Purpose articles

What leadership lessons can we learn from the COVID-19 pandemic? Tom Armstrong outlines six key takeaways for business leaders. During WWII, Winston Churchill was credited with saying, “Never let a good crisis go to waste”. The recent COVID-19 pandemic is a crisis of a different type, but nonetheless, a crisis. So, what leadership lessons have managers learned during the pandemic? Informal processes are crucial For many, especially in large multinationals, on-boarding processes for new staff effectively broke down while working from home. Throughout the pandemic, management worked hard to ‘patch up’ this area by focusing on defining tasks and roles. However, informal processes are critically important for the on-boarding of new staff and cannot be replicated with the same level of impact in the virtual world. When one considers environment, culture, cohesion, mentoring and human connection, this concept becomes clear. Check your processes Taking stock of what processes work well and which do not is a constant in today’s rapidly changing world. However, this can sometimes be more aspirational than real, given the pressure of day-to-day operations. Working from home left leadership teams with no choice but to address this issue quickly. When we return to the new normal, or maybe even before we get there, it’s important to regularly check your processes to make sure they are still serving the business. Have more, not less (focused) meetings “Too many meetings” is a common complaint that predates the pandemic. While the number of meetings increased during the pandemic, the outcome was more contributions from participants and quicker resolution of challenges and issues. This could be because meetings were virtual and, therefore, didn’t have any distractions that one might have in an office, resulting in an increase in participation and productivity. The key is to conduct meetings that have focus. Plan and organise While having more meetings may have positive outcomes such as resolving issues speedily, the method behind this is well-structured meetings with goal clarity and clear accountability. Planning and organisation skills have improved considerably, for both leaders and employees, due to remote working. Set clear boundaries It’s not a surprise to hear people say that working from home during the pandemic has blurred the lines between home and work. For most, this is not a good development in terms of health and wellbeing. This issue impacts employees and leaders alike. Several managers learned the value of having clear boundaries between work and non-work. Start work, finish it and make sure a line exists for you and your team. Be agile and act decisively for all stakeholders The pandemic has ‘screamed’ loud and clear the need to be agile. Most organisations have adapted remarkably well, given the enormous challenges posed by the pandemic. One senior accountant I spoke with mentioned the importance of acting with agility in the interest of all stakeholders. Given the world’s environmental and social challenges, this emphasis on “all” stakeholders was refreshing and a timely side-effect. Tom Armstrong is the Accountant’s Executive Coach at Armstrong Executive Coaching.  

Strong social connections not only impact our mental health but our physical health too. In today’s world, we lead increasingly busy lives and often our relationships can sadly fall by the wayside. Feeling socially connected is more important than ever, especially after a long period where our social interactions are restricted, and our close circle reduced. In celebration of International Friendship Day, CA Support discuss the importance of maintaining and prioritising our relationships for our overall health. We're designed to be social We all know that comforting upbeat feeling of human connection, when you come away from a catch up with friends feeling more positive, happier, and even lighter. As a species, human beings are inherently social creatures.  We are biologically wired to seek out connection from a time where humans hunted in tribes and being part of a group was necessary for survival. Humans need closeness, connection, and a sense of unity to thrive. Social connection is one of our core psychological needs which means it plays an essential role in how safe and satisfied we feel in our lives. Social groups provide us with an important part of our identity, forming who we are and teach us a set of skills and norms that help us to function throughout life. In today’s world though we lead increasingly busy lives trying to juggle and balance work, family, and other commitments. Often our friendships can fall to the wayside. However, strong connection and belonging to something bigger than ourselves are important for our overall health and wellbeing. The benefits of connectedness should not be overlooked, and therefore as a society we should be placing greater emphasis on investing in our friendships. The more connected we feel to other people, the more enriched our life becomes. Friendship and being part of a social group offer a variety of mental health benefits. It increases our feeling of belonging, boosts our sense of purpose, and improves our self-worth and confidence. Connectiveness helps us regulate our emotions, leads to higher levels of empathy and compassion, and can even reduce our stress levels. Studies show that people who feel connected to others report lower rates of anxiety and depression. Not only does good social connection impact our psychological wellbeing, its impacts our physical health as well. Countless studies have shown a lack of human connection and feelings of loneliness are more harmful to our health than obesity, smoking and high blood pressure. By neglecting our need to connect, we put our health at risk. It can even lengthen our lives. Extensive research that looked at the lifestyles of inhabitants within Blue Zone areas, a term given to geographically regions that are home to some of the world’s oldest people, found healthy social networks and high levels of community engagement were commonalities among the differing zones. Our relationships and social groups can alter the course of our life, shape the person we are and can change our perception of ourselves and the world as well as offer an important support system.  