I’ve recently launched a brand-new Podcast called ‘Accountants Talk – Secrets of Success’.
In the podcast, I interview different practice owners to find out what it is that makes them successful. You can check some of the episodes out here.
In the third episode of my podcast I interviewed the fantastic Carl Reader from D&T Chartered Accountants.
During the episode, Carl shared loads of superb insights and ideas that he’s using in his practice.
And one of them really resonated with me.
Carl told me he looks outside of the accounting industry for ideas and inspiration on how to run his business better.
For example, he looked at how the insurance industry offers upsells as you are signing up for their products and considered how he can use this in his practice when he’s signing up clients.
He also analysed the process of booking your car in for repairs where you can drop it off and pick it up in the same day. He considered the process that surrounds scheduling everything in and ensuring it all runs smoothly and how he can implement that with his team.
Now, the idea of looking to other industries for inspiration might sound a little contradictory coming from someone who runs a mastermind and coaching programme that’s exclusively for accountants where they share ideas and knowledge.
But the idea really is a great one.
There are so many different parts of your practice that you can seek inspiration for from other sources and industries.
Here are just a couple of examples:
Marketing Inspiration
Why not look at great marketing campaigns that are going on right now and see if you could adapt these in some way to suit your accountancy practice.
For example now is an especially great time to look at marketing messages and campaigns in the run up to Christmas.
This is the time of year when brands put out their very best campaigns, as this is the season where people are looking to spend the most money.
Marketing teams will have spent months and months creating these campaigns in the hope their brand or business will be the one that’s talked about this Christmas.
Sure, your accountancy practice has absolutely nothing to do with Christmas, but think about the messages, branding and techniques that are being used and consider how you could make those work in your business.
Customer service inspiration
Is there anything that leaves a better lasting impression than excellent customer service?
I don’t think so.
Take this example of incredible customer service that a man named John DiJulius experienced after staying in a Ritz-Carlton hotel…
“I left the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota in such a rush for the airport that I forgot my laptop charger in my room. I planned to call when I got back into my office, but before I could, I received a next-day air package from the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota. In it was my charger, with a note saying, ‘Mr. DiJulius, I wanted to make sure we got this to you right away. I am sure you need it, and, just in case, I sent you an extra charger for your laptop’.” [source]
If that’s not amazing customer service, I don’t know what is!
Positive customer service experiences come in all shapes and sizes and in all different industries.
When you experience positive customer service in absolutely any industry stop and take notice.
Think about what it is that really set that customer service apart. Break it down into small pieces, considering the roles that each individual or each team played in providing that customer service.
Then, consider how you can channel that into your own business. What inspiration can you take from others to ensure you and your team provide the very best customer service to all of your clients?
How can you go above and beyond to service your clients perfectly?
Team management inspiration
Are there any great examples of team structure or management principles from other industries you can analyse and implement areas of in your own practice?
One example I would suggest is ditching the partnership model and looking outside of the accounting industry for how other businesses are structured.
Another example would be to look at the technology industry. There are lots of tech start-ups have really nailed the whole millennial culture thing with cool office spaces and work perks for their team.
Ask yourself, how can you bring this into your accountancy practice to make it more appealing to the younger generations that are coming through?
Don’t limit yourself to looking for inspiration and ideas within the accounting industry. If you do, you limit yourself and what’s possible for your business to what other accountants are doing.
Be a trailblazer and use ideas from other industries that you can implement into your practice. That’ll set you and your business apart from the rest and make clients happy to work with you.
Have you ever looked for inspiration and ideas from other industries that you could implement in your accounting practice? Or perhaps you’ll start to do so after