CPA Trendlines’ Post

Carla McCall: Find Your Authentic Leadership Style | Gear Up For Growth: "Just having a title or a position doesn’t make you a leader. You have to earn the trust and respect of the team that you're leading." Gear Up for Growth With Jean Caragher For CPA Trendlines   In the latest episode of Gear Up for Growth, Carla McCall, managing partner of AAF CPAs and chair of the AICPA, shares valuable insights into leadership transitions within CPA firms. As the industry faces a generational shift—with 75% of current CPAs expected to retire in the next 15 years—McCall's experience highlights the importance of planning for the next wave of firm leadership.   Gear Up for Growth spotlights the best strategies for smart and effficient growth in today's competitive landscape. More Gear Up for Growth every Friday here.| More Capstone Conversations with Jean Caragher every Monday | More Jean Caragher here | Get her best-selling handbook, The 90-Day Marketing Plan for CPA Firms, here | More CPA Trendlines videos and podcasts here   During the conversation, McCall recounts her journey, beginning when she joined AAF in 1995, then becoming a partner at AAF in 2003, and eventually becoming a co-managing partner in 2011. She emphasizes the importance of having a firm-wide succession mindset, where every leader is responsible for mentoring and developing their potential successor. One key factor in AAF’s smooth transition was a structured Managing Partner in Training (MPIT) program designed to prepare future leaders for the complexities of running a CPA firm. McCall reflects on her challenges in building trust and influence as a new leader. She stresses that leadership goes beyond simply holding a title—it requires earning respect through authenticity, feedback, and focusing on helping others succeed. Her journey to sole managing partner in 2020 demonstrated the power of aligning leadership around vision and strategy while empowering operational leaders to make day-to-day decisions.   McCall's advice to CPA firm leaders? Start succession planning early, foster a culture of candid feedback, and align your team around a shared vision. With the right mindset and preparation, transitioning leadership can lead to a stronger, more resilient firm. http://dlvr.it/TFyHt2

Carla McCall: Find Your Authentic Leadership Style | Gear Up For Growth: "Just having a title or a position doesn’t make you a leader. You have to earn the trust and respect of the team that you're leading." Gear Up for Growth With Jean Caragher For CPA Trendlines   In the latest episode of Gear Up for Growth, Carla McCall, managing partner of AAF CPAs and chair of the AICPA, shares valuable insights into leadership transitions within CPA firms. As the industry faces a generational shift—with 75% of current CPAs expected to retire in the next 15 years—McCall's experience highlights the importance of planning for the next wave of firm leadership.   Gear Up for Growth spotlights the best strategies for smart and effficient growth in today's competitive landscape. More Gear Up for Growth every Friday here.| More Capstone Conversations with Jean Caragher every Monday | More Jean Caragher here | Get her best-selling handbook, The 90-Day Marketing Plan for CPA Firms, here | More CPA Trendlines videos and podcasts here   During the conversation, McCall recounts her journey, beginning when she joined AAF in 1995, then becoming a partner at AAF in 2003, and eventually becoming a co-managing partner in 2011. She emphasizes the importance of having a firm-wide succession mindset, where every leader is responsible for mentoring and developing their potential successor. One key factor in AAF’s smooth transition was a structured Managing Partner in Training (MPIT) program designed to prepare future leaders for the complexities of running a CPA firm. McCall reflects on her challenges in building trust and influence as a new leader. She stresses that leadership goes beyond simply holding a title—it requires earning respect through authenticity, feedback, and focusing on helping others succeed. Her journey to sole managing partner in 2020 demonstrated the power of aligning leadership around vision and strategy while empowering operational leaders to make day-to-day decisions.   McCall's advice to CPA firm leaders? Start succession planning early, foster a culture of candid feedback, and align your team around a shared vision. With the right mindset and preparation, transitioning leadership can lead to a stronger, more resilient firm. http://dlvr.it/TFyHsZ

Can your employees name the vision, mission and values of your organization? You’d be surprised, says Ray Kelly, SVP and consultant at think2perform. Leaders have a crucial role in communicating these concepts — and modeling them. “If you don't believe in that vision, aren't living by those values, forget about it,” Ray says. “That authentic behavior has to be there, so it's not just a ‘go and check the box’ exercise.” Check out the full episode of Making the Ideal Real! https://lnkd.in/eRUBgxjR  #vision #mission #values #leadership

