The Radical CPA: Why Should CPAs be Radical?

CPAs must be “radicalized” so they cannot be lulled into com-placency and driven by reaction to their current firm or live-lihood. The changes that are happening in today’s fast-paced world need to be addressed.

You and your team have already felt the changes. The silent majority of many employees are hurt, suspicious and feeling unheard. They see and experience the changes happening around them and don’t understand the complacency or the resistance to change from firm management. You may even be feeling this yourself within your firm of one.

This toxic condition within many firms is corrosive and detri-mental. Employee frustrations are mounting to the point of revolt and indifference. An employee who is indifferent is more destructive to a firm than one who is leading a revolt.

Many of us fight with the idea of rationalization, where we say it’s not that bad. We can wait before we take action – let the next generation make the changes, I’m retiring.

However, we can’t wait any longer.

The first step in a new organization is disorganization. That’s scary! The disruption of the present organization is the first step toward a new organization. The present arrangements must be shaken up if they are to be replaced by new patterns that provide the opportunities and means for new participation. All change means is disorganization of the old and organization of the new.

This is why the firm leader is immediately confronted with conflict. The leader dedicated to changing the life of a par-ticular organization must challenge and acknowledge the fear and resentment of the people in the organization. If there is no controversy, people are not concerned enough to act. When there is agreement there is no issue; issues only arise when there is disagreement or controversy.

Insecure in this fast-changing world, the people of the organization will cling to illusory fixed points that are very real to them: “I don’t want to argue with you, just tell me how social media is not a waste of time” or “What do you think of these millennials who want to work from home?” It is this pervasive attitude that presents our challenge for the “New Firm.”

The leader must be able to address the underlying guilt for having accepted the existing situation for so long. The leader must be okay with stepping up to the challenge.

Originally published on CPA Trendlines, March 14, 2015. For more content like this, subscribe to The Radical CPA newsletter or buy the book, "The Radical CPA: New Rules for the Future-Ready Firm."