So as you can see, social connectedness creates a positive cycle of good social, emotional and physical wellbeing. To forge happy and healthy relationships, it is very important we continually attend to and nurture our connection with the people we consider important in our lives. After an incredibly long period where our social interactions were restricted and ultimately reduced, you may find your sense of connection has diminished. Here are some ways you can improve your social health and reignite your connection with others; Reach out to a friend you may have lost touch with, remember it’s never too late to spark up an old friendship! Take time to ring or meet up with a friend you have not seen in a while. Join a new club or try out a group activity: focus in on your interests and you’ll be sure to find a club or group full of like-minded people. Volunteer: this can strengthen your sense of purpose, provides an opportunity to meet new people and give back to your community. Invite a co-worker out for lunch: now we have more freedom to socialise why not reconnect with your favourite work colleague or arrange a work group activity. Spend quality time with family: this could be planning a family BBQ, a movie night on the weekend or a family day out. Be Present: Step away from your devices when you are in company and have an uninterrupted chat. Social isolation is a challenging aspect of life to cope with and is detrimental to your health, please know CA Support is here to lend a friendly ear, if and when you need it. To access our confidential 1:1 listening service, and lots of wellbeing supports, please contact us on mobile: (353) 86 024 3294 or email: casupport@charteredaccountants.ie

Make a plan The summer season is well and truly upon us and many of us will be planning our all-important time off - spending time at home, catching up on life admin or on a staycation. However, with the lines between work and home now blurred, it can be even more difficult to switch off completely and enjoy a few days of well-deserved rest. Switching off and taking some time out for relaxation is important for our health and wellbeing so we can recuperate and step back from the day-to-day responsibilities that preoccupy our mind. Do you find it hard to fully detach yourself from work?  Here CA Support presents simple and easy ways you can learn to relax, reset and enjoy your annual leave guilt-free. Out of Office Before heading off, delegate some of your usual duties and tasks to work colleagues. This might require a 1:1 handover or a quick email to the team. Mentally, a status update to colleagues can give a sense of closing out and a feeling of peace that your work is being looked after while away. Set up an appropriate Out of Office message with clear boundaries for your time off. We have all seen the generic OOO emails but sharing a meaningful piece of information, such as where you are going or how you will be spending your time off, can make that automatic reply feel more personable and a conversation starter for when you speak to that person next. Colleagues might even be inclined not to send you an email until you are back at your desk. Establish a point of contact that can field queries and respond to emails in your absence. Some email providers even offer an option to automatically forward emails to others. Literally Switch off and Unplug In this always-on culture, we carry the office around with us and many of us will have work on our phones. While removing it completely might not be possible, consider turning off push notifications for your apps and free yourself from work distractions. With pings from teams, emails and other communications, there can be an urge to check on them as soon as they come in eating into your time off and delaying relaxation mode. If you have a designated work phone, turn it off and put it away or, if that feels too much, simply turn on the do-not-disturb setting and set aside a few minutes at the start or end of the day to briefly browse through it. While WFH our home space has turned into our workplace. If you find your ‘office’ is in a main part of the house and your laptop and work files are glaring at you on days off, if possible, hide away all work-related items until you are due back. This visual reminder of work can make it difficult to completely relax and unwind, bringing your attention and thoughts back to work and your to-do list.   Live in the Moment Whether you are hitting the beach, back garden or engaging in a fun filled activity or day out, be present and make the most of every moment. Planning some activities can distract you from thinking about work and other responsibilities you may need time away from. Before you know it, you will be back at your desk so enjoy and appreciate the time you have off. Benefits of Downtime Downtime is an opportunity to take a proper break away from work pressures, if you are still struggling to switch off think of the benefits some R&R will bring. It can even make you a better employee with countless research showing rest and recuperation can make us more productive and more focused. One American study found that employees are 40% more productive after annual leave. Fully switching off is essential for your personal wellbeing and can prevent burnout.  It will also leave you happier, rejuvenated, and revitalised, ready to hit the ground running when you are back rather than feeling like you never left. If you are struggling to maintain good wellbeing, CA Support provides a holistic selection of services that can help you get back on track. You can contact the wellbeing team at Chartered Accountants Ireland's CA Support on (353) 86 024 3294, or by email casupport@charteredaccountants.ie.  

