Coaches Corner: Recent Episodes
Peter Sawchuk
Coaches Corner is a podcast for UHY colleagues by a UHY colleague. Join Peter Sawchuk, UHY's Career Development and Training Manager, as he discusses a wide-range of professional development topics essential in today's business environment.
Intro/Outro Music: Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/artists/kevin-macleod
Transition FX: Fireball Sharp Swoosh by Fesliyan Studios: https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/
The Coach is back like he never left! Join Peter as he provides an update on where he's been and what he's been doing since our last episode a month ago.
Description
This episode answers 7 key questions on delivering constructive feedback:
- What is constructive feedback?
- Why is constructive feedback important?
- Who delivers constructive feedback?
- When should you deliver constructive feedback?
- When does feedback become "destructive"?
- What does constructive feedback sound like?
- How can I deliver constructive feedback?
Resources
- https://online.champlain.edu/blog/giving-constructive-feedback
- https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/careers/soft-skills/constructive-feedback/
- https://www.valamis.com/hub/types-of-feedback#types-of-feedback
- https://www.valamis.com/hub/constructive-feedback
- https://blog.jostle.me/blog/constructive-feedback#difference-between-criticism-constructive-feedback
- https://hr.tsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/givingeffectivefeedback.pdf
This episode focuses on music and its effect on productivity, including:
- Using music to block out distractions
- Employees' perceptions about music and productivity
- Research on music and productivity
- How to build the perfect work playlist
Resources
- https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/11294-music-effect-on-productivity.html
- https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20200317-does-music-help-us-work-it-depends
- https://www.shrm.org/ResourcesAndTools/tools-and-samples/exreq/Pages/Details.aspx?Erid=1385
- https://www.commercialcafe.com/blog/listening-music-work-can-improve-productivity/
- https://www.zenefits.com/workest/music-in-the-workplace/
- https://risepeople.com/blog/music-at-work-productivity/
In June 2022, the SEC announced a $100 million fine to Ernst & Young (EY), one of the "Big 4" accounting firms in the United States, for unethical conduct regarding their employees and the CPA exam. In this episode, we dive deeper into the situation, how it occurred at EY, and what we at UHY can do to prevent something like this happening in the future.
References
- https://www.npr.org/2022/06/28/1108044858/accounting-giant-ernst-young-admits-its-employees-cheated-on-ethics-exams
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/06/28/ernst-young-cheating-sec-fine/
- https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/28/business/ernst-young-sec-cheating.html
- https://www.wsj.com/articles/ey-paying-100-million-to-settle-probe-of-auditors-cheating-on-ethics-exams-11656410401
- https://www.sec.gov/news/press-release/2022-114
- https://www.sec.gov/litigation/admin/2022/34-95167.pdf
For the first time as a firm, UHY is celebrating Juneteenth. This special episode explores the history of Juneteenth, it's importance in American history, and how you can celebrate it in your local community.
Resources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juneteenth
- https://www.juneteenth.com/
- https://www.history.com/news/what-is-juneteenth
- https://www.nytimes.com/article/juneteenth-day-celebration.html
- https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/historical-legacy-juneteenth
- https://www.pbs.org/wnet/african-americans-many-rivers-to-cross/history/what-is-juneteenth/
Susan Orr, a Partner out of our UHY St. Louis office, stops by the Corner to talk more about kind leadership. We learn more about her career journey with UHY, what kind leadership means to her, who in her career is a kind leader and how they've impacted her development, and how every leader can practice kind leadership.
This episode is all about leadership...kind leadership! Specifically, we'll talk about:
- Why kind leadership is important
- How kind leaders act
- What you can do to demonstrate kind leadership
Resources
- https://www.accountingtoday.com/opinion/kindness-in-leadership-how-to-become-an-effective-leader
- https://hbr.org/2021/05/dont-underestimate-the-power-of-kindness-at-work
- https://www.accountingtoday.com/list/4-ways-to-cultivate-a-positive-firm-culture
- https://www.accountingtoday.com/opinion/why-its-important-to-thank-your-team
Happy end of busy season! We ran back our interview with Jim Skrobosinski last year where we discussed what to do at the end of a long busy season to get some well-deserved rest and recovery.
Note: some parts of this episode refer to past regulations and guidelines due to the COVID-19 pandemic that are no longer in place.
