The Authentic Advisor

In this episode of the Authentic Advisor, James Mason interviews Tony Szczepaniak, the global CEO of LEA Global, about the pathway to partner in accounting firms. They discuss the challenges faced by firms, the attributes of high-performing leaders, programs for developing future partners, building business advisory skills, and tips for building a strong pathway to partnership. 

Takeaways 

Chapters 

01:00 Introduction and Background 

04:54 Challenges Faced by Firms 

11:38 Attributes of High-Performing Leaders 

13:07 Programs for Pathway to Partner 

22:28 Building Business Advisory Skills 

24:33 Tips for Building a Strong Pathway to Partnership 

In this episode of the Authentic Advisor, James Mason interviews Peter Lucas from Kestrel Solutions about turning around underperforming businesses. They discuss the challenges faced by business owners and managers, the early warning signs of a troubled business, and the use of technology for early identification.

Peter shares his approach to starting the turnaround process, including conducting waste audits and involving the team. He also shares a case study of a successful turnaround in the timber windows and doors industry. The episode concludes with Peter offering final tips for advisors seeking to help their clients in similar situations. 

Takeaways 

Chapters 

01:10 Introduction and Background 

03:20 Challenges for Business Owners and Managers 

05:45 Early Warning Signs of a Troubled Business 

10:22 Using Technology for Early Identification 

12:23 Starting the Turnaround Process 

16:00 Waste Audits and Involving the Team 

21:01 Case Study 

22:43 Constant Involvement and Evolution 

25:58 Final Tips for Advisors 

Business Health Checks are a great foot-in-the-door business advisory offering for professional service firms wanting to add client value and bridge the gap between 'the numbers' and more intensive advisory services such as strategic planning workshops & implementation.  

But where do you start? Sharing her playbook, Lisa Wilson talks about how professional service firm Morrows design, price, deliver, promote and resource business health checks and why using Mindshop diagnostics, the Now-Where-How methodology and one page plans are integral to their success. Touching on how to generate internal referrals, Lisa also talks about capacity issues, reveals the power of 'BAMFAM' and shares ideas on how to use business health checks as a springboard into further advisory work. 

Time Codes 

00:00:51 Lisa's background and business advisory journey 

00:02:40 Morrow's business advisory service range 

00:03:41 Maturity of client base wanting business advisory services 

00:04:47 Who's delivering business advisory services at Morrows? 

00:05:38 Types of Business Health Checks 

00:06:15 Pricing Business Health Checks  

00:08:13 Weaving in financial insights 

00:09:27 Internal referrals & marketing 

00:12:22 Getting further advisory work 

00:15:38 Managing capacity 

00:16:33 Emerging demand for advisory services 

00:18:47 Final tips & thoughts 

Can a business get away with operational deficiencies if they're run by a passionate group of people? Jason Langford-Brown shares his experience as a senior business advisor and coach as to whether culture is a bigger contributor to success than a winning strategy (as the well-known aphorism suggests). 

Do most organisations have an accidental culture? How is it businesses with seemingly toxic cultures still succeed? 

Jason and James Mason discuss what problems arise if a business holds onto staff that don't align with core values and how culture can be fit for purpose, ultimately posing the question, 'can culture be too perfect?'  

Time Codes 

00:00:42 Jason's background and business advisory journey. 

00:02:27 Is culture a bigger contributor to success than a winning strategy? 

00:04:54 Can you succeed with an amazing culture but poor strategy? 

00:06:17 Can having a deep passion for what you do compensate for a lack of execution? 

00:07:24 What are the keys to a high performing culture? 

00:10:26 Is culture the fashionable silver bullet? 

00:12:13 Poor performance v bad behaviour. 

00:13:22 What are the first steps an advisor should take with a client when addressing culture and strategy? 

00:19:17 Aligning core values throughout an organisation. 

00:20:32 Can a culture be too perfect? 

00:23:22 Does culture eat strategy for breakfast? 

Should a business seek growth at any cost, or has there been a greater shift towards profitability and purpose in recent years?

Independent advisor Rod Willers and Mindshop's James Mason debate the assumption that growth means more revenue, and profit. Talking about growth strategy from a business advisor's perspective, they discuss the impact of purpose, business values and economic sustainability on client growth strategies.

What's the difference between high and low growth organisations?

Is it okay to follow a strategy of consolidation?

How does one balance operational efficiency with strategic evolution? And importantly,

What tips does Rod have for advisors when helping clients sustain a passion for growth and change?  

Why have a community purpose? What difference does it make to the culture, operations and success of a firm?  Jack Edmonds, Crowe UK talks to James Mason about the power of having pervasive values fully embraced from the managing partner to the newest recruit. How a clear community purpose benefits the firm, clients, and the staff personally along with knock-on effects to wider society. Jack shares his tips on how to structure programs, communicate values, where to start and the importance of authenticity. An uplifting and positive podcast for those looking to make a real difference.  

What does it take to drive continuous improvement in an organisation? James Mason talks to Quinton Whitehead, Manager – Business Improvement about using Mindshop tools and processes at AG Coombs, Australia's leading specialist provider of building services. 

There are numerous challenges for an organisation with over 1000 employees to successfully drive change. Quinton reveals what tools, processes and approaches he has taken to create a company-wide, consistent approach, overcoming change fatigue and creating a culture that embraces continuous improvement. 

Listen in for insights on successful blended learning ideas, shifts in change management from AI, and how to coach and facilitate successfully for quality improvement and change success. 

Owning and operating a successful accounting / business advisory firm is challenging enough on its own. How does Matt Sharwood, Director, Advise Accountants find the time to pursue his entrepreneurial aspirations whilst still maintaining excellent client outcomes?  
 
Matt discusses with James Mason the insights, benefits, technology and planning approaches he uses to successfully juggle running a high performing firm while growing a diverse number of businesses in areas like Kitchen manufacturing, Tiling and Property development. Matt shares how he identifies each business opportunity and his tips to ensure each are successful. Finally he touches on the two strategies he embraces for greater work / life balance. A great podcast to listen to for advisors and accountants who want to take the next a step into investing in diverse opportunities. 

Why are Mindshop diagnostics so effective uncovering deep client insights and saving business advisor’s time? Simon Drum, Managing Director of PSVC Advisory talks to James Mason about how diagnostics are a cornerstone of his business advisory model, in workshops, for process performance and due diligence activities and as a key part of his sales cycle.  

Simon talks at a granular level about how he uses Mindshop diagnostics, gathering comparison data prior to workshops from a broad set of respondents to supplement qualitative interviews to test if the ‘words and music’ match. Discussing how diagnostics allow advance incubation of ideas for richer discussions in the workshop, Simon talks about the benefits of understanding key issues rather than ‘going in blind’ so time is spent more effectively, with better client outcomes.  

Listen in as Simon reveals how he goes beyond simple lead generation questionnaires to move prospects rapidly through the sales cycle, delivering immediate value to clients with diagnostics that address key questions relevant to the business advisory services offered.