Here is a story that you will find interesting, if not a little scary. It’s about a client of mine (let’s call him Jabu) who, as a CA(SA), worked for a listed Group as the Group Financial Manager. Jabu joined the Group 15 years ago as a newly qualified rookie. The company had medium-cap status on the main board of the […]
The issue of emigration has been on the table for many years now. Pre- and post- Apartheid politics has sent many CAs(SA) to nether shores. There is a startling amount of South African CA’s spread all around the world. Initially the UK was the favoured destination, followed Canada, the USA and now, Australia. There is no doubt that the CA(SA) […]
I often find myself delving into matters with my clients that are possibly more suited to psychotherapy. Feelings of low self esteem, anger issues and negative thinking are the most obvious. But the real differentiator is not the material being discussed – it’s the mindset of the person I am coaching. The profound difference between a client (coaching) and a patient […]
Just look at the stats and you will see that, these days, retrenchment is about as common as the Mossies in your garden. The thing is, if you make it a big deal, then others will do the same, especially the HR person who is interviewing you for your next job. I was somewhat frustrated with a client […]
A client recently took my course on Executive Presence. He was struggling with his confidence levels, especially around his boss. The thing is, he was the CFO of the company! How could he find himself at this stage in his career battling with self-esteem issues? Not the domain for executives! They are supposed to get on well and or be at each other’s throats, […]
Monitoring subordinates performance is important – in fact it’s essential. I mean, we monitor the business very effectively by setting budgets and forecasts, don’t we? So why shouldn’t the same apply to employees? Of course it should. The problem is how do you set up KPI’s that are fair, measurable and attainable? (By the way KPI’s are easier to set up […]
Stimulated by a comment made by one of my client’s yesterday, I took some time off to re-play the movie “What the Bleep?”. This is a clever and simplistic documentary about quantum physics. Now don’t get me wrong – I am not a scientist in any form or fashion. To the contrary, science irritates me a great deal! For me it […]
THIS ARTICLE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE FEBRUARY 2017 ADDITION OF THE ACCOUNTANCY SA MAGAZINE. More than a few of my clients become clients because they are stuck! No matter what they do, they just cannot seem to make their way upwards. Needless to say, they usually insist that they need to leave their current position […]
This might just be your story . . . . . . In my business I have the privilege of coaching quite a number of young Chartered Accountants. Part of my program is to get my clients to see their own unique strengths. I then coach them on how to take these strengths confidently into the work place and use […]
I rate myself as a pretty tolerant person. I respect people and always try to enhance someone’s day by just being nice and friendly. But when it comes to call centres that is where it all goes wrong for me. There is nothing more irritating than fumbling through a service provider’s system trying to get speak to the right person. Please […]