As we emerge from the pandemic, our focus once again turns to saving our planet. One way to encourage sustainability in organisations is through wellbeing challenges. Anna O’Flanagan explains how. How is your team doing right now? The teams I have spoken with recently seem to be worried about everything, from their own health to the overall wellbeing of our planet. This is all very normal for the times we are in. Many teams have set up fitness or health and wellbeing challenges, and these have proved highly successful in bonding the team while also promoting physical and mental health. What if there was a way to develop this team wellness theme further while also benefiting the environment? A team sustainability challenge that combines these complementary goals could fortify your team and give them a sense of empowerment because they are taking control of their mind, body and environment. Goal of sustainability Sustainability aims to promote an environment where nature and humans can exist in harmony, as set out in the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This focuses not only on the environment but also on poverty, health, education and housing (and more). Therefore, leaders should take the opportunity to bring the team together (online or in offices as they begin to open) to brainstorm ways to incorporate sustainable practices (personal and environmental) into their everyday lives as part of a challenge. Here are some task ideas: Plan and encourage employees to attend sustainability events and courses; Cycle to work or to run your errands. It addresses a possible fitness goal while keeping one less car on the road; Make a bird feeder for an outdoor space; Learn how to compost; Plan your meals to reduce food waste; Use a reusable coffee cup; Plant a tree in your garden; or Volunteer in your community. Once you agree on your priorities as a team, you can then assign points to each activity, give it some timelines, and off you go. Incentives and prizes are always good motivators, so ensure that they are valued by your employees while also maintaining the organisation’s sustainability goals. This type of challenge will not only give the team a sense of working towards a common purpose, it can also release them from the feeling of powerlessness in the face of climate change and COVID-19 and create sustainable practices in their personal and professional lives. And, it will transport them from their (ever-decreasing) spaces to feel part of something bigger, more communal, and that affects change. Anna O’Flanagan is the Founder of Red Squirrel.

  Its no secret that the recruitment market is seasonal and its self evident that the summer months can slow down interview processes and sometimes less abundance of job opportunities (although not seemingly at the moment !!) With this in mind you might decide to down-tools on your job search and take a more introspective approach during the summer and address some career planning objectives that you hardly ever get time for… Here are a few ideas that you might like to row in to your ‘Summer Reflection’ period that are still key to helping you find that ideal Career Pathway Complete a Career Audit - https://www.charteredaccountants.ie/CA-Support/I-need-help/Student-life/Career-planning/News-item/page/2 Do a personal SWOT analysis based on your annual trainee reviews. Examine whether your personal networking is up to speed perhaps decide to connect with 10 new LinkedIn connections each week for the summer working in a company or sector you are interested in. Enhance the ‘interests & hobbies’ section of your CV - why not get involved in a charity or volunteer for a board level role. Review the CPD and diplomas listings in the institute and perhaps learn a new skill or sharpen an existing one. Refurbish your CV and create a few flavours / versions. Browse LinkedIn profiles of ACA members who are several years ahead of you in their career path to see what routes and moves they have made. Select an industry or sector that deeply interests you and become expert in it over the summer eg sustainability/renewable energy, pharmaceutical, technology, health care. What things would improve your working life? Assess their attainability. This could be : a better work life balance, part time work, promotion, internal move, better commute etc.. Set some simple goals around these for yourself. Read : The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People or an equivalent self improvement publication - there are many available through the institute. https://www.charteredaccountants.ie/docs/default-source/Publishing/publishing-mini-catalogue-2019.pdf Do a Psychometric / Personality test / self-assessment test EG – https://www.psytech.com/Assessments/FifteenFactorQuestionnairePlus Set some goals outside of work eg - exercise or travel Improve your LinkedIn profile – Join Groups and comment – Raise your profile & brand. Come a better public speaker by joining toastmasters Join a ‘business networking group’ like Venture or BNG and attend their meetings each month If you are entrepreneurial why not in your spare time during the summer start a ‘side-hustle’ mini business around something you are passionate about. Become a leader in a local organization you like EG. Treasurer of a local GA or Golf Club. The recruitment drive always goes up a gear each September and the summer is never as long as you think it's going to be but perhaps it is worth considering taking a break from scanning the jobs market to focus in on a few of these suggestions in the sunny weeks ahead and as always your Chartered Accountants Ireland Careers team is available as an impartial sounding board whenever you need us on any of the above. Dave Riordan Career Coach & Recruiter Chartered Accountants Ireland Careers Team  