The best leadership candidates may not be the ones you’d expect. This is because several of the qualities that make great leaders, such as humility, self-awareness, and empathy, can hinder their recognition—and, in many cases, their rise to the top. What organizations can do differently to identify stronger, more successful, and more diverse candidates for leadership roles? In this blog post, my colleagues Bryan Hancock and Brooke Weddle share insights from their recent conversation with organizational psychologist and author Dr Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic: https://mck.co/45HHVgO  Human-centric leaders—those who are passionate about helping others improve—are better able to inspire a purpose-driven, engaged, and resilient workforce. By rethinking the criteria for selecting leaders and helping their people develop crucial personal skills, organizations can create significant value for themselves and society as a whole. Interested in learning more? Tune in to our McKinsey Talks Talent episode on the topic here: https://mck.co/3QosyDm  #Leadership #Development #Talent

🌟 Just finished reading an eye-opening article on navigating the most common leadership challenges at every level. The pressures that come with leadership roles are often universal, yet they vary significantly depending on the stage of one's leadership journey. 👉 Frontline Leaders: Embracing the transition from a technical expert to a managerial leader is a daunting challenge. The pressure to balance technical expertise with leadership responsibilities is real and often overlooked. 👉 Senior Leaders: Being highly visible, managing complex problems, and navigating office politics are just a few of the unique challenges faced by senior leaders. The pressure to build and lead a high-performing team while dealing with increased ambiguity is immense. 👉 Mid-level Leaders: Ah, the meat in the sandwich! The struggle to manage pressure from both above and below, make tough decisions, and lack access to information and support is real. It's the stage where leadership capability and confidence are truly forged. Regardless of the level, these challenges are a testament to the tenacity and resilience required to thrive in leadership. The article also provides valuable insights and episodes from the No Bullsh!t Leadership podcast to help leaders at every level overcome these challenges and thrive. Share your observations and experiences - what challenges have you encountered in your leadership journey? https://lnkd.in/gssciPaz

"The key to a bigger vision is seeing others do it and learning to think ‘who’ instead of ‘how’ when faced with challenges." Big visions require big influences. Shifting from “how can I do this?” to “who can help me do this?” changes the game. This mindset empowers you to leverage the strengths, knowledge, and insights of others—taking you to new heights faster and with more impact. In my article “Unleashing Leadership” for The Bellwether Magazine, I explore this shift in mindset and the power of collaboration in achieving strategic growth. 👉 Ready to dive in? Check out the full November issue here: https://lnkd.in/eH75ZNct And if you’re on the go, there’s even an audio version where I read it aloud! #Leadership #VisionaryThinking #StrategicGrowth #FeaturedOnBellwether ----------- If you’re new here, I’m Alex, Strategic Advisor to Leaders Building Incredible Companies. If you're a business leader or executive team ready to take your leadership and your company to the next level with a high performing team, we would love to see how we can rocket fuel your growth. Book a free Builders Business Booster call where you’ll receive a Strategic Leadership Audit and 3 concrete focus areas to mature and grow your business. Book here: https://lnkd.in/eyAXP3jq Want to stay in the know…? Join The Builders Club to stay up to date on upcoming events, get valuable insights and tools, and be the first to receive exciting announcements straight to your inbox (No Spam, I promise!): https://lnkd.in/e3z4A8SJ Curious to learn more? Here are the best places to start learning about me and get in touch: My website https://alexsnider.com/ has alllll the links plus client testimonials, feature articles, presentations and more Peep my creds on LinkedIn https://lnkd.in/euA4KhSq Check out where I am in the world and if I went to the gym today 😅on Instagram https://lnkd.in/dsfqzDHq Don’t forget to Subscribe to the podcast on your favourite platform and give us a 5 star rating while you’re at it! https://lnkd.in/duK7BZ6T

