{"id":19892,"date":"2020-05-19T08:00:10","date_gmt":"2020-05-19T13:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/taxprocenter.proconnect.intuit.com\/?p=19892"},"modified":"2020-05-26T17:00:03","modified_gmt":"2020-05-26T22:00:03","slug":"5-talent-strategies-for-great-tax-firms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/accountants.intuit.com\/taxprocenter\/practice-management\/5-talent-strategies-for-great-tax-firms\/","title":{"rendered":"5 talent strategies for great tax firms"},"content":{"rendered":"

Managing talent is all about hiring talented candidates and nurturing them into valuable life-long employees, but as many tax firm owners and partners know, the devil is in the details. Each decision must help the firm move forward in its strategic plan, and every team member hired must enhance firm culture.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s a tall order, so how can you meet the challenge? The answer lies in the five steps outlined below.<\/p>\n

Step 1: Focus on talent design<\/b><\/p>\n

Talent development must be linked to the overall firm strategy. You can\u2019t design a successful talent strategy without first stating your firm\u2019s goals. Considering overall goals at the outset will help you evaluate your existing staff and assess new roles that will need to be filled in the future.<\/p>\n

Next, think about talent development as creating an employee experience. The way people feel about their jobs and careers is changing, and firms need to be prepared for it. This isn\u2019t about providing perks such as free lunches and casual Fridays, but about creating an authentic experience that helps employees feel valued, and that they work they do matters.<\/p>\n

Step 2: Cater to your distributed workforce<\/b><\/p>\n

If the past few months have shown us anything, it\u2019s that professionals can be productive while working from home<\/a>! Now that our profession has demonstrated that remote work is possible, don\u2019t expect to go back to the way things were.<\/p>\n

This isn\u2019t just about your full-time tax and accounting staff; it also applies to gig and project-based workers who can benefit your firm, and people with experience in wealth management, marketing, human resources (HR), and other niches<\/a>. Identify spaces and places in your firm where\u00a0someone with a very specific talent can help without being full-time employee. This will be a terrific initiative\u00a0for forward-thinking firms.<\/p>\n

Step 3: Emphasize collaborative intelligence<\/b><\/p>\n

With technology booming in so many sectors of the workplace, many people fear that technology will eventually replace human workers throughout the economy.<\/p>\n

In reality, humans are vital. While technology can help us increase speed, scalability, and analysis, humans are required for leadership, teamwork, creativity, and social skills. Together, humans and technology are a winning combination!<\/p>\n

To take full advantage of this collaborative intelligence, start looking for strategies that allow humans to augment machines<\/a>, and enable machines to enhance what humans do best. Redesign your processes to support that partnership.<\/p>\n

Step 4: Protect your strategic time<\/b><\/p>\n

Does your team multitask? Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, many people still believe that multitasking helps them be more productive. In fact, many psychologists believe that multitasking is impossible. Your attention and consciousness can only focus on one thing at a time, so trying to switch back and forth between the two actually hurts your performance.<\/p>\n

If you really want to improve productivity, set aside time for your most important work. Make this time non-negotiable and free from distractions. Giving yourself and your team just an hour or two of laser-focused time will really skyrocket your productivity.<\/p>\n

Also, remember that time management isn\u2019t just about work. Make sure you build time into your schedule to unplug. This should be a firm initiative, not just a personal one. Allowing time to disconnect from work and properly recharge will ensure that when you are working, you\u2019re making the most of your time.<\/p>\n

Step 5: Track strategic HR metrics<\/b><\/p>\n

Analytics will soon impact every aspect of HR, from recruiting to performance management and employee engagement. With strategic HR metrics, your firm can identify opportunities for improvement, and ensure the HR department is supporting the firm and meeting the needs of employees.<\/p>\n

Some of the metrics great firms are now tracking include:<\/p>\n