Mark's Magic of Success plus a book to help boost your non-technical (soft) skills

Welcome to June, sunshine and the final few weeks of the lockdown (we can but hope)!

Below you'll find more real-life practical ideas and insights, plus a book to help boost your non-technical (soft) skills. Lastly there is a quick anecdote to make you smile: It can be expensive being a tax adviser

3 practical tips I shared recently in 1-2-1 sessions

My mentoring clients found these tips helpful in the context of their issues, challenges and problems. I hope you will too.

1. Be prepared to say ‘no’ more often: Beware the downside of NOT saying no. Do not allow others to take you off course and determine your future for you. How many diversions and delays are you prepared to take? If in doubt use me to help you focus and stay on course.
2. Fee push backs: Resist the temptation to accept or agree a lower fee unless client will also agree a reduction in the work you will do, or some other change to your terms. Never simply agree to fee push backs without related changes. If you change the price, change the package.
3. What does being 'busy' mean to you? You say you're busy. Is this a good thing or not? What kind of 'busy' are you? Are you just doing loads of stuff? Are you super-productive? Are you getting lots of valuable enquiries? Meeting lots of decent prospects? Sending out lots of decent quotes? Billing good fees? Are you feeling successful or are you feeling overwhelmed?

1-2-1 strategic and practical advice on lead generation for your practice

How would you like a 1-2-1 private session to help you use Linkedin effectively to source the leads you really want? Tailored to reflect your needs - whether basic or advanced.

Find out more >>>

Here's just a couple of the virtual sessions you can book me to present 1-2-1 or for your office/team:

MMMMM – Mastering the 5 Ms – Ideal if your business development activities are a little unfocused and you are struggling to win the new clients and work you really want to be doing.

Lead generation using Linkedin – Basic and advanced opportunities for accountants to use Linkedin effectively to source the leads you really want.

Find out more >>>

Why should we talk?

There are only 4 places left in my summer 1-2-1 mentoring programme. If you have been thinking about getting in touch, do it now to avoid missing out.

You want to get unstuck? Lockdown is ending. You know you need to do some serious planning to ensure that you avoid the mistakes and overcome the problems you have faced in the past.

You’re keen to move to the next level? You see the end of lockdown as a great opportunity and need to capitalise on it – but aren't confident you can do it on your own. You know you will feel better when you get some independent, informed and insightful help and encouragement.

Find out more >>>

Topical tax commentary on Linkedin

If you are at all active on Linkedin, do please follow The Tax Advice Network business page. You may find the posts insightful and useful. The Linkedin algorithm should also then reflect your interest in the posts you see on your home page feed.

Find out more >>>

This book will help boost your non-technical (soft) skills

You might think that business is all about facts and figures. In truth, as the world and business get more uncertain and complex, successful leaders need to embrace soft skills to get the best out of their people and themselves.

These are the opening words on the back cover of a book I read recently and which really spoke to me. The author's views echo those I have long espoused concerning the importance of developing your Key Business Skills (KBS).

The book was one of several I read in my role as a judge for this year's Business Book Awards. In total over 240 books were submitted and, of these, 24 were in the self development category that I was judging (as part of a small team). I have been a judge many times for accounting and tax related awards. Never before have I had to read full books. Thank goodness for the lockdown!

We quickly shortlisted 6 of the 24 and then I read these 6 over as many weeks while having my morning cuppa and instead of watching breakfast TV!

All 6 were good but one stood out such that I knew I would be writing about it. Fortunately my fellow judges agreed and this very book has now been announced as the winner of the Business Book of the year in the self development category.

The book explains soft skills in simple terms with very practical advice and tools to change behaviour and get better results.

Whilst not focused on accountants, the lessons, benefits and insights shared will be just as valuable to us as to all analytical leaders and business advisers.

The author talks about soft skills delivering hard results. Her focus is on people skills, working with clients, negotiating changes to the scope of work, agreeing solutions, managing conflict and keeping everyone committed. There's a fab example in the introduction as to the tangible cost of poor soft skills.

Check out the full blog post to get more of a feel about the book, it's title and how you can obtain the first chapter without charge from the author's website.

Fun time - It can be expensive being a tax adviser

Some years ago on my first visit to Penrith, Cumbria, to present a talk to the local CIOT branch, I took a cab to the venue. The driver asked me what I was doing in Penrith and I explained:

“I’m here to give a lecture to a group of tax advisers”.

For a moment I was thrown as he seemed very miffed. It then became clear from his reply that he had misheard me:

“It would be nice to have been invited. I’ve been a taxi driver here for over ten years!”

I was unable to keep a straight face!

I shared the story during my talk and at the tea-break one of the delegates came over to explain she’d had a similar problem recently.

When arranging her car insurance by phone, she was astonished by the premium quote. It was more than 8 times what she had paid the previous year. She queried the figure and was told this was due to her profession, and the risks inherent in this.

“What are the inherent risks of being a tax adviser?” she asked.

At which point it became apparent the insurer had thought she said she was a ‘taxi driver’.

There's plenty more to make you laugh on the Accounting Fun blog here >>>

I look forward to speaking with you

You can take your chances 07769 692890

or book a call at a time that suits us both: www.calendly.com/bookmarklee

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Mark Lee FCA provides strategic advice, talks and mentoring to accountants and tax advisers who want to improve their reach, referrals and results. He is also Chairman of the Tax Advice Network, the UK’s largest network of independent tax advisers.

Mark has long been a popular speaker for UK accountants both on stage and online. Informed, entertaining and commercial he also debunks hype and misconceptions. Earlier in his career he was a partner in two top firms. He has a number of voluntary roles including being Treasurer of The Magic Circle.

BookMarkLee.co.uk