Keep your composure and set a better example

Richard Brewin • June 29, 2018

Let’s be honest, most resolutions (new year or otherwise) are simply our guilty consciences rising to the fore. We know the aspects of our lives where we fail ourselves. We all want to be better.

As business leaders being composed ticks all the boxes. We lead by example. We come across as far more in control, more professional, more focussed, more aware. We plan better. We communicate better. We lead our team, our clients and our firms far more effectively.

Yes, we would all love to be more composed. But how do we translate it from a wishful resolution into a sustainable change of behaviour?

Composure is the state or feeling of being calm and in control of oneself. Therefore, if you wish to be more composed then you must instil calming and controlling actions and force yourself to engage until they become habitual.

Step 1: Compose yourself

Before every day, every meeting, every action starts, take a moment to compose yourself. Relax. Count slowly to 10. Take deep breaths, focus specifically on relaxing your mind and body. Prepare yourself.

Step 2: Compose your actions

Again, before every day, every meeting, every action starts, take a moment to clear your thoughts on your plan. What am I looking to achieve? What steps do I need to take? What really matters? Prepare your agenda.

Step 3: Compose your support

Once more, before every day, every meeting, every action starts, take a moment to look around. Who and what do I have available? What role can they play? What do they need from me? Prepare your people.

Don’t stress about what you can’t do, what you don’t have available or what you don’t have time for. Focus on what you can achieve. Build on that.

Now you’re ready.

Let’s do this!

Being proactive is a culture, not a slogan

By Richard Brewin • June 27, 2025
Look at any accounting firm website and there is a fair chance that the word ‘proactive’ will be prominent. Ask some business owners and taxpayers whether they consider their accountant to be proactive.  There is commonly a gap between the two, between the intent of the accountant and the expectations of the client.

How tech helps us to rebuild our trusted advisor role

By Richard Brewin • June 23, 2025
The tag ‘Trusted Advisor’ gets bandied around a lot. Without trying to be deliberately contentious, I often challenge its use. Undoubtedly, accountants were once the trusted advisor to their clients. When I came into the profession 44 years ago now, the older partners, especially, were seen by their clients as their trusted advisor, their ‘go to’ person on any issues, business, family or personal, that were troubling them. Without the filing deadlines of today, these clients were with their accountant primarily because they valued the relationship rather than the products.

Why your accounting firm is unique

By Richard Brewin • June 5, 2025
All accountants are the same! We’ve all heard it said. It’s nonsense, of course, but, when you are asked what it is that your firm does that differentiates it from other accounting firms, it can be a challenge to come up with something tangible.  Accounting firms tend to offer similar services, that’s what makes them accounting firms. Differentiating from competitors based upon services provided is therefore an issue.