Communication skills

TOPICS / PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

June 7, 2021

Top soft skills for accounting professionals

This article discusses the four soft skills most prominent for professionals looking to improve their work and their employability.

May 24, 2021

Helpful feedback: Give it. Receive it. Encourage it.

Providing and receiving professional critiques can be challenging. Operating with empathy and authenticity can help.

April 12, 2021

6 proactive steps accountants can take to get promoted in 2021

Individuals who are proactive about their professional development and excel at communication and other soft skills have the best chance of promotion in a remote-working environment.

March 1, 2021

Zoom meetings — without the awkwardness

Leading an online meeting involves managing the technology as well as the participants.

February 1, 2021

Trust and technology keep productivity up during pandemic

One company discusses how it found a way to magnify the strengths of remote work by employing a more informal check-in style and building on technology’s democratizing effects.

February 1, 2021

Give your staff great feedback — from a distance

This article discusses ways to make giving remote feedback easier and more effective.

January 11, 2021

Keeping microaggressions out of your workplace

This article offers steps firms and individuals can take to make sure microaggressions are not part of their organization.

January 11, 2021

Get a remote job off to a great start

Use these tips to help ensure a smooth transition in a new job.

October 5, 2020

Tough interview questions: ‘Why should we hire you?’

Researching the organization and the interviewer beforehand can equip you to give a strong answer.

September 28, 2020

‘Feel’ your way to a new gig

Finding a job while working can be a delicate balance.

September 1, 2020

Advice from ENGAGE

The ENGAGE 2020 conference went all virtual this year because of the pandemic but still featured useful tips on accounting, auditing, technology, client services, and more.

September 1, 2020

The art of the client email

Make sure your messages are getting noticed and opened in clients’ inboxes.

August 31, 2020

When disorganization derails your workflow

Workplace experts offer strategies to help you gain more control of your workflow, even when others cause the chaos.

August 24, 2020

Spreading the word to youth about financial literacy

CPAs active in volunteer efforts share their advice on how to give back through financial literacy work.

August 24, 2020

The must-have items for traveling accountants

CPAs share tips for on getting back on the road when the COVID-19 crisis is over.

August 17, 2020

When perfectionism becomes a problem

Perfectionism can be counterproductive and even damaging to one’s health, but it is possible to do a great job without being perfect.

August 13, 2020

7 human behavior insights you need to know

In times of unprecedented change, adaptation is critical. Expert voices share insight on the findings and recommendations of a new report.

August 10, 2020

Improve your remote hiring process during COVID-19

Hiring managers and other experts offer tips on creating successful remote hiring processes, from composing the job posting to choosing the technology to use.

July 20, 2020

Tough interview questions: ‘Why are you leaving your current employer?’

This article offers ways to answer this tricky question appropriately.

July 7, 2020

Be the kind of boss employees want to work for

Managers can improve retention by finding the right way to motivate their employees, said ENGAGE 2020 speaker Liz Mason, CPA, the CEO and founder of High Rock Accounting. Choosing the right communication style and making employees feel supported are two more ways for managers to up their game, Mason said.

FROM THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

4 ways solo practitioners can stand out

Five years ago, a grieving Angel Zhen started his own CPA firm with no clients and no revenue. Today, he has 300 clients, $600,000 in revenue and 12 weeks of annual vacation. In this JofA article, he shares how he set up his firm and how you could do the same.