On this episode we discuss mindfulness, including:
- What mindfulness is
- Why it's so important in the accounting/consulting profession
- How you can be more mindful throughout your day
Resources
- https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/newsletters/2019/jan/accountants-mindfulness.html
- https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/marriottstudentreview/vol3/iss4/37/
- https://www.accountingtoday.com/opinion/accountants-under-pressure-creating-a-more-mindful-workplace
- https://www.accountabilityresources.com/resource/mindfulness-and-meditation-for-accounting-professionals/
This episode focuses on the following elements of Impostor Syndrome:
- Definition
- Identification
- Characteristics
- Causes
- Types
- Coping techniques
References
- https://www.verywellmind.com/imposter-syndrome-and-social-anxiety-disorder-4156469
- https://www.apa.org/gradpsych/2013/11/fraud
- https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/imposter-syndrome
- https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/imposter-syndrome
- https://www.themuse.com/advice/5-different-types-of-imposter-syndrome-and-5-ways-to-battle-each-one
Description
Have you noticed that, even with the decline of COVID-19 in the US, we're still meeting virtually rather than in person? This episode will help us brush up on our virtual presence, including:
- The importance of a strong virtual presence
-
The 5 elements of virtual presence and how to improve them
- Appearance
- Lighting
- Camera
- Background
- Sound
References
- https://www.elegantthemes.com/blog/business/how-to-look-good-on-zoom-what-to-wear-and-where-to-sit
- https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2020/04/11/zoom-meetings-go-better-these-6-tips-look-your-best/5125980002/
- https://www.northwesternmutual.com/life-and-money/how-to-look-professional-on-zoom-video-calls/
- https://remotebliss.com/how-to-look-good-on-zoom/
- https://www.theprintablepair.com/how-to-look-more-professional-on-your-zoom-calls/
- https://www.seattletimes.com/life/how-to-look-good-on-zoom-basic-tips-that-will-help-you-appear-more-professional-while-video-conferencing/
The Coach is back to discuss the importance of collaboration, including:
- The benefits of collaboration
- How to develop a culture of collaboration
- How to avoid collaboration killers
- How to improve meeting efficiency
To learn more about this episode, be sure to check out the "4 Benefits of Collaboration" course in the Coach Recommends catalog of UHY University.
We round out the busy season preparation with a focus on physical and mental health, including:
- How busy season impacts physical & mental health
- Importance of strong physical and mental health
- Staying physically healthy
- Staying mentally healthy
References
- https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/issues/2020/jan/managing-stress-at-work.html
- https://aicpa.pcps.org/news/health-wars-dark-side-busy-season
- https://blog.aicpa.org/2017/03/4-simple-ways-to-squeeze-in-exercise-during-busy-season.html#sthash.NZD47J2O.dpbs
- https://thriveglobal.com/stories/stressed-accountants-the-mental-health-impact-as-practices-adapt-to-a-new-reality/
Is it possible to have work-life balance during busy season? Yes! This episode focuses on:
- What is meant by "work-life balance"
- How to find balance during busy season
- Reframing busy season as just that - a "season"
References
- https://www.intuitiveaccountant.com/in-the-news/people-and-business/how-to-maintain-your-work-life-balance-during-busy-season/
- http://www.iuwib.com/blog/2018/10/8/the-truth-about-work-life-balance-at-a-big-four
- From
Welcome to Season 2 of the Coaches Corner! In this week's episode, we talk about overcoming barriers to time management as you head in to busy season, including:
- Handling incoming phone calls
- Managing interruptions throughout your workday
- Creating a plan to complete your work
- Setting boundaries with your clients on when you are available to help
If you'd like to learn more, be sure to check out the Overcoming Barriers to Time Management course on UHY University.
Season finale: as we close out 2021 and prepare for 2022, it's time we revisit goal setting. In this episode, we discuss:
- The history of SMART goal setting.
- The SMARTER goal setting method.
- How to achieve your SMARTER goals.
After you listen to the episode, be sure to check out the Get SMARTER with Goals course inside UHY University. You can use this link or find it in The Coach Recommends course catalog inside UHY University.
We hope you have a safe and happy holiday season. We'll see you in 2022!
