Braddon Group

If you’re sitting at your desk while reading this blog post, it could wind up being a real pain in your neck.

Is your desk setup uncomfortable? Do you have a twinge in your back, neck, wrists or fingers? These aches and pains could be related to the way you’re sitting or the positioning of your office furniture.

Since it’s busy season, you’re spending some quality time (likely 60+ hours a week) at your desk. Why not make sure your setup is ergonomically sound? You can do this without difficulty. The investment will be well worth it, not only for your health but also for your overall well-being.

The goal is to create an environment where your body is in a neutral position that doesn’t cause added tension — you have enough mental strain as it is right now. And in case you were wondering, flopping down on your sofa with a laptop doesn’t qualify as ‘ergonomic.’ But below are some tips that are.

Let’s start with your office chair. While sitting, your feet should be resting on the floor or a footrest, your knees should be level with your hips, your thighs should be parallel to the ground and your lower and upper back should feel supported.

If you experience back pain, try adjusting your chair’s backrest and/or prop a pillow or lumbar support cushion between your chair and your lower back.

There’s an abundance of stresses to cause you headaches during busy season. Don’t let your monitor be one of those. Sitting too close to your monitor can contribute to eyestrain, which if left unchecked, will leave you with a nasty headache. This adjustment should help: When seated in your chair, your monitor should be an arm’s length distance away and the top of your screen should be at eye level. If you have multiple screens, make sure you can view them easily. If it’s difficult to comfortably see the screen, consider enlarging the text size on your computer.   

Did you know that the recommended keyboard height is two inches above your knees? When typing, your arms should be at or below elbow level and your wrists should be in a neutral position (not tilted up or down). To help achieve this setup, you may consider installing a downward sloping keyboard tray or using an ergonomic keyboard.

Take a moment to check in on your mouse. Do you find yourself reaching for it? If so, bring it closer. Ensure that your wrist is supported. To give one wrist a break, alternate hands using the mouse. Some may find it helpful to use a mousepad with a wrist rest or swapping a traditional mouse out for an ergonomic one. Ergonomic mice can be a game changer.     

Adjusting your workstation setup can improve your comfort level and your overall outlook. In addition to tweaking your physical environment, remember to take breaks throughout the day. Sitting — even at an ergonomically sound desk — and staring at a computer screen for several hours on end is not healthy. Find a break schedule that works for you and stick to it. Learn how to take more effective timeouts from this blog post.

And if you want to make things easier on yourself mentally, the AICPA has created a tax season resources hub to help you power through this busy season. There you’ll find checklists, tools, practice management guides and even a busy season fun calendar to make things easier. Go check it out — after you’re done with your work space makeover.    

Getting your desk setup right is just one of the many concerns you might have if you’re a sole practitioner or work in a small firm. For resources on managing your firm, check out the Private Companies Practice Section and visit our small firm resource page at aicpa.org/smallfirm, featuring technical guidance to help you manage your practice and plan for your firm’s future.

Alexis Rothberg, Communications Manager, Association of International Certified Professional Accountants

     

Related Stories

• Talking to clients about extensions — tax season must read
• Busy season grind got you down? 3 ways to reenergize.
• 5 reasons to keep your procrastibaking habit during busy season

 

Ping! Behold: the sound of the first morning email. Unfortunately, that undeniable sign of the work day starting is the exact kind of wakeup call you needed. I wouldn’t say rolling out of bed at 7AM is the easiest thing after a late-night session of mindless scrolling, but hey, you spent the entire previous day responding to emails and fixing that PowerPoint pitch for your client. You deserve a little tech-fueled R&R. “Alexa, play ‘Island in the Sun’”

Your life is complex, and technology has been there for you, simplifying it every step of the way, right? It helps you get up for work, it helps you do your work, it helps you socialize and plan. What’s not to love? So, you mosey on to the bathroom mirror, eyes still glued to the screen, stumbling with exhaustion, and there it is. There’s that embarrassing weekly notification: “You average 8h 46m of screen time a day!” (I don’t know if Android users get these, so if not, here’s a glimpse of the dark side).

“WHAT?!”

No wonder you’re so tired – so stressed! No wonder you toss and turn all night! Unplugging is hard, but is your willful ignorance finally taking its toll? Do you have a problem?