It might seem difficult to believe, but it’s been nearly 18  months since we were first told to stay at home. And with a year of lockdowns under our belt, you might expect that things would get easier. That the more time we spend working from home and minimising social contact, the more we would acclimatise to it. The reality, however, is that the longer the pandemic lingers on, the more many of us seem to be struggling. While business itself is persevering, last year, a survey by Accounting Web found that more than half (53%) of accountants and bookkeepers’ stress levels had given them serious cause for concern. At  CABA; emotional wellbeing support was the second-most common reason for people getting in touch in 2020. And those concerns seem to have carried over into 2021. They’ve seen audit directors trying to juggle reporting season with home-schooling, along with trainees struggling without an office environment in which to hone their new skills. It’s clear that some accountants are struggling; a fact which poses a significant problem. Accountants are crucial to the smooth operation of the economy and will play a vital role in rebuilding it after the past difficult year. With COVID-19 vaccines now well under way, and businesses starting to gradually open their doors, accountants will be essential to the nation’s recovery process. It’s so important, therefore, that accountants are equipped to take care of their mental health. Here are just a few ways they can go about this: Remove the stigma Accountancy environments are often work hard, play hard. The hours can be long, the deadlines are tough and the pressure to deliver for colleagues and clients can be exhausting. The ability to cope and the badge of honour mentality all adds to the stress and worry. In addition, we know there’s often still a stigma attached to showing that you’re struggling. Even in ordinary circumstances, this stigma needs combatting. But these are not ordinary times. We’re in the midst of a pandemic; now is not the time to try and put on a brave face if you’re struggling. A culture of openness is essential to encourage early intervention remove the stigma attached to mental ill health. Senior role models must lead by example, rather than taking a hard-line approach. They need to show empathy and a great deal of understanding.  In short, it’s OK to need help or to flag that you’re struggling. Share the load With small and large businesses alike concerned about what the future holds, many are relying even more than ever on their accountants for advice and consultancy to plan for the future. It’s easy in these kinds of situations to slip into a role where you’re relied upon to provide reassurance, but that kind of pressure can be a lot to take on, so it’s essential that accountants get support themselves. We must encourage team members to share the load. We all need to be taking care of ourselves, but that’s impossible when all of our energy is spent taking care of those around us. Flag to your team if your workload is becoming too much, or requests from clients are too demanding. Don’t try to take on everything by yourself. Likewise, look for opportunities to offer help to those around you. If you are struggling with the pressures of the job, you can guarantee that others will be too. If you notice a team member working longer hours than they ought to or who seems withdrawn, consider a quick message to ask if they’re coping. Set boundaries It’s important to find ways of separating our work from our everyday lives. This can be difficult with so many of us mostly working from home where possible, but it’s vital to avoiding burning out. Be strict with your working hours. Assign a particular room of the house that will be used only for work, or, if you have no choice but to operate from the kitchen table, make sure you put your laptop away at the end of the day. The environments in which we spend our time have an enormous impact on the way that we feel. When we log off for the evening or the weekend, it really is crucial we aren’t still surrounded by constant reminders of work. Take advantage of the support available While there is still progress to be made in encouraging accountants to be more open about their wellbeing, firms are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of positive mental health. And many are going above and beyond to offer support.  It’s becoming commonplace to offer GP helplines, employee assistance programmes, flexible working hours, meditation classes and mindfulness groups. Even prior to the pandemic, this was an incredibly positive shift. If an organisation isn’t in a position to offer facilities such as these, or if team members would simply prefer to look elsewhere for support, CA Support is totally independent and available to offer guidance and counselling, amongst a plethora of other emotional support services to members of the accountancy community. Written by MaryJane Gunn (Support Manager at CABA) Article reproduced with the kind permission of CABA, the organisation providing lifelong support to ICAEW members, ACA students and their close family around the world. Members and students who need emotional or wellbeing support, can contact the team at Chartered Accountants Ireland's CA Support on (353) 86 024 3294, or by email casupport@charteredaccountants.ie.