Get Work Done - Issue #1
Can desk accessories improve productivity? + the hottest news and insights on accounting work productivity
Welcome to "Get Work Done," where we dive into the nitty-gritty of running accounting and bookkeeping firms efficiently. This isn't your average newsletter – we're all about down-to-earth tips and insights that cut through the complexities, helping you streamline processes, embrace practical tech solutions, and boost your team's productivity. Join us for a regular dose of actionable advice and real-world strategies to make your work life smoother, one tip at a time. Let's get those numbers crunching and ledgers balanced without the unnecessary hassle.
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Small change, big difference
Whether you’re a fully remote, hybrid, or in-person firm, this simple hack can take your team’s productivity from meh to wow: Invest in your staff’s desk accessories.
How? Ask your staff to tell you one desk accessory that will help them feel more focused and productive, especially in this busy season. Then go ahead and get it for them. It could be a plant, a magnetic phone holder for laptops, headphones, a therapy lamp, or fidget magnets. You’ll be surprised how much difference this can make.
Firm spot💡light
McLenehan and Associates CPA noticed that their staff was experiencing burnout and a decline in productivity due to demanding work hours. They didn’t want that. They wanted every employee to feel like their well-being was being prioritized. Their solution to this problem was to cut down their work hours from 60 to 32.
The firm owner, Mike McLenehan shares how this huge reduction in working hours 1) does not stop them from getting their work done 2) led to an improvement in employee satisfaction and client service 3) helps them attract top talent looking for conducive work environments.
Take a listen.
Excerpts below:
Host:
How did you go about implementing this change within your firm?
Mike
It was definitely a process. We began by conducting surveys and having open discussions with our team members to understand their needs and concerns. We also sought input from experts in work-life balance and productivity. Based on the feedback we received, we developed a phased approach to gradually reduce the workweek hours while maintaining high-quality service to our clients.
Host:
It’s great to hear that you embraced flexible work arrangements. How did your clients react to these changes?
Guest:
Initially, there was some skepticism from a few clients who were accustomed to the traditional 9-to-5 model. However, we made sure to communicate the benefits of our approach and reassure them that the quality of service would not be compromised. We were transparent about our commitment to excellence and demonstrated how the shorter workweek positively impacted our team’s performance and well-being. Over time, our clients came to appreciate and value the new working model.
H🔥t topics
Has remote work lost its steam?
Many Gen Zs seem to be losing interest in fully remote work. That doesn’t mean they want to do the daily 45-minute commute to work and sit in a cubicle all day, but they crave some form of collaboration, flexibility, and human connection that remote work lacks. A 2023 analysis by LinkedIn found that “One potential reason? The oldest Gen Zer is only 26, and either only has a couple years of pre-pandemic work experience or has yet to experience office life at all after having their in-person education disrupted by the pandemic”.
This interesting LinkedIn post by Roman Villard - where he attempts to sound like a GenZ - poses an important question; how are you building your culture to attract the next generation of workers? But beyond attracting them, how can we train the next generation of workers if there isn’t any form of physical collaboration and human touch? These are things worth thinking about and discussing. You’ll also find some great insights in the comment section of the highlighted post.
How vampire tasks kill focus, and productivity + how to overcome them
Vampire tasks are all too familiar - those little, time-sucking tasks that drain your energy and leave you wondering how 8 hours went by so fast with little to nothing to show for it. Vampires are sometimes not just tasks but painfully manual admin processes, overbearing colleagues and supervisors, or personal distractions.
Vampire tasks make you spend all your time on the minor and have little time (and energy) for the major. For firm owners, it looks like spending hours following up with each employee on the status of work instead of implementing a tool that does that for you so you can focus on building relationships to scale your firm.
Some ways to overcome vampire tasks are to introduce tech and automation into your workflow, try timeboxing, silence notifications during work hours, and set boundaries.
Swipe this workflow template
Get this free Bookkeeping Proposal Template That Will Drive You More Clients: Want to acquire new clients for your bookkeeping firm? You need a well-crafted proposal. Here’s a detailed guide with a bookkeeping proposal template for your use.
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One word for this client…
FOMO events
FEBRUARY 26 -29
Sage Transform 2024 in Las Vegas
MARCH 12
Protect Your Time: Using Technology to Improve Client Communication
MARCH 13
Peer-to-Peer Conversations: Unlocking a smooth month-end
PS: If you’d like us to spotlight your event in the next issue, send an email to marketing@financial-cents.com
Noteworthy
The 'chronoworking' productivity hack that helps workers excel: Could the key to getting the most out of your employees be letting them do their jobs whenever they feel like it?
2024 Report: The State Of Accounting Workflow Automation: Discover insights into how accounting firms used workflow automation in 2023 and get answers to two important questions — Is workflow automation worth it and at what stage of a firm’s life cycle? Hear directly from hundreds of your peers.
Gemini app finally gets a productivity feature it was sorely missing: Gemini by Google should literally be the boss of all AIs with how much data Google has, but it’s missing important features like routines, media service provider support, and more. Thankfully, it looks like it’s now getting at least one of the functions it was sorely missing.
Work Shift: How to Beat the Friday Doldrums: Are Fridays just naturally the least productive day of the week or do we all just need a mind shift?
Top 45 Rib Cracking Accounting Jokes – The Lighter Side Of Numbers: Ever been in the middle of a stressful task and you read a joke that got you laughing to the point of momentarily forgetting your stress? You’ll want to save this one for those kinds of days.
How to create a tax return video summary: Nicole Davis’ quick & easy guide to making tax return video summaries your clients will love.
Until next time,
