By Jason Thompson, CPA/ABV, ASA, CFE, CFF
Partner, Director of Valuation and Litigation Services
Email Jason
Success is about continuous learning, not crossing a finish line beyond which there is nothing but smooth sailing. (A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor!) Many of those at the supposed top of their game keep striving to reach greater heights. For instance, many Academy Award-winning actors still turn to coaches and take acting lessons to improve their versatility.
This summer, as your kids head to camp and your company welcomes new interns, think about what new skills YOU should acquire. While it can be easy to get lost in the daily grind and think you’re doing just fine at your current skill level, continuous learning and improving are important not only for professional success but for personal satisfaction, confidence and self-esteem.
As a business leader, you should budget time for personal improvement. As Indiana CPAs, we are required to attend a minimum of 120 hours of continuing professional education every three years in order to maintain our licenses. What do you require of yourself and your staff to maintain skills and quality? Do you invest in training?
What is your own personal black belt you’d like to earn this summer? In this time of remote working, maybe you need to brush up on your communication skills. There are lots of online courses for effective email communication and etiquette. Media training could also help you — not only with communicating in general but in creating a relationship tailored to your audience/clients’ needs. If you know anyone who does a lot of writing or speaking for a living, maybe ask them to be a mentor.
A coach can provide a unique perspective that allows you to more clearly identify areas in which you could improve. As esteemed actor Hugh Jackman said, “The coach can see what you can’t see because you’re in the forest, they’re outside of it.”
With summer just around the corner, maybe it’s time for outdoor team-building activities. Enhance your team’s chemistry and refine their collaboration skills by working together in settings outside the workplace.
Your personal growth as a business owner and your company’s progress go hand in hand. Growth is not just measured in revenue dollars but also in expanded capabilities and talent, and development of new products or services. Investing in human capital, both yours and others, can make these things possible and If done effectively, growth in revenue dollars and net income will come naturally.
HR professionals often refer to their sphere of responsibility as “Talent Management.” Think of that term in another way: How are you managing your personal talent, and are you adding to your skills to reach your full potential? Only YOU can answer that question!
If we can assist you further with your business or personal affairs, please contact Jason Thompson at (317) 608-6694 or email Jason.