August 2023
Greetings,
It is the end of August. Whaa-aaat?!?!?! How can that possibly be? The summer has treated us well, and to prepare for the upcoming fall, let’s shift our gaze inward for a moment. This month, my emphasis is on guidance and ideas for strengthening your inner self and building resilience, a skill we all need. All practice management tips, I will leave the technical topics for future discussions. For now, prioritize self-care and building your skills toolbox. Read on…
Give Yourself a Break
I find that most practitioners in our profession have very high standards in all aspects of what they do, and that is a good thing. However, when we experience a setback or things don’t quite go as planned we tend to be very hard on ourselves. The author of this article discusses how research shows that we should respond instead with self-compassion and the benefits of doing so.
READ HBR ARTICLE HERE
7 Tricky Work Situations and How to Handle Them
No matter the profession we are in, we encounter tricky work situations. You know you have… conflict with a client, disagreement with a colleague, tough conversation with a staff. Sometimes in the moment we just don’t know what to say, or how to say it. This interesting article from HBR outlines seven key phrases you can use in various situations. The situational examples have nothing to do with public practice but reading through the article, I could easily think of various situations where having these phrases in my back pocket would have helped. I have them now!!
How to Control Your Emotions During Difficult Conversations
Following on the previous topic, when you navigate tricky situations, you sometimes find yourself in the middle of a difficult conversation… it is then common to automatically enter into a “fight or flight” mentality. It is possible to interrupt this response and enter into a more productive discussion. One of my ASK KSA PD courses, STRENGTHENING COMMUNICATION WITH CLIENTS emphasizes that many times, it is not what you say but how you say it. Check it out.
An article from Harvard Business Review also has some great tips on handling yourself through difficult conversations. The author’s first tip is to start by taking a deep breath and focusing on your body. The go onto provide other helpful and practical tips. We don’t want to end up in these situations but when we do, it is nice to have tools to help us clear a path forward to a resolution.
READ HBR ARTICLE HERE
Conquering Virtual Fatigue: Expert Tips
Virtual learning has become a realistic alternative to obtaining your CPD hours. There are many great course offerings out there (including ASK KSA PD OFFERINGS). However, there are times when virtual training can leave you feeling drained. As the world continues to embrace remote work and virtual training, it’s no secret that virtual fatigue has become a common struggle for many learners and trainers – but with the right strategies, conquering virtual fatigue and achieving success in virtual and hybrid training is within reach. Global Courseware has an informative and interesting blog on how to conquer virtual fatigue. Their practical tips can not only be applied to virtual learning but other remote work activities as well.
READ BLOG HERE
[Free Webinar] CSQM 1 Implementation Blueprint
The August session was completely full so due to popular demand, I am offering yet another session for my free CSQM 1 Implementation Blueprint webinar.
Join me on September 13 @ 2 pm CDT (3 pm EDT)
where I will share my CSQM 1 Implementation Blueprint with you.
–> If you’re a compilation engagement-only firm looking to understand what the changes mean… This webinar is for you.
–> If you’re struggling to get started on your CSQM implementation plan… this webinar is for you.
–> If you an assurance services firm and maybe a bit late to the table on designing and implementing your system of quality management… this webinar is for you.
Many practitioners have some idea of what’s coming but haven’t yet started. The reality is a lot of firms are underestimating what needs to be done to meet the requirements.
We have coached +100 firms on implementation. In this webinar, we share our blueprint with you. You will walk away with massive clarity on CSQM 1 and confidence in your path forward.
And, since the session is live you will have a chance to ask any question that is on your mind.
Don’t forget, this session counts as free verifiable CPD. And… if you join in you will hear bonuses about CSQM 1 workshops that are for attendees only.
LEARN MORE AND REGISTER FOR THE FREE WEBINAR HERE
The upcoming months will be filled with many activities. However, by dedicating time to yourself you will be ready to tackle anything that comes your way in the coming months…. and you will find that accomplishing tasks becomes notably smoother. Remember to allocate time to build for the future. And always remember I am here to help as needed. Reach out anytime… and in the meantime, have a great long weekend.
Best regards,
Kirsten S. Albo, FCPA, FCA
President