Issue #19 - Clients follow your lead
How to set client expectations plus Linda Lee-Hahn’s ADHD "conquer and delegate" method
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Small change, big difference
Are all difficult clients part of the same WhatsApp, Facebook, or Reddit group?
It’s uncanny how they all seem to follow the same M.O.—sending documents late but insisting on immediate action, flooding your inbox, texts, and even website with relentless messages, holding back critical information until the last possible moment, and often being downright rude.
How do you 1) ensure you don’t end up with clients like these, 2) manage them, and 3) make sure your future clients are the complete opposite?
Let’s start with this hot take by Nicole Davis, CPA, with which we 100% agree: “Client expectations are set by you. If they’re unreasonable, it’s because you allowed them to be.”
If you agree, here are simple changes you can make to dramatically improve your client management process: establish clear processes, assess new clients against them, and set expectations right from the beginning.
Watch this conversation between Richard Roppa Roberts and Tonya Schulte as Tonya shares how she establishes clear client expectations from the very start of onboarding to ensure alignment with her firm’s workflow.
Communities 🫶
Roundtable Labs
Roundtable Labs knows and understands the power of community. If you aren't already engaged in at least one of the amazing accounting communities to help during the tough times and to celebrate successes, we encourage you to add it to your goals for 2025!
Special Offer: Join an upcoming Next Level Firm Roundtable. Sign up to join the community before the end of 2024 and enjoy $50 off for life! Use code 50off at checkout.
CPB Canada
CPB Canada invites you to The Autumn Tax Primer happening on Nov 19, 2024. This one-day virtual professional development event (3 CPD) is for new or seasoned tax professionals and bookkeepers. Hearing from a range of industry experts will help you provide informed services to your clients, and the range of learning will prepare you for the year ahead.
Promotion: Save 20% on CPB Canada Membership when you buy the Autumn Tax Primer Membership Bundle.
‘Ask a CPA’
‘Ask a CPA' is a community of bookkeepers eager to learn how to better collaborate with tax pros and prepare tax-ready books. With frequent live webinars and Q&As, as well as a searchable video database, checklists, a resource library — and a supportive and non-judgemental approach to education — we're changing how bookkeepers and tax pros work together for the benefit of our small business clients.
Join the community. Use promo code - WORKFLOWCON2024 to get a 30% discount for the first three months, redeemable until midnight on Nov 30, 2024.
Bookkeeping Buds
Lunch With a Leader: Tips to End 2024 on Top
Join Bookkeeping Buds for a special 1-hour webinar where you can grab a bite, listen, and learn from fellow Bookkeeping Buds as we discuss the must-dos for wrapping up 2024 on a high note! Think of it as a sprinkle of fairy dust on your year-end checklist!
Everyone is welcome. Dec 12, 2-3 PM EST
H🔥t topics
Delegation, Breathwork and Pomodoro: Inside Linda Lee-Hahn’s ADHD Survival Kit
ADHD isn’t always about kids bouncing off walls or struggling to pay attention in class. Sometimes, it hides behind perfectionism, anxiety, and a constant need for structure—traits that many people, like Linda, have lived with for years without even realizing it.
Now, as the owner of Olsen Hahn Accounting Ltd, Linda brings that same blend of structure and adaptability into her professional life.
I learned early on that I thrive when I focus on the tasks that light me up,” she explains. “If I try to push through something I’m not excited about, my focus just disappears.” This realization has become a cornerstone of her work strategy. Instead of forcing herself to power through tasks that drain her, Linda uses a method she calls “conquer and delegate.”
Easing the Talent Crunch: Higher Starting Salaries and Balanced Workloads
The accounting profession is taking steps to attract fresh talent by increasing starting salaries and addressing workload concerns. According to a recent article by Sue Coffey, CPA, CGMA, for the Journal of Accountancy, starting salaries for new accountants in the Class of 2023 saw a 7% increase over the previous year, outpacing inflation. Though still trailing other high-demand fields, this is a positive move toward making the profession more appealing to top graduates.
Moreover, CPA firm leaders recognize the importance of workload balance for attracting and retaining young talent. A recent survey of the Top 500 firms, excluding the Big Four, revealed that 57% plan to tackle workload balance in the coming months.
Competitive pay and a manageable workload are essential as the profession works to replenish its talent pipeline and combat a growing shortage.
Swipe this workflow template
Swipe this bookkeeping client off-boarding template to off-board a recurring client who will no longer work with your firm.
Meme
Relatable?
Noteworthy
The Ultimate To-Do List: How To Prioritize Tasks Effectively in Your Solo Firm
The pressure to manage everything independently can lead to a constant sense of “to-do list overload.” This persistent act often results in unaddressed priorities, forgotten deadlines, and reduced client satisfaction.
In this high-pressure environment, effective task prioritization is important not only for the sustainability of a solo firm but also for personal well-being.
Prioritization doesn’t just help you check off tasks; it provides a structured approach that helps you achieve more in less time, improves client relationships, and brings a renewed sense of control over your workload.
In this article, we explore proven prioritization methods tailored to the unique demands of solo firms, providing a roadmap for improved productivity, client satisfaction, and work-life balance.
Sheila Fraser on the state of the profession
CPA Canada caught up with the highly accomplished and respected former CPA Sheila Fraser, who just received the IFAC Global Leadership Award at our recommendation. She shares her thoughts on the state of the profession and has advice for CPAs in general — and specifically women in the profession — and the importance of a national body. With over 40 years in the profession and leading at the highest levels of the private and public sectors, her wisdom is worth considering.
The ROI Of Empathy: Improving Business Results And Workplace Culture
Empathy—showing that you understand and care about others—is widely valued in the workplace for its impact on job satisfaction, motivation, productivity, and culture. Despite these benefits, demonstrating empathy remains a challenge for many organizations.
To explore this gap, Businessolver’s Chief Strategy Officer, Rae Shanahan, discusses insights from their 2024 State of Workplace Empathy report, highlighting why the theory doesn’t always translate into action and what companies can do to bridge this gap for a more empathetic, effective workplace.
Until next time,
