Developing NonTechnical Skills For Your Professionals Agenda Developing

Developing Non-Technical Skills For Your Professionals

Agenda § Developing the training plan - infusing core skill learning into all aspects of your firm’s education § Identify the core skills that are most important to firms today § Learning development at every level match the core skills to the various levels § Who are the essential players § The step by step guide for implementation

“Good Leaders Teach… Great Leaders Learn” Noel M. Tichy author The Leadership Cycle Noel Tichy is professor of organizational behavior and human resource management at the University of Michigan and director of the Global Leadership Program, an executive-development consortium of 36 companies.

POLLING QUESTION #1 Top Leadership – Our MP/CEO is passionately committed to teaching/learning. 5. Yes, very committed 4. Most of the time 3. Occasionally 2. Somewhat 1. Not at all

DEVELOPING THE TRAINING PLAN INFUSING CORE SKILL LEARNING INTO ALL ASPECTS OF YOUR FIRM’S EDUCATION

POLLING QUESTION #2 We have individual learning plan for everyone in the firm. 4. 3. 2. 1. Yes, everyone is included Most positions are included Some positions are included No, we do not have individual learning plans.

Assessment Techniques/Tools Brainbench Web. Quiz http: //www. smartlite. it/en 2/products/webq uiz/ Audience Response Systems www. turningtechnologies. com

Assessment Techniques/Tools Inquisite www. inquisite. com Microsoft Office Practice Quizzes Assessment Solutions www. fadvassessments. com

Assessment Build Your Own

Learning Plans § § § Written & communicated Set a benchmark Set expectations Lifetime growth plan Links to a personal game plan

Sample Learning Plan Staff Senior Manager Sr. Manager Technical Beginning Audit/Tax Intermediate Audit/Tax Advanced Audited/Tax Audit/Tax Updates Computer Skills MS Office; Other beginning programs IDEA; Advanced Excel; Advanced Case. Ware/Case. View Advanced Power. Point Leadership/Business Skills Marketing Networking Management Managing people, projects & pressure; Managing & maximizing relationships; Prepare for your new management role Marketing Cross Selling; Writing a Marketing Plan; ID organization to join Soft Skills Presentation Skills; Being Understood for the 1 st Time Management HAW Leadership Academy Marketing Natural Selling Concepts for CPAs; Networking; Identifying crossselling opportunities Soft Skills Eating Etiquette; CPAs “Four Rs” of Communicating: Talking, Listening, Writing & Presenting Management HAW Leadership Academy Marketing Developing business, Converting crossselling opportunities; Soft Skills Making a presentation at a conference of choice General Personnel & Regulatory issues Source: Habif, Arogeti & Wynne, LLP

AICPA Resource

Goals of your training program… § Continuous transformation § Rapid development of capable leaders § Develop new products & services

Top Challenges – Training Initiatives § § § Lack of a Process Not a Priority Viewed as a Checklist Creating the Experience No True Owner

The Evolution Teaching – Everyone is expected to contribute to the organization’s knowledge base by teaching others. Learning – Individuals take responsibility for learning, but knowledge creation is not the ultimate goal. Hierarchical – Chain of command where ideas are filtered and generally killed before they get to the top. Autocratic – Leader or founder uses command & control style with all of the answers.

THE 3 PILLARS

Technical Core Skills (Soft Skills) Technology

POLLING QUESTION #3 We include core skills in our overall training plan. 1. Yes 2. No

IDENTIFY THE CORE SKILLS THAT ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO FIRMS TODAY

Partner Manager Entry Level Onboarding

90% of Employee’s Make the Decision To Stay With A Company Within the First 6 Months of Employment

Onboarding 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Hours x Information = More not less! Create the culture from day 1 Help them see the big picture Tell “stories” about the firm Think interesting and interactive Develop from their point of view Lots of trainers Develop a buddy system

Training & Learning People Development Leadership Development Client Service/Practice Development Ongoing Development Allocation of Learning Hours Personal/Self Development Cultural/Orientation Core Technical Training Role/Position Training Technical/Updates Entry Time Retirement Source: Plante & Moran LLP (Adapted)

Training & Learning Leadership Development Cultural/Orientation Personal/Self Development Client Service/Practice Development Core Technical Training Ongoing Development Allocation of Learning Hours People Development Role/Position Training Technical/Updates Entry Time Source: Plante & Moran LLP Retirement

ESSENTIAL PLAYERS

POLLING QUESTION #4 We have a professional in our firm who is responsible for your firms learning and training plan. (Not #20 on their task list) 1. Yes 2. No

Training Professional Internal Experts External Resources

LEARNING DEVELOPMENT AT EVERY LEVEL MATCH THE CORE SKILLS TO THE VARIOUS LEVELS

Management Skills & Tools § § § § § Project management Team building Conflict resolution Performance management Accountability Delegation strategies Meeting management Client service Communication techniques Business development § § § § § 90 Day Game Plans Unique processes Risk management Client analysis & value Building a peer network Change management IT – the accelerator Pricing Training and learning Mentoring versus coaching

The Progressive Curriculum Development Assessments/Goal Setting Managing Yourself Managing Clients Managing Teams Practice Development

Important Components § Expanded knowledge – beyond the CPA firm § Book Reports § Tie the skills back to the firm § Projects are important § Mentor/Protégé Program is imperative

POLLING QUESTION #5 We are committed to making training and learning a top priority in our firm for 2011. 1. Yes 2. No

IMPORTANT IMPLEMENTATION STEPS

Steps to Success 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Commitment from the top Commitment of sufficient resources Compress the time line Develop leaders at multiple levels Develop multiple teaching infrastructures a) b) c) d) e) f) g) Assignments Classroom Intranet Boot camps Task forces Workgroups/teams Alliances

Thank you! sandra. wiley@boomer. com www. boomer. com