can also watch this on youtube here: https://youtu.be/jrprBPjKU_g Key Takeaways 1. Accounting firms are uniquely positioned to help businesses grow and succeed, especially during challenging times like the pandemic. Firms can expand globally and seek diverse talent to support their clients. 2. People crave human connection, even in their work lives, and accountants need to remember that clients and colleagues are people, not robots. Leaders can motivate and retain talent by understanding what motivates each individual and providing value beyond just salary. 3. Self-awareness is crucial for both leaders and team members. Leaders need to be aware of their impact on others and seek feedback to improve, while team members must advocate for their careers and take personal accountability for their actions. 4. Trust and vulnerability are essential for building relationships with colleagues and clients. People are likelier to follow leaders they trust and buy from organizations they like. Accountants can build trust and create deeper connections by being vulnerable and sharing their human side. Guest Bio Ashleigh Miller is the founder of Amplify Excellence LLC, a certified executive coach, and a business leader with over 20 years of experience in professional services organizations such as EY and Accenture. She is passionate about the human element within the business environment and empowers others by helping them realize their unique strengths as a catalyst for personal and team success. Ashleigh facilitates workshops and coaches on the art of emotional intelligence and its impact on business development, leadership skills, and team dynamics. She also serves as the President of the Board of Ballet Excel Ohio (BXO). In her free time, Ashleigh enjoys consuming hours of audiobooks and exciting podcasts, playing cards, laughing with friends, and engaging with her teenage children. ◣━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━◢ If you like the show, we'd truly appreciate a review on whatever platform you listen. We'd love to get to know you! Main show website. For access to every single show with full shownotes: https://accountinginfluencers.com/podcast For announcements of published shows, tagging guest so you can build your network and offer feedback on the show: https://www.linkedin.com/company/accountinginfluencers For videos of all podcast interviews and bonus video content: https://bit.ly/AI-youtube https://www.instagram.com/accinfluencers https://twitter.com/accinfluencers https://www.facebook.com/accountinginfluencers Thanks to our sponsors: Accountex. Accountex will return to ExCeL London UK on the 10-11 May 2023. Bringing together 250+ top fintech companies and cutting-edge start-ups, visitors can browse new software and stay up to date with the latest technology, tools and ideas in accountancy and finance. Alongside the exhibition, attendees will take away actionable tips from the...
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Winning the Accounting Talent Battle: John Fenton
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