This week's episode is all about gratitude. We'll look at three articles that discuss:
- How to foster a culture of gratitude
- Using the two most important words: thank you
- Giving a meaningful "thank you"
After listening to the episode, be sure to check out the Gratitude course inside UHY University to read each article in-depth.
This week, we look at some of the principles David Allen discusses in his book "Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity". David sat down for an interview and talked about how to:
- Simplify your tasks
- Manage your actions
- Maintain a work-life balance
If you'd like to learn more, follow this link to enroll into the course inside UHY University.
This week's episode focuses on bottom-line email communication. Specifically, we'll talk about:
- What it means to bottom-line your message
- The five (5) questions to help you bottom-line your message
- The benefits of bottom-lining your message
After you listen to this episode, be sure to check out the E-Learning Get to the Point: Bottom Line Your Message in the Coach Recommends catalog of UHY University.
We're back like we never left and with a new format! Moving forward, episodes of the Coaches Corner will release weekly with a focus on specific soft skill courses from UHY University. Each week, we'll review a specific course available inside UHY University and discuss its key points.
On today’s episode, we learn how to organize our e-mail and increase our productivity, specifically:
- How to create a productive environment
- Tools to maintain your inbox
- How to maintain your newly organized inbox
- Create a to-do list that actually works
After listening to the episode, be sure to check out the Organize E-Mail and Increase Productivity course inside UHY University. You can find it under “The Coach Recommends” catalog inside The U.
Let’s face it: stress sucks. It’s something we all deal with at certain times, and if unaddressed, can have a major impact on our personal and professional lives. In today’s episode, we open with a discussion around general stress and why it occurs before shifting into the four types of stresses you will encounter at work. We’ll also talk about how you can manage those stressors to prevent them from taking over other parts of your life.
Resources
- https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/albrecht-stress.htm
- https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003211.htm
- https://www.emich.edu/campuslife/student-orgs/fourtypesofstress.pdf
Summer Huggins, HR Manager for the Consulting group, stops by the Coaches Corner this week to chat about mental health. We talk about why mental health is so important, how to take care of your mental health when it is challenged, what leaders can do to support their colleagues' mental health, and the available resources UHY offers to address our mental health.
Description
On Tuesday July 21, 2021, Simone Biles of the USA Women’s Gymnastics team pulled out of team competition during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics citing concerns about her mental health. In later interviews, Biles admitted that she had struggled with the demands of being one of the most famous athletes in the world, the unique pressure of the Tokyo games, and the added challenge of being stuck in a Covid bubble (Ingle, 2021).
While we may never face the same stressors as Biles and other athletes, we do face certain stressors in our personal and professional lives that may challenge our mental health. It’s important as an organization that we start to or better understand mental health, including possible warning signs of mental illness, myths around mental health, and how we as employees – and managers – can create an environment where discussion around mental health is welcomed, instead of ignored.
Resources
- https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/what-is-mental-health
- https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/mental-health-myths-facts
- https://hbr.org/2018/11/we-need-to-talk-more-about-mental-health-at-work
- https://hbr.org/2020/09/make-mental-health-your-1-priority
- https://hbr.org/2020/08/8-ways-managers-can-support-employees-mental-health
Stopping by the Coaches Corner this episode is Betina Dufault, Director of UHY LLP's National Office in New York. We have a great discussion around the importance of the growth mindset in Betina's personal and professional life, the misconceptions of a growth mindset, and some parting advice for anyone looking to adopt a growth mindset.
Description
In this episode, we focus on mindset; specifically, the concepts of a “fixed” versus “growth” mindset. Originally coined by Dr. Carol Dweck from Stanford University in her book “Mindset”, fixed and growth mindsets help explain how, in challenging situations, certain individuals relish the chance to grow and develop, while others avoid the challenge in fear of failure.
We’ll talk about the origins of the fixed and growth mindset and the definition of each mindset, then we’ll shift to how you can better demonstrate a growth versus fixed mindset at work, at home, at school, and in life.
Resources
- What Is A Growth Mindset? 8 Steps To Develop One. (wgu.edu)
- Growth Mindset vs Fixed Mindset: How what you think affects what you achieve (mindsethealth.com)
- What Having a “Growth Mindset” Actually Means (hbr.org)
- 15 Ways to Build a Growth Mindset | Psychology Today
- What is the Definition of a Growth Mindset? (linkedin.com)
- Carol Dweck: The power of believing that you can improve | TED Talk
- Mindset: The New Psychology of Success: Dweck, Carol S.: 9780345472328: Amazon.com: Books
Description
As we start to return to normal, what will our offices look like? Most likely a combination of office and remote work. This episode focuses on the concept of remote work, including the benefits, myths, challenges, trends, and strategies.
