December 20, 2021
MANAGEMENT VS. LEADERSHIP

By Eric Woodruff, CPA, CCIFP
Partner, Director of Audit & Assurance Services

Managers are usually considered leaders within a business, but the difference between managers and leaders is more significant than you think.

Managers work IN the business while leaders work ON the business!

SETTING EXPECTATIONS AND MUTUAL GOALS

By Liz Belcher, CPA
Senior Manager, Tax Services

A workplace is a melting pot of diverse experiences, expectations, perspectives and personalities. Therefore, you can't always expect everyone to share the same vision for the organization and their roles and responsibilities within the team. So, how do you effectively set expectations and mutual goals?

When you talk to employees, you'll want to make sure you don't just dictate your expectations. In other words, talk with them, not at them. A good rule of thumb would be to ask them for their interpretation of your expectations to make sure you're both on the same page. Identify where there are differences and help them reconcile those differences within your corporate culture. Diversity of thought should be cherished and sought after.

WHEN COMMUNICATION BREAKS DOWN ...

By Lindsey Anderson, CPA
Manager, Tax Services

We've all had a communication breakdown, whether it was an email battle, a text-off or a brief, uncomfortable in-person encounter in passing. As alternative forms of communications have become more acceptable in the workplace, the risk of misunderstanding and perceived conflict is heightened. Information can easily get lost in translation and unnecessary anxieties are created. How do you avoid these misunderstandings in a workplace?

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: KEVIN COSMAN

Kevin Cosman joined Sponsel CPA Group last winter as a Staff Accountant and was recently promoted to Senior in the Audit & Assurance Services department. He is a CPA with a master's degree in accounting from Butler University and years of professional accounting experience.

Kevin's duties include conducting audits, reviews, compilations and agreed-upon procedures for clients across a broad spectrum of industries including construction, distribution, manufacturing, service and not-for-profit.
Beware the Impact of Inflation

As Forbes recently reported, inflation is running at a rate of 6.8%, which is the highest it's been since June of 1982. As business owners and managers, you'll want to keep a close eye on how this will impact your business and proactively plan for how to mitigate any negative effects.