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

WHAT KEEPS EMPLOYEES ENGAGED WITH THEIR WORKPLACE?
Results from an Australian Institute of Management Study.

With the unemployment rate remaining relatively low, and ageing workforce and the brain-drain becoming a real nuisance to many professions, the hottest strategic issue for most progressive firms is how to attract and retain talented employee so your staff understand how they can better support your clients? Do they know how to identify client needs, introduce new services and add real value?

It is accepted now that the days of keeping employees from cradle to grave are well and truly over. It is also acknowledged that the employee’s decision to leave a workplace is often outside the employer’s control (e.g. better opportunities elsewhere). This situation, however, only serves to increase the need for employers to work harder at employee engagement.

A national study of employees conducted by the Australian Institute of Management showed that over 90% of employees agreed that they worked for a great company and almost 80% believed that they had a good manager. Despite these figures, almost 25% of employees said that there was a possibility they could leave their company in the next 12 months.  With employees aged between 21 and 35 years, this rate increased to 1/3 of employees.

Key reasons for considering moving firms were

  1. No career advancement prospects (54%)
  2. Lack of reward or recognition for effort (45%)
  3. Bored with my current job (40%)
  4. Can get paid better elsewhere (39%)
  5. Lack of communication (30%)

When asked to nominate the most important factors that keep them engaged, staff identified:

  1. A sense of purpose and meaning in my job (62%)
  2. A good relationship with my co-workers (61%)
  3. A good relationship with my manager (55%)
  4. New and interesting challenges (53%)

In summary, the results of this survey demonstrate that disengaged employees are very costly. They tend to under-perform, they have higher rates of absenteeism, and are less committed and satisfied with the organisation. Perhaps even more pertinent for accounting firms is that they are becoming more costly to replace as wages and demand increases.

For accounting firms, the challenge is to keep junior employees and challenge senior staff motivated and interested. Any principal or partner that believes that they retain quality staff without listening to their needs and providing adequate training and coaching will pay a heavy price.

For more information on how Business Aptitude can assist with the development of Staff Retention strategies, call Dorothy Crosby on 1300 872 792.

UPCOMING WEBINAR PROGRAMS

Click on the program title for more information and registration details:

 

Employee Engagement – The key to increased productivity, job enrichment and client satisfaction

Tue 4th October and Tue 11th October 2011

12.30pm – 1.30pm

The Integration Imperative – How to add real value to clients through additional services

Wed 12th October 2011

12.30pm – 2.00pm

 
November webinar topics - Workplace legislation and the Fair Work Action - update for accounting firms and their clients ; Keys to developing a strong leadership team within your firm..

This specialist ebulletin is provided by TRAINING BEYOND ACCOUNTING, specialist providers of leadership, communication and practice management training and coaching. Visit www.trainingbeyondaccounting.com.au for further information on our capabilities and experience working with accounting firms.