Resources
- 10 Remote Workplace Trends To Look Out For In 2021 (forbes.com)
- 17 Remote Work Trends for 2021/2022: Current Forecasts You Should Know - Financesonline.com
- 19 Big Myths About Remote Work | Aha!
- 20 Benefits of Remote Working for Employees & Employers (lumapps.com)
- 5 Remote Work Myths to Leave Behind in 2020 (hubspot.com)
- 5 Steps to implement a successful remote work strategy (kenjo.io)
- 9 of the Most Challenging Things About Working Remotely (businessinsider.com)
- Companies See Unexpected Benefits As Working From Home Increases (businessinsider.com)
- Data shows remote work to become the norm for most companies - YouTube
- How to Do Hybrid Right (hbr.org)
- How to Engage Remote Employees (6 Strategies That Work) (goskills.com)
- How Will Work From Home Work After Covid? - YouTube
- Kevin O'Leary: Remote work will become the norm and it will save companies money - YouTube
- Microsoft releases findings and considerations from one year of remote work in Work Trend Index - Stories
Description
In this episode, Stephen Wolf, Managing Director in Columbia, MD, stops by the coaches corner to discuss what first attracted him to the concept, how he is working to minimize its impact in his life, and what you can do to minimize its impact in yours.
References
- Cal Newport, "A World Without Email"
- Cal Newport, "Deep Work"
- Lex Friedman Podcast #166 - Cal Newport: Deep Work, Focus, Productivity, Email, and Social Media
- Finding Mastery: Conversations with Michael Gervais - Cal Newport on a World Without Email
Description
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the sheer amount of email or instant messages you receive and the perceived need to respond quickly? If so, then you are experiencing the Hyperactive Hive Mind.
This episode focuses on what exactly is the Hyperactive Hive Mind, the effects it has on you and your workplace, and how we can minimize its impact.
Resources
- How to escape the ‘hyperactive hivemind’ of modern work (bbc.com)
- Media multitaskers pay mental price, Stanford study shows
- Transcript: Ezra Klein Interviews Cal Newport - The New York Times (nytimes.com)
- Real Productivity Isn’t What You Think It Is | Next Big Idea Club
Description
Now that busy season is over, it's time to do some much-needed spring cleaning! This episode covers the benefits of spring cleaning your workspace and how exactly to do it.
References
https://www.payscale.com/career-news/2019/03/7-office-spring-cleaning-tips-to-boost-productivity-happiness-at-work
https://www.advisorpedia.com/growth/why-its-important-to-spring-clean-your-office/
https://www.themuse.com/advice/spring-clean-your-cubicle>
https://www.zebrapen.com/office-spring-cleaning-tips/>
https://www.advisorpedia.com/growth/why-its-important-to-spring-clean-your-office/>
https://money.usnews.com/careers/articles/2016-03-23/6-steps-to-spring-clean-your-workspace-and-boost-productivity>
We're joined by Jim Skrobosinski, Associate Director of Quality Control & Financial Reporting, to discuss how you can properly rest and recover after an incredibly taxing (pun intended) busy season.
Description
This episode will focus on the meaning of procrastination, why we procrastinate, the consequences of procrastination, and how you can overcome procrastination in your personal and/or professional endeavors.
References
- https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/procrastination
- https://procrastination.com/what-is-procrastination
- https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/25/smarter-living/why-you-procrastinate-it-has-nothing-to-do-with-self-control.html
- https://jamesclear.com/procrastination#What%20is%20Procrastination?· https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/procrastination
- https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newHTE_96.htm
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/04/27/why-you-cant-help-read-this-article-about-procrastination-instead-of-doing-your-job/
Description
On the last episode, we discussed how we have or are experiencing virtual conference fatigue, a.k.a. Zoom fatigue, because of all the virtual meetings we’ve been forced to hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While, at the time of this recording, things are steadily improving, it’s important to recognize that virtual conferences will not end once the world returns to some form of “normal”.