In continued celebration of Women’s History Month, the Go Beyond Disruption podcast hosted the insightful Amy Vetter. Vetter, a CPA, CGMA, and yogi, who helps finance professionals make their way out of that technological blackhole. She shares tips on mindful technology – the practice of being present, aware, and thus intentional about our technology use. This promotes healthier relationships with our gadgets and an all-around healthier state of being. Here’s are four things we learned from her:

1. Women need eight to ten hours of sleep at night, and men need seven to nine – and it’s not happening. Long work hours, late-night television and phone-use before bed are keeping people from meeting their sleep quota. Sleep clears emotions from the day before and ultimately allows us to be more present at work and with our families. It’s a vital component for optimal brain function. Maybe the email can wait until tomorrow morning.
2. Your choice to focus on text messages rather than people is hurting your relationships. Consider the message that you’re sending a person who’s prepared an entire presentation only to see you check your phone several throughout it. What about the experience you’re creating for someone trying to have a conversation with you? Use your emotional intelligence. What you’re really saying is, “I’m bored, and you’re just not that important.” Rude! Try using the ‘do not disturb’ feature on your phone to give people your full attention. A better option is to take your phone off the table altogether. These baby steps to unplug from your phone in moments that should prioritize human connection can lead to long term success in personal and business relationships.
3. It might be time to delete this lie from your resume: Strong ability to multitask. The truth is, you can’t – or maybe you can, but it’s hurting more than it’s helping. According to Vetter, multitasking actually makes your IQ drop a couple of points. So, avoid the deadly trap of scrolling down your timeline or reading your email while you watch TV. It’s to your benefit to stay sharp. After all, the robots are coming!
4. Vetter is founder of the B3 method: Business + Balance = Bliss. Some business situations – whether meetings, projects or presentations – create stress for us. Take the time to find the best ways to balance this stress. Whether it’s taking a walk or listening to music, it’s important to give our brain a rest so we can be more efficient and more productive during the day. These activities are healthier substitutes for technology use before bed.

One thing we know for sure: disruption is here. Technology is fueling change in all areas of our lives at an alarming rate, and all these changes can become stressors. Yoga has been Vetter’s tool of choice, but she encourages anything that will allow you to be alone with your thoughts and feelings to take inventory on your personal needs. But first, you must unplug to figure what it is you need to alleviate stress. Your well-being depends on it.

Learn more by listening to Vetter’s episode of the Go Beyond Disruption podcast.

Mballa Mendouga, Communications – Manager, Corporation Social Responsibility & Campaigns, Association of International Certified Professional Accountants 

     

Related Stories

• Public speaking tips from the 91st Academy Awards
• Preparing for the future: 4 female thought leaders share insight
• The B word we can stop avoiding … blockchain isn’t so bad

 

Many people enjoy watching DIY shows where homes in disrepair are transformed from shabby to chic in less than an hour. If only the real world worked the same as DIY TV. Firms would be able to get clients implementing revenue recognition during advertisement breaks for hardware stores and home decor

Sadly, that’s not the case. Now that we’re in 2019, the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (FASB) new revenue standard is no longer an event on the distant horizon for nonpublic entities. It’s now front and center. The new revenue standard is applicable to all industries, however some are expected to be more significantly affected than others. One of these industries is construction.

While the effect can vary from entity to entity, here are 10 key items to consider if you work in construction or serve construction clients:

1. The criteria for recognizing revenue is changing. While most in the industry will likely meet the over-time criteria, you can’t assume you will just because you did in the past. If you don’t meet the criteria, then revenue should be recognized at a point in time.
2. Measuring progress on a contract using an input method such as cost-to-cost may require adjustments for costs that do not represent the transfer of goods or services to a customer (i.e. rework, waste, mobilization costs, uninstalled materials).
3. Accounting for change orders and modifications look different. Key determinations include whether modifications add distinct goods or services and if they’re priced at their standalone prices.
4. Performance obligations must be capable of being distinct AND distinct within the context of the contract. This determination requires careful consideration of what the customer is ultimately buying.
5. Is the contractor a principal or an agent? To answer this, consider whether the individual is being engaged to provide a service (principal) or to arrange for someone else to provide a service (agent).
6. Variable consideration (e.g., penalties, bonuses) likely will be recognized much earlier than under legacy guidance; however, evaluation of the likelihood of a reversal is required (concept of a constraint).
7. Noncash consideration (equipment, materials or labor) used in fulfillment of a contract is included in the transaction price if the contractor obtains control over the noncash consideration provided.
8. Consideration of whether long-term agreements include a significant financing component is also required.
9. Cancellation terms may have a material impact on when and how much revenue can be recognized.
10. Guidance for customer-provided materials, uninstalled materials, costs to obtain a contract, set-up and mobilization costs and bid costs has been addressed by the new standard as well.

