This is driven largely by employers or senior management, so the question should also be posed – How can we value-add to our employees? What else do our employees need? How can we help them grow?
Now the immediate response would be to suggest more CPD-related education – but what if we were to look beyond the employee as “just an accountant”? What if we want to develop the person, not just their accounting capabilities?
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Imagine if you could develop confident leaders, a team that communicated with respect and understanding, a workplace that had an open and accepting culture where loyalty and positivity were the norms? That’s what can happen when you develop the person, not just their profession.
According to chartered accountant and director of Team Wellbeing Online, Hayley Meiklejohn, there has been a growing need to support employees, and this has been more prevalent since we entered the pandemic and work-from-home conditions.
“With an estimated one in five Australian workers experiencing a mental health condition, it is now even more important that we support, encourage and engage with our people