Ever stumbled upon advice so straightforward yet profound that it stopped you in your tracks? It's not every day you come across leadership insights that strike the perfect balance between actionable and aspirational. That's the 'Tom-ism' effect for you. Drawn from Tom Schmitt's (Former Chairman & CEO, Forward Air Corporation) extensive experience, each tom-ism is a nugget of wisdom that provides straightforward, actionable guidance for navigating complexities in professional and personal lives. Why do 'Tom-isms' matter for today's leaders? 👉 They're Practical: Each 'Tom-ism' is a distilled essence of leadership that’s immediately applicable. 👉 They're Proven: Born from Tom Schmitt’s extensive experience, these principles have been tested in the real world of global logistics and team dynamics. 👉 They Inspire Action: Beyond inspiration, 'Tom-isms' provide a clear guide for making impactful decisions and leading with integrity. Our latest blog - 'Exploring Tom-isms: Strategies for Meaningful Leadership' - shares the origin of Tom-isms and breaks down the top 10 principles. Curious? Check out the blog using the link in the comments. #blog #tomism #principles #leadership #fulfillmentiq

Successful leadership requires expanding one's skills, especially when moving from a directive role to one that involves more engagement and inspiration. Leaders need to balance execution with fostering innovation, understanding that what worked before might hold them back in a new context. Leadership also involves engaging more people across an organization, not just those at the top, to build capabilities at scale In this episode of the 𝗠𝗰𝗞𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗲𝘆 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁, Simon London speaks with McKinsey senior partner Claudio Feser and associate partner Nicolai Nielsen about this deceptively simple question, "𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽?" drawing on research from their new book, 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲: 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽, 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀. Leadership is a Journey of Awareness and Adaptability. Developing a critical mass of Leaders involves providing them accurate information & insights on their Leadership Paradigms: the belief systems that shape how they deal with people and situations, Leadership Motivation: What energises them to lead and their Situational Leadership Behaviors: The way they adapt their style to provide the right balance of direction and support based on the demands of the situation and the development level of their team members. Would you like to help leaders in your organization measure their Leadership Style Flexibility & Effectiveness? Talk to us at [email protected] Meanwhile, you can begin by taking our Personal Leadership Profile https://lnkd.in/gkZ72ZDG Get a personalized report with insights for Action Planning & growth! #LeadershipSkills #leadershipdevelopment #situationalleadership #SelfAwareness #growthmindset #LeadershipMotivation #EffectiveLeadership https://lnkd.in/gCS7r9iu

Jerry Colonna, CEO of Reboot.io, is known as the CEO Whisperer and is a trusted guide for many of the tech industry's most influential founders and CEOs. His approach to leadership is built on the belief that to be better leaders and better people; we must create welcoming environments where everyone feels valued and has a sense of belonging. However, Jerry argues that before creating such environments, we must first confront our deep-seated need for belonging and examine how that need has often been left unfulfilled in our lives. 👉 It is only by embracing vulnerability, cultivating self-awareness, and leading with emotional intelligence that we can truly understand and address our longing for belonging and, in turn, create the conditions for others to feel a sense of belonging within our organizations. 🤩 Jerry's work has profoundly influenced my thinking and approach to coaching CEOs, which is why it was such a pleasure to have him as a guest on the Partnering Leadership podcast to discuss his latest book, Reunion: Leadership and the Longing to Belong. In a world that often glorifies a "tough love" leadership style, Jerry makes a compelling case that the most impactful leaders: - 💡 Embrace their authentic selves, flaws and all, to tap into a deeper sense of purpose and resilience - 🔍 Engage in radical self-inquiry to gain clarity on their values, strengths, and areas for growth - 🤝 Lead with empathy and compassion, fostering a culture of trust and support It's time to move beyond just agreeing with these ideas and start taking real action. To do this, we need to be more emotionally honest, look deeply at ourselves, and work hard to create a sense of belonging for everyone. ❓ How much emotional honesty do you bring to your leadership? How can you be even more genuine? Many leaders struggle with self-awareness. Don't assume you're different. ❓ What can you do to better understand yourself, even if you think you're already pretty good at it? ❓ What can you do to increase the sense of belonging in your team and organization? We need more than just nodding along. We need to pay attention and take real steps to make this happen. How will you put these insights into practice? 🤔 #partneringleadership #leadership #strategy #management #culture #collaboration #belonging

Our team had the privilege of speaking with Sheldon Ramkissoon, a visionary who achieved financial independence by 37. He didn’t just talk about success—he lives it, and his leadership insights are a game-changer for anyone looking to take their business to the next level. If you’re ready to lead with purpose and see real growth, here are the 8 key takeaways from our conversation that you can start applying right away, read full article here: https://lnkd.in/et89TqJn