Latest Events and Programs

  1. Prepare your Practice for Sale - Your 3 Year Plan to Maximise its Value - Wed 30th May - 12.30pm to 1.30pm AEST
  2. Measuring the Right Stuff - What your firm should be focusing on in the new Financial Year.  - Wed 6th June - 12.30pm to 1.30pm AEST
  3. How to develop your coaching and training skills - A webinar for partners, managers and trainers.  - Wed 13th June - 12.30 to 1.30pm AEST
  4. 5 Steps to effectively manage clients expectations in the new Financial Year- Wed 20th June - 12.30pm to 1.30pm AEST
  5. How to make Advisors out of Accountants - The role of active listening and feedback in developing client relationships - Tues 26th June - 12.30pm to 1.30pm AEST
  6. 7 Steps to improve turnaround time through a better focus on Workflow - Wed 27th June - 12.30pm to 1.30pm AEST

New CD-ROM Coaching Programs on PERFORMANCE REVIEW and CONFLICT RESOLUTION for accounting firms. and for accounting firms. Click on the program title for further details.

Are you on the list?

Click here to view a list of just some of the accounting firms that have benefited from our webinars and workshops.

Contact Us

Business Aptitude
PO Box 700
Chatswood, NSW 2057
Australia

tel: 1300 883 789
fax: (02) 9904 8306
email: enquiry@bizaptitude.com.au

TOP TIPS OF THE MONTH 

DO YOU AVOID CONFLICT IN YOUR FIRM?

Dealing with differences of opinion or clashing objectives is part of our day to day lives. Of all the conflict styles that people chose, avoidance is the most puzzling to partners, family members and co-workers.  The lack of engagement stems from fear of being wrong, concern about the relationship, fear of retaliation, or just general nervousness.   For these folks, conflict is the ultimate scary thing, and they really just hope that it will go away!

CONFLICT RESULTS IN LOST PRODUCTIVITY AND MOTIVATION

Unfortunately, it usually doesn’t go away. We’ve worked in many firms where there are underlying issues between staff that just refuse to go away. It is estimated that as many as two-thirds of performance issues arise from strained relationships between employees. Principals, partners and managers circle around the issues which continue to affect team and morale.  Unresolved conflict represents  a significant cost in terms of lost productivity in many firms.

THE 7 STEP PROCESS FOR MANAGING CONFLICT

Tao De Haas, a psychotherapist who specialises in team development and workplace relationships, has put together a 7 step process for dealing with conflict in an accounting environment. Tao has worked with principals, partners and managers to help them develop the skills to deal with conflict. Tao’s approach focuses on identifying the early signals of conflict and addressing them before they affect motivation and productivity.

  1. Recognise the early symptoms of conflict, which may include discomfort, misunderstanding, tension, disagreement, power play, complaints and overt conflict. 
  2. Acknowledge and act before the conflict gets out of control. Unacknowledged issues will often escalate. Be proactive and act early.
  3. Uncover the core reasons for conflict. These may include lack of clarity or information, misunderstanding, different values or beliefs or simply the need to be right.
  4. Challenge your attitude and look at all perspectives. Have a cool head and act in good will where possible. Follow the 3 steps – know, state and negotiate.
  5. Focus on achieving a positive outcome for all parties (win/win).
  6. Mediate if required to deal with interpersonal conflict. Remember that a win/lose outcome will not resolve the issue. You must find some common ground for moving ahead.
  7. Use external mediation if internal actions fail. Personalities may not help resolution, so you may need to take more drastic steps after everything else has been tried.

NEW CD-ROM PROGRAM ON CONFLICT MANAGEMENT FOR ACCOUNTING FIRMS

If you are looking for external guidance or simply would like to improve the conflict management skills of your managers, you may be interested in a new CD-ROM audio program we have just launched with the support of Tao De Haas.

This program ‘How to resolve conflict in your firm’ takes you through the 7 step process in more detail. Tao De Haas from CorporateXL and Dorothy Crosby from Business Aptitude present the ‘psychologist’ and ‘practice manager’ perspectives to give a unique unsight into conflict as it applies to an accounting team environment. The program runs for 100 minutes and is accompanied by a summary powerpoint presentation.

The fee for this program is $275 (including GST). The program comes with a money back guarantee (return the program within 14 days of purchase and we’ll return your fee, no questions asked).

If you would like to purchase this program, simply CLICK HERE to download the order form or contact us on 1300 883 789. All of our programs are designed by accountants for accountants.

CLICK HERE for information on our comprehensive program TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR TIME for principals, partners, managers, accountants and and administrative staff.

Developed by Business Aptitude, leading Practice Management Consultants and Trainers to Accountants. For further information, go to www.bizaptitude.com.au