Equip. Engage. Empower. E’s your way to an effective team

Richard Brewin • March 29, 2018

Q1:   How does a team perform without leadership, the right tools, an understanding of the plan and the confidence to use their skills and expertise?

Q2:   How does a firm succeed if it’s team isn’t performing?

The answer to both, of course, is the same… It doesn’t!

Obvious isn’t it, but often I meet accountants hoping for, or even expecting a different answer.  A firm needs its team to perform but frustration can lead to the blame for under-performing being put at their door before they’ve been given a fair opportunity to do so.

I regularly throw out a challenge at our group mastermind sessions:

“Give me an example of a perceived failing in your team and I will show you how it is your fault”

People do stupid things but the point I make is that failings can more often be traced back to failings in leadership, management, communication, systems and processes, recruitment, training, development, roles and responsibilities…and guess who is ultimately responsible for that lot?

Only once those aspects are running clearly can we then engage and empower the team. That is then three very clear steps:

  1. E quip them with the right tools
  2. E ngage them into your culture, vision and plan
  3. E mpower them to embrace their role

Team days are the vehicle for both launching and sustaining this more strategic, holistic approach. Not the adrenaline fuelled ‘stag do’ style favoured by some male driven corporates but a day where we get everyone together, treat them a bit special and begin the process of engagement that will evolve them into becoming a core component of your success rather than a perceived barrier to it.

We facilitate such days but only once the plan is clear, the culture is understood and the leadership performance is right.

Like I said, everything starts with you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Art of Saying No Without Losing Clients

By Richard Brewin • December 5, 2025
In the Accountant/client relationship, “yes” often feels like the default. Yes to urgent requests. Yes to timeline shifts. Yes to “just one more thing” added to the scope. We want to say yes to our clients. We want to support them, be helpful and build more work, but every unqualified additional yes becomes an invisible cost; on your time, your margins, and your wellbeing.  Bold accountants think differently. They know that “no” isn’t rejection. It’s honest and professional. It’s a strategic decision that protects quality, strengthens relationships, and reinforces your value.

From compliance filer to trusted coach: The role waiting for accountants willing to start the client conversation

By Richard Brewin • November 28, 2025
Let’s be honest, most business owners have a perception of an accountant that probably falls far short of our ambitions. They want someone who helps them make sense of the chaos, plan for growth, and sleep better at night knowing someone’s got their back, but their accountant doesn’t usually spring to mind as this person. What they dream of is a coach, not an accountant, but, weirdly, they often don’t trust coaches but do trust their accountant. Their accountant can be both, so the client gets the trust and the coaching

AI in Accounting Firms: Key Considerations for Leaders Today

By Richard Brewin • November 17, 2025
Artificial Intelligence isn’t the future of accounting — it’s here now. From automating repetitive tasks to delivering deeper insights, AI is transforming the way we work, serve clients, and lead teams. But for firm leaders, success isn’t just about implementing technology; it’s about doing it strategically, responsibly, and humanely .  Before diving into the ‘how’ and making piecemeal decisions, accounting firm leaders need to consider the ‘why’…and its not as simple as “because everyone else is”.