Defining a great day’s work
“The difference between who you are now and who you were five years ago is largely due to how you've spent your time along the way. The habits we groove become who we are, one minute at a time. A small thing, repeated, is not a small thing.”
– Seth Godin
If you're anything like us, there will be days when you'll head home from work feeling like you achieved nothing. Then there will be days when you’ll head home (hopefully early) thinking, "I absolutely nailed it today!"
So, how can we create a work environment where there are more days when we are nailing it? Better still, how can we create a workplace where more members of our team are nailing it every day? Here are some principles to live by:
1. Love what you do - stop doing what you don’t love. You have choices in life and you are not a victim. When you’re passionate about your work, it shows in your performance and client satisfaction.
2. Delegate to passionate individuals - find other people who love doing the tasks you don’t enjoy. They will do a better job than you as long as they’re given the support and training they need. This is crucial in small business accounting, where efficiency and expertise are key.
3. Set clear business goals - set very clear business goals and share them with your team regularly. No one likes to fly blind. For example, for our Nelson accountants, clear objectives help streamline processes and improve client outcomes.
4. Align personal and business goals - have your team align their personal goals with your business goals. A compelling vision of the future is a great motivation for everyone. This alignment fosters a sense of purpose and drives productivity in any workplace.
5. Define a great day’s work - define a great day’s work for everyone, including yourself. Agree on no more than five ways to measure how well you are tracking your goals. Measuring the right things helps to create a positive mindset shift and breaks bad habits.
Of course, there will always be those bad days. No one is a magician. But by applying the above principles, there will be more days when you and your team are achieving a great day’s work, making the bad days just not matter as much.
At Malloch McClean, we believe in creating an environment where every day can be a great day. By following these principles, small businesses can achieve greater satisfaction and success in their work. Implement these strategies in your accounting firm and see the positive changes unfold, not just for you but for your entire team and your clients.