Stop thinking that return on investment is what drives the financial performance of your business, and start thinking that return on humanity is the ultimate starting point, the foundation of the success of your accounting firm. This is the subject of Philippa White's book, Return on Humanity. In this podcast discussion, Philippa dives into the practical, tangible skills necessary to build a more human firm, and she’s profoundly shifted my thinking around a number of things. First, the importance of building flexibility into your working model – the way you as an individual work, as well as the way your firm works – plus the need for and power of vulnerability. Simply being curious, perhaps coming from a place of doubt, can establish a greater degree of connectedness between you and your team and you and your clients. Please scroll down this episode page for the contact information for Philippa and for the additional, downloadable resources mentioned in the podcast. |
The Solution:
It's really important as a business leader or a business owner - you can't just talk, you have to truly believe this stuff and it needs to be authentic because if it is authentic with everything you do, it's what you're doing when people are looking, then people will trust you. And if people trust you, that's everything.
I've really enjoyed this conversation. We both clearly love chatting about this because we're both passionate about it and passion is a strength in business which, during this conversation, has really hit home.
SHOW NOTES
Connect with Philippa
Connect with Paul
Resources relating to this podcast:
During the podcast, Paul and Philippa discuss her book, and it's referred to on a number of occasions when she shares her 'three pillars', as well as various key stories about the importance of being more human and the effect that this can have on your team, your clients and the success of your firm.
As Philippa states on more than one occasion, it makes perfect sense that when you have a happier team, you have happier clients and therefore a more profitable business.
But if you really want to understand how simple it actually is, read her book 'Return On Humanity'.
Click the image below to access it.
Philippa and Paul mention a number of books in the podcast. Click the images below to access them.
Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic has also done a TED Talk on the subject of his book. It's only 9 minutes long, but BRILLIANT - watch below.
Paul and Philippa discuss the importance of knowledge, skills and habits and how old habits don't die, but are wired within you forever - what you need to do is replace them with new habits.
What you achieve in life and business is determined wholly by how you use the 24 hours of every day.
Only when you change your habits (redirect your autopilot) will you achieve the success you seek.
If you want to know more, click the button below to access the Business Breakthrough report, 'The Power of Habit in Your Firm', and discover how to recognise and manage the 5 triggers/cues to allow you to get control of your autopilot, change your habits and improve your results.
At the very end of the podcast, Paul asks Philippa if she has heard of Edgar Schein, describing him as a brilliant questioner.
Edgar talks about the 3 Cs in his books:
- Be Curious
- Care (enough)
- Be Committed to help
Here are a few books written by Peter A. Schein and Edgar H. Schein if you want to know more.
Click the images to access them.