Our new normal is going to include a mix of in-person and virtual meetings, both of which require a certain presence. Since we’ve had many years before the COVID-19 pandemic to strengthen our in-person presence, this episode will focus on how to strengthen your virtual presence before, during, and after your meeting.
References
https://blog.zoom.us/video-meeting-etiquette-tips/
https://www.pennlive.com/coronavirus/2020/04/zoom-meeting-etiquette-15-tips-and-best-practices-for-online-video-conference-meetings.html
https://www.andrewmacarthy.com/andrew-macarthy-social-media/zoom-etiquette-tips-great-video-calls-meetings
https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/dos-donts-video-conferencing-etiquette/story?id=69836253
https://www.techrepublic.com/article/13-etiquette-tips-for-video-conference-calls/
https://technologyadvice.com/blog/information-technology/video-conferencing-etiquette/
https://blog.zoom.us/video-conference-etiquette/
https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/238902
https://www.roberthalf.com/blog/salaries-and-skills/14-video-conference-etiquette-tips
https://medium.com/visio-ai/9-dos-and-don-ts-of-video-conferencing-etiquette-c30de6795a77
Description
It’s hard to believe, but it’s almost been a full year since we began working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This shift from in-person to remote work forced us to leverage may useful technologies, the most important being our virtual conference platforms like GoToMeeting and Microsoft Teams. However, as the year has progressed, you may be or already have experienced virtual conference fatigue, better known as “Zoom fatigue”.
As we continue to operate in this largely virtual world for the next few months, possibly even after our offices are back to “normal”, it’s important to recognize Zoom fatigue and take steps to ease the mental strain that comes from so many virtual meetings.
References
- https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/psychological-exploration-zoom-fatigue
- https://hbr.org/2020/04/how-to-combat-zoom-fatigue
- https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20200421-why-zoom-video-chats-are-so-exhausting
- https://www.vidyard.com/blog/zoom-fatigue-tips/#what-is-zoom-fatigue
Description
This episode continues our focus on the topic of emotional intelligence. Specifically, this episode focuses on how to improve your overall emotional intelligence (EQ) and the 5 supporting components of EQ.
Sources
- 50 tips for improving your emotional intelligence. https://www.rochemartin.com/blog/50-tips-improving-emotional-intelligence/#Emotional_Intelligence.
- Higuera, V. (2018, November 27). What you need to know about emotional intelligence. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/emotional-intelligence#leadership
- MindTools (n.d.). Emotional intelligence: Develop strong “people skills”. https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newCDV_59.htm
Description
Our emotions play a key role in everything we do, but often times control and cause us to react negatively towards ourselves or others.
In this episode, we’ll explore emotional intelligence and its importance, the key components of emotional intelligence, and what emotional intelligence does and doesn’t look like in ourselves and others.
Sources
- Bradberry, T. (2014, January 9). Emotional intelligence – EQ. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/travisbradberry/2014/01/09/emotional-intelligence/?sh=27bed4d51ac0
- Bradberry, T. & Graves, J. (2009). Emotional intelligence 2.0. TalentSmart.
- Cherry, T. (2020, June 3). What is emotional intelligence? Verywellmind. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-emotional-intelligence-2795423
- Higuera, V. (2018, November 27). What you need to know about emotional intelligence. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/emotional-intelligence#leadership
- MindTools (n.d.). Emotional intelligence: Develop strong “people skills”. https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newCDV_59.htm
Overview
As many of you head into busy season, you may start to feel stressed and, eventually, burnt out. In this episode, you'll learn what workplace burnout is, the causes of burnout, the 5 stages of workplace burnout, and what you can do to mitigate the effects of burnout.
Sources
- How to Tell You Have Reached the Point of Burnout (verywellmind.com)
- Burnout Prevention and Treatment - HelpGuide.org
- Employee Burnout, Part 1: The 5 Main Causes (gallup.com)
- What are the 5 stages of burnout? | Calmer (thisiscalmer.com)
- Burnout response for leaders - Workplace Strategies for Mental Health
As the door closes on 2020 and opens on 2021, it's the perfect time to start thinking about your goals for the upcoming year. In this episode, you'll learn why goal setting is important, how to make your goals specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (a.k.a. S.M.A.R.T.), and what to do if you fall behind.