To help ensure that implementation of the standard isn’t a flop for our members, the Center for Plain English Accounting developed a suite of resources on revenue recognition. Those resources include individual reports on aspects of the standard, archived webcasts, contract review checklists, onsite training and industry-specific resources such as our two-part report on the construction industry. This report is usually available exclusively to Center for Plain English Accounting members, but we have unlocked part one temporarily so that anyone can access it. You’ll also want to mark your calendars for the AICPA Construction & Real Estate Conference, taking place Dec. 5-6, 2019, in Nashville, TN.

Practitioners need answers to their difficult A&A questions. The Center for Plain English Accounting is here to help. Make sure your firm has access to top-notch A&A advice by joining the Center for Plain English Accounting.

Mike Austin, Senior Technical Manager- Center for Plain English Accounting, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants 

     

Related Stories

• New AICPA survey reveals clients’ top retirement fears
• Talking to clients about extensions — tax season must read
• Busy season grind got you down? 3 ways to reenergize.

 

As the host of The Small Biz Brunch podcast, I’ve interviewed some amazing entrepreneurs and CPAs who are changing the world. When I reflect on episodes I’ve recorded over the past six months, some of my favorite have been about women disrupting their industries and paving the way for future generations. And while it’s important to celebrate female entrepreneurs throughout the year, Women’s History Month provides a timely platform for important conversations. 

I recently chatted with Lindsay Stevenson, CPA, CGMA, founder of Origin Evolution and Rachel McGirt, co-founder of Healthy Girls Save the World, a program for middle school girls that promotes “healthy bodies, healthy minds and healthy relationships.” We discussed financial challenges specific to female entrepreneurs (for example, how to get funding), and ways to overcome them. Here are the top two tips Stevenson and McGirt provided. 

Capitalize on your relationships

Phrases like “empowered women empower women,” and “women supporting other women,” are everywhere. Facebook, Instagram, coffee mugs – you name it. We’ve all heard them and may have even said them out loud; now it’s time to practice what we preach. Building a network with trusted relationships is key to growing a business, especially on the financial side. McGirt encourages aspiring female entrepreneurs to seek out local resources. Whether it’s a startup group on a university campus or donations from a local church, there are people who want to help others make an impact within their communities and might be willing to invest money in the cause.

Another suggestion for female entrepreneurs is to form a relationship with their CPA. A CPA is a great example of someone who can provide financial guidance in the form of a genuine relationship. Not only can they walk their clients through the ups and downs of business, but as Stevenson mentions during our conversation, CPAs care about them as human beings and want to help them achieve their goals.

Own your accomplishments

Many women tend to worry about coming off as overconfident, or like they’re over-hyping their success. However, confidence is necessary in order to get the funding or investments needed to jumpstart and sustain a business. According to Stevenson, female entrepreneurs should be able to stand in front of potential investors and own the fact that they know what they’re doing, no matter how uncomfortable it might feel. One suggestion she offers is to speak to yourself how you would speak to others. Instead of beating yourself up, build yourself up, just as you would another female entrepreneur who was seeking your advice for the same situation.

Listen to the entire episode to hear more helpful tips for current and aspiring female entrepreneurs. And for more information on how CPAs can help grow small businesses, visit cpapowered.org.

Samantha Delgado, Manager – Communications, PR & Corporate Responsibility, Association of International Certified Professional Accountants

     

Related Stories

• 3 spooky small business myths, busted
• Preparing for the future: 4 female thought leaders share insight
• Staying in love with your significant other – who’s also your business partner

 

For many professionals, it’s a challenge to maintain work and life balance, but one trailblazing CPA was able to break the mold. By creating opportunities for herself, she opened new paths for other professionals, especially women, to follow.

When Katy Hollister, CPA, chief strategy officer for Deloitte’s Global Tax and Legal practice, approached what might have been an immovable barrier at work, she was able to change the course of her career —and key policies of her organization, too.

It’s a story from many years ago with a timeless lesson. In 1990, Hollister was a manager at Deloitte Tax, LLP for about six years and was pregnant with her first child. She was concerned about balancing parenthood and her existing responsibilities. At that time, the firm, like much of the profession and the business world, had no women’s initiatives or formal programs for working mothers. When Hollister asked her office’s managing partner about a part-time schedule once her child was born, he pointed out that the firm didn’t have part-time options. “I said, ‘How about if we try it?’”

Hollister then wrote a proposal outlining the arrangement and addressing potential firm concerns. And it worked. She offers four pieces of advice to those also looking to overcome hurdles at work:

1. Never miss a chance to take a risk on something important.

“If you’re told, ‘We don’t do that here,’ ask: ‘Could we try?’” Hollister recommends. Firms are well advised to appreciate the value of staff asking, “Why not?” since it can help retain promising people and drive innovation. Those two simple words opened the door to new possibilities and solutions.

2. What sets you apart may be your biggest

In her case, Hollister’s unusual proposal quickly raised her visibility in the firm — she found herself being flown from her home in Cincinnati to firm headquarters in Connecticut to hammer out details of what would be her part-time schedule. Among other things, they addressed issues, like how she would respond to client emergencies and called for evaluating the arrangement’s success at various milestones.

The visibility continued. Late in 1992, after Hollister was back to a full-time schedule, she received a call from the Deloitte CEO’s office asking her to participate in a study of women’s concerns. Hollister found herself at the forefront of change at Deloitte.

3. If it hasn’t been done, do it yourself.

By 1994, Deloitte, which has since been named to Working Mother’s 100 Best Companies list for 23 years, had a women’s initiative up and running, and Hollister was one of many involved. That same year, Hollister, who was pregnant with her second child, asked her sponsor whether she could advance to the partnership on a part-time schedule. He assured her that being temporarily part-time wouldn’t be a negative factor when being considered for admission into the partnership, demonstrating just how much had changed since her request for part-time status four short years earlier. She ultimately became the first person to become a partner while on a part-time schedule. This demonstrated the importance of creating — and continuing to follow — your path if the right one for you doesn’t already exist.

4. Stick to the schedule.

Some of the challenges professionals on alternative schedules face may be creating boundaries and managing flexibility. Hollister was so anxious to make the arrangement work that she sometimes spent far more time on business than her part-time schedule called for. “I was constantly thinking about work because I wanted to be sure the arrangement was beneficial to the organization.” All schedules — both alternate and traditional — involve ebbs and flows, but establishing appropriate boundaries to balance multiple priorities, while difficult, is key. Also, it’s important to periodically reassess the arrangement to see if it’s meeting the objectives of both parties

Hollister’s experience taught her the importance of asking why not, even if what you’re seeking may set you apart. Never underestimate the value of stepping outside your comfort zone and questioning processes to make change a reality.

The AICPA Women’s Global Leadership Summit, Nov. 6-8 in San Diego, is an opportunity to reexamine your goals and ambitions going forward. At the summit, you’ll experience the support of female colleagues and male advocates from across the country and be able to attend interactive workshops designed to support you as you grow in both your professional and personal life. Also, check out this resource page dedicated to helping women continue to flourish in the profession.

Also, the AICPA’s Online Mentoring Program provides yet another platform for professionals to learn from each other. The program is a way for mentees to understand how experienced colleagues have conquered their own challenges and paved roads to success. Not only do mentees grow professionally, but mentors also say they learn a great deal from their relationship with promising mentees. The next time you face a roadblock, find out how a mentor can help you.

Yasmine El-Ramly, CPA/CITP, CGMA, Senior Technical Manager – Diversity & Inclusion, Association of International Certified Professional Accountants

     

Related Stories

• Preparing for the future: 4 female thought leaders share insight
• Are you overlooking emotional intelligence in your career?
• 4 tips to make a case for a reduced work schedule

 

Disruption is no longer a theory. It’s not an imaginary future with a “TBA” label waiting to be updated. You’ve seen the bots with your own eyes, so you know this isn’t a tall tale by a weirdo neighbor sitting on their front porch with antennas attached to an aluminum hat. The decreased need for traditional skills like memorizing and number-crunching, complemented by thinning attention spans indicate a radical change in work style. We are in the thick of the age of disruption. The Go Beyond Disruption podcast, your personal cheat code to beating the bots, celebrates Women’s History Month by chatting with female guest experts in technology and human intelligence.

              For International Women’s Day, these thought-leaders share exactly which skills will help you succeed in a time where the finance and accounting professions are fueled by technology. How is the profession changing? What are the most valuable assets to have on your team? Which new skills should you practice and how can you prepare for the future of work? Here are four thoughts from the Go Beyond Disruption podcast’s “Future of the Profession” episode that answer all your questions. The episode features accounting, tech, and human intelligence all-stars and special guest host, Kim Drumgo, Director of Diversity and Inclusion at the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants.

1. “Technology has really changed how we would have traditionally gone about our careers” – Kimberly Ellison Taylor, CPA, CGMA, immediate past Chairman of the American Institute of CPAs’ and Immediate Past Chairman of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants.

In the past, accounting roles focused on compliance, expense control, and timely reports. Today finance leaders and accountants are increasingly responsible for revenue. Can you find competitive advantages and opportunities? Can you analyze data? Could you lead your organization? The profession used to value employees who memorized important technical knowledge. Today, automated systems like chat blasts, for example, can retain and share important information. Now the profession values creativity, critical thinking skills, and problem-solving skills – all of which are skill sets that happen to be instinctive for women.

2. “The more diverse your team is, in terms of background, perspective, gender, where they grew up, all of those factors are going to feed a stronger chance of success because you’re benefiting from diverse opinions and backgrounds.” – Amy Radin Association board member and author of The Change Maker’s Playbook: How to Seek, Seed and Scale Innovation in Any Company.

We’re living in a time of reinvention and where reinvention is important, innovation is key. Given the way automation has changed the face of accounting, clients rely on their accountants for much more than the simple financial support. It’s about investing whole-heartedly, sometimes emotionally, in your clients’ success. Your clients trust you and that trust is maintained with empathy and creative problem solving. These are skills that most women, (likely all, but hey, who’s generalizing?), already possess. The point is, people with different backgrounds or identities will likely have different perspectives and thus, different skill sets. The ability to combine these different skill sets harmoniously feeds team success and it promises innovation.  

3. “ If you spend the time doing the learning and developing the skills that you need, there’s a tremendous amount of opportunity… Learning doesn’t always have to be formal.” Jennifer Gardner, Human intelligence expert and Lead Manager for Communications and Strategy at the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants.

The 2018 Future of Jobs Report by the World Economic Forum, says we’ll all need to be life-long learners to succeed in the workplace in 2022. In fact, according to Rosso, it says we’ll need about [101] days of learning. The idea here is that success in the future workplace is about being able to adapt. To do that, you must be willing and able to learn. Fortunately, that doesn’t mean you must bury your head in textbooks and start memorizing. If you’re partaking in active learning, meaning you’re taking the time to reflect and apply information that you take in, you’re on the right path. An example: if you listen to a podcast or read an article about blockchain technology, take the time to have a dialogue with someone else, or simply to ask yourself questions like, “how is this going to affect my business?” Don’t forget the important step of answering those questions.

4. “We have to be really intentional. Think about, ‘What am I doing today that’s going to help me develop as an individual and draw value for my organization?’…Really think about, ‘Where do I want to be and how do I get there?’” –Clar Rosso, Executive Vice President of Engagement and Learning and Innovation

Machines are starting to take over high-volume, repetitive tasks. So, you’re going to have to rely on your human intelligence to complement what is being done for you. Feeling rusty with those human skills? Then it’s time to create a learning plan (see human intelligence e-book). Identify your strengths, weaknesses and your career goals to tailor your learning plan to your needs. To succeed in the future workplace, it will be crucial to tap into the uncapped potential of innovation to drive value for your organization.

So, there you have it! The future of work is happening now and if you can sharpen your human skills, embrace diversity, become a life-long learner and pledge to learn actively, you will thrive in the age of disruption.

Click here to listen to this Go Beyond Disruption podcast episode and learn more about the future of the profession: http://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/8914400

Mballa Mendouga, Communications – Manager, Corporation Social Responsibility & Campaigns, Association of International Certified Professional Accountants

     

Related Stories

• Are you overlooking emotional intelligence in your career?
• Public speaking tips from the 91st Academy Awards
• The world is your classroom: Build your 2019 learning plan in minutes

 

A variety of factors and special situations make each individual’s retirement preparations unique. And because of that, there is no one-size-fits-all retirement plan to maximize enjoyment during your golden years. However, when it comes to retirement planning fears, people have more in common than they might think. The AICPA’s recent Personal Financial Planning Trends Survey explored what factors are impacting clients’ retirement planning peace of mind. When compared to benchmark responses from 2016, we’re able to see how some things have changed while others have held steady.

Here are clients’ top concerns:

1. Going broke
   
   Running out of money remains the top retirement planning concern for clients, cited by 30 percent of CPA financial planners. Though still the top concern, this reflects an improvement from the AICPA’s 2016 survey, which found 41 percent of CPA financial planners listing it as their client’s top concern. The decline is likely due to the economy’s steady improvement over the last few years, as the stock market has continued to climb despite periods of volatility.

2. Maintaining their lifestyle
   
   Worry about maintaining current lifestyle and spending level in retirement was a close second planning concern, cited by 28 percent of CPA financial planners. This is consistent with the 2016 survey where it was cited by 29 percent of respondents and once again came in second. When preparing for this pivotal life transition, it helps to have a tax-efficient plan for how to best consume your retirement savings. Without thoughtful planning, taxes can take a hefty bite out of cash flow, and that’s especially painful when living on a fixed income in retirement.

3. Rising cost of healthcare
   
   Stress from rising health care costs (18 percent), though a distant third once again, is up 7 percentage points from 2016. With medical costs forecast to continue growing throughout 2019, this is not surprising. As individuals are living longer lives, having a plan in place for a serious illness or incapacity is critical for maintaining peace of mind. Individuals should first consider all the options available for dealing with prolonged medical and personal care in a way that accomplishes their goals within the constraints of their financial situation. A CPA can help you compare the relevant options such as traditional long-term care insurance, hybrid long-term care insurance, Medicaid options or self-insurance. Be warned– don’t wait too long to explore coverage options. Applicants over 70 years old run an increased risk of being denied long-term care insurance due to health issues.

When asked about the top three sources of client financial and emotional stress concerning outliving their money, healthcare costs (77 percent), market fluctuations (53 percent) and unexpected costs (50 percent) were cited as the top issues. Tomorrow’s unknowns are weighing on client’s minds today. For those nervous about market volatility, it is important to understand that markets will fluctuate wildly in both directions but have historically gone up over long periods of time. Checking your portfolio daily can tempt you to make short-sighted decisions that can easily derail an otherwise sound portfolio allocation.

Despite concerns about going broke, rising healthcare cost and market volatility, the overall retirement picture for clients of CPA financial planners is improving. When asked to compare their clients’ current situation to five years ago, half of CPA financial planners (50 percent) say their clients are more confident they’re ready for retirement. That outweighs the third (33 percent) that stated they find their clients to be less confident. Another 17 percent saw no change.

Jon Lynch, Manager – Public Relations, Association of International Certified Professional Accountants

     

Related Stories

• Busy season grind got you down? 3 ways to reenergize.
• Talking to clients about extensions — tax season must read
• Emotional rollercoaster: The psychology of starting a small firm or business

 

You’re in the office and see a colleague approaching. You likely say hi and ask how they’re doing. Your colleague will likely answer with some rendition of good, great or for those who prefer grammatical accuracy, ‘doing well.’ Are they actually great, or did your colleague just lie to you? Many people respond without giving much thought to the question. They may say they’re doing great as they struggle to hold in sadness, frustration or anger. What happens when you read between the lines using your emotional intelligence (EI)? Communication becomes more personal and meaningful when the parties exhibit EI. Being able to transcend normal interactions using EI is becoming increasingly important as technology advances to complete mundane tasks. Machines may be taking parts of our jobs but using our human attributes to be a team player, is more important than ever before.

In a nutshell, EI is the ability to express your emotions appropriately and manage or respond to relationships empathetically. Having EI doesn’t mean you have 100% control over your emotions. EI is recognizing your emotions and the emotions of others and reacting properly. EI puts you in a position to better understand the relationships around you, which is important at work to make the most of your everyday interactions with colleagues. Sympathizing with another is a task no machine can do in a warm way. 

Everyone has a certain level of EI, known as their Emotional Quotient (EQ), and everyone will test at their own level. We’ve all had life experiences that have shaped us, and it’s important to acknowledge those experiences.  I, for instance, grew up in a household with an autistic brother. I sincerely believe the experiences I had growing up shaped my EI. You may believe like I do that other people have been dealt more difficult cards, but that doesn’t make anyone’s journey less transformative to their EI development.

If you don’t feel your EI isn’t at its fullest potential, it’s possible to flex your EI muscles.. Here are three ideas to help you get started:

• Be aware – Acknowledge your feelings and how you react to certain situations.
• Practice empathy – Try putting yourself in someone else’s shoes.
• Acknowledge results of your actions – Pay attention to how people respond to you. Do they shy away or open up when you tell jokes?

A certain level of judgment when refined can be used in numerous situations throughout your career. Just a few include:

• Confidence – Reading the room can give you insight into your audience during a big presentation. Adjust your method if your audience isn’t as engaged as you’d like.
• Advancement – Want to ask your boss about an opportunity for a promotion? You might want to reconsider the timing on a day when their eyebrows are constantly furrowed in frustration.
• Teamwork ­– Before you get too frustrated with your colleague, and say something insensitive that may lead to long term tension, acknowledge their emotions. Do they seem completely disinterested in work that day? Our work and personal lives are connected. Maybe something from home is weighing on their mind.

If I use the phrase, “random acts of kindness”, everyone knows what that means. We do something kind for another not knowing their emotional state. Emotional Intelligence gives us to the tools to act with intent. Going back to your interaction with your colleague, did you notice if their smile seems forced as they said they were great? Maybe they don’t want to talk about what’s really going on in their lives, but it gives you an opportunity to acknowledge them as a person with emotions and provides an opportunity for an emotionally intelligent intentional act of kindness.

During this time when more and more jobs are at risk of being automated, one thing separates people from the technology that can do each job more effectively – you. Your experiences, the things that have shaped you and made you able to connect with your colleagues are imperative to organizational success. Be a human – you were made for it. 

To learn more about emotional intelligence and how it impacts your success join Kari Hipsak, CPA, CGMA at AICPA ENGAGE for her session, Be More Than a Machine: Why Emotional Intelligence Matters.

Kari Hipsak, CPA, CGMA, Senior Manager – Firm Services, Association of International Certified Professional Accountants

     

Related Stories

• Public speaking tips from the 91st Academy Awards
• The world is your classroom: Build your 2019 learning plan in minutes
• Your life. Your terms: Four steps to reducing stress and reclaiming your life.

 

The symptoms of the flu are easy to spot: fever, cough, body ache, fatigue. When one of your employees has it, you know it. During busy season, there’s no contagion more dreaded – it can tear through your office and derail your productivity in a flash.

Well, that’s not true. There’s one thing more dangerous that’s out to infect your firm.

Stress is one of the top killers of productivity. Estimates suggest that about 550 million workdays are lost every year due to it. Compared to the flu’s 17 million lost days, that hand sanitizer on your desk may not be keeping your firm as healthy as you thought.

The key to recovering from stress is early intervention. Learn how to recognize the warning signs of stress in your staff and intervene quickly to cure what ails them.

Warning signs

Everyone deals with stress differently. Some people embrace the pressure and thrive. Others suffer a decline in performance. People can get physically ill, miss work or lose faith in their career choice. In a collaborative environment, just one stressed-out person can throw the broader group completely out of sync.

The first step in diagnosing stress-related problems is taking your staff’s behavior pulse. Look out for these warning signs:

• Anxiety
• Irritability or bickering among staff
• Disengagement, apathy or absenteeism
• Working excessive hours
• Reduced productivity and lower work quality
• Lack of energy, enthusiasm or comradery

Once you identify the signs, you can move on to finding a cure.

Home remedies

Curing a stressed-out staff means figuring out what’s causing the symptoms. You already know they’re working long hours and are under enormous pressure to get everything right. But beyond normal busy season stress may lie a deeper problem. Get to the bottom of it by asking staff about their pain points and address them immediately.

Once addressed, inoculate your team against future illness by creating a culture where they feel comfortable raising issues. Encourage open dialogue so they can lean on each other for support when times get tough. Consider implementing a few of these methods into your staff’s routine:

1. Introduce short team building exercises to break down barriers and get people talking.
2. Celebrate the small stuff. Maybe it’s a work anniversary or your tax manager just got that completed organizer from the one client that never gets it in before deadline.
3. Allow employees to step away from their desks several times a day to rest their minds. A quick break can do wonders for overall productivity and reduce burnout.
4. Start a reward system that acknowledges your staff’s contributions and incentivizes their hard work. An extra half-day of paid time off or a gift card to a local coffee shop should do the trick.
5. Ease up on the formalities. Consider designating one day a week as casual day. Or better yet, close the office and let staff work from home on Tuesdays.
6. Get people relaxed. Introduce them to micro-meditations and chair yoga or bring in a masseuse to work the tension out of the team’s collective shoulders.
7. When all else fails, remember the great universal motivator: food. On Friday nights when your tax staff is tired and looking at yet another Saturday morning of return prep, lift their spirits with a meal.

A tough pill to swallow

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, things may end up getting worse. The weekly staff meetings are now 60 minutes of arguing, and pizza Friday left your vegan receptionist hungry. At that point, there’s only one thing left to consider: You’re causing the problem.

Sure, the stress and inherent long hours that come with busy season are completely out of your control, but is there something you are doing that could be making things worse? Could you be doing a better job motivating your employees? Do you lead by example? Are you as patient as you could be? Are you the “one stressed-out person” that’s making it difficult to foster a calm environment? Your staff may not realize how stressed you are, too. As a manager, you have to set an example and manage your own anxieties so you don’t add to the malaise.

Give yourself — and your staff — a break. Busy season isn’t a cake walk, and this year may be more stressful than usual. To ease the pressure a little, the AICPA created a busy season hub jam-packed with news, resources and tools that’ll get you through to the other side. Go check it out, then check in with your staff. You’ll all be on the road to wellness in no time.

Allison Carter Fanney, Communications Manager – Tax, Association of International Certified Professional Accountants

     

Related Stories

• 6 funny TV shows that do taxes better than you do
• Busy season grind got you down? 3 ways to reenergize.
• 5 reasons to keep your procrastibaking habit during busy season

 

It is highly unlikely that you’ll live a life free of public speech obligations. Team meetings, board meetings, pitches, presentations, toasts and the like, will all call on you to dig into yourself (extrovert or not) to publicly drive home a meaningful message. Consider this ability to connect to people, and move them with your words, one of the skills you’ll need to remain an asset in future workplaces.

So how do we keep from becoming the living version of Charlie Brown’s boring, seemingly gibberish-speaking teacher? We watched the 91^st Academy Awards and took notes from some of the best presenters and speeches to help you get it right. Here are five tips from Oscar-winning pros:

Break the Ice

This year’s Oscars didn’t have a host, so they got three premier comedians to start things off on a humorous note. I know, we’re not all Maya Rudolph, Tina Fey or Amy Poehler, but that doesn’t mean we can’t try. The first few moments of a meeting can be awkward, so try carving out room to let the humor shine through. Lower the audience’s guard by leaving room for your personality. Tell a joke, ask about people’s weekends, or even share your perspective on a current event. A couple laughs will likely make the audience more receptive to what’s coming next but might also loosen up your own nerves. We saw smiles break out across the audience at Tina Fey’s hilarious mention of the Fyre Festival debacle. “Look under your seats, you’re all getting one of those cheese sandwiches from the Fyre Festival!” Every presenter had it way easier after that.

The Gratitude Sandwich

If I had a dime for every time an Academy Award recipient started and ended their speech with the words, “thank you,” someone else would be writing this blog post right now. If there’s one thing we can gather from the Oscar-winner speeches, it’s that gratitude is crucial. Not only is it important to recognize all the moving parts that contribute to the specific moment, but gratitude gives off humility. Humility makes you likeable. So next time you present or hold a team meeting, make sure you’re thanking everyone for their attendance when you start, and for their attention when you end. Showing appreciation is a great way to include everyone in the moment. “Teamwork makes the dream work,” remember?

Lead with Authentic Emotion

If you’re feeling joy, uncontrollable excitement, or anything else on the emotional spectrum, don’t be afraid to say it. Give yourself permission to be human – publicly! Your emotions aren’t secret, they’re what makes a moment authentic and memorable. If you want people to connect, infuse some humanity into it. You know the saying, “they’ll forget what you said, but they’ll always remember how you made them feel.” We’re still over here wiping away tears from Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper’s sentimental performance of “Shallow.” While we wouldn’t recommend moving your peers to tears, showing excitement for a new work initiative is a great way to transfer positive feelings and get some investment in return.

Get Real

Sure, your presentation is pre-written and rehearsed, but who says that means it has to be stale and impersonal? Adding personal anecdotes not only humanizes the speaker, it makes the topic relatable. After Spike Lee went down the long list of sacrifices his grandmother made to support his filmmaking journey, it was easy to relate to his uncontainable joy because many of us have someone in our lives who’s done the same. Getting personal can help you connect with even the stiffest audience.

Talk to the People!

The fourth wall is the metaphorical barrier between the audience and the actors. It lets the actors live in the scene and pretend the audience isn’t there. During any form of public speech, it’s easy to accidentally create a fourth wall and speak at the room rather than to it. Remember, no matter how much you’ve rehearsed, you’re not just speaking out into a room you’re speak to the people in it. Barbra Streisand masterfully broke this fourth wall when she looked away from the teleprompter to have an impromptu moment with Spike Lee, the director of a film she was praising. In this moment they gushed over their hometown, Brooklyn, NY and their love for hats! Streisand demonstrated a unique way to connect with the audience, beyond eye-contact. Speak to individuals in the room! Make audible note of a commonality, address a publicly known personal fact, etc…

Public speaking can be daunting. People are watching you and even worse – most times they’re actually listening to you. Instead of obsessing over everything that can go wrong, like the robot you’re not, invest in being as human as you can. We love to watch the Oscars because this is the one time we get to see our favorite actors come out of character and be real people, with real emotions, win or lose. Yes, you should prepare, yes you can practice, but remember that your audience is more than a collective body. They’re people. If you focus on connecting to the people, you’ll engage them, you’ll entertain them and maybe even move them. Before you know it, you could be on a major stage accepting your own award.  

Mballa Mendouga, Manager – Social Responsibility & Campaigns, Association of International Certified Professional Accountants

     

Related Stories

• Staying in love with your significant other – who’s also your business partner
• 6 funny TV shows that do taxes better than you do
• Busy season grind got you down? 3 ways to reenergize.