Sure, you have your trusty calculator by your side most all of the time, but this derogatory phrase – “bean counter” – doesn’t mean you slave over spreadsheets every waking second. You are much more than that – and your clients NEED to know that!
The strongest message you can give your clients is that you aren’t there to count beans, you’re there to GROW the beans! Many accountants would have a hard time grasping this concept but the ones positioned for growth will embrace it with arms wide open!
So how do you change your image from a bean counter to a successful bean cultivator?
- It all starts with trust – you need a solid reputation for providing top notch advice. We all know that behind every good business is a great accountant. Make sure your firm emotes that sentiment in every encounter with the public.
- Have a little fun – People, in general, appreciate laughter, humor, and honesty. Your reputation for being a capable professional can still thrive even if you stop being so serious. Your goal is to be approachable, relatable, and sympathetic to your client’s concerns. You may just reach a bigger audience by being yourself and reminding people that you are more like them than the IRS.
- Find people who can help you – You can’t do everything alone and you don’t have all the answers! So why not find employees who can offer specialized solutions for your top client issues and who aren’t burned out on crunching numbers and memorizing excel formulas? Learn to become a leader and excellent communicator to your employees – that will afford you more face-time with the clients and prospects who will help grow your business.
For more inspiration and ideas on how CPAs can live on the north side of average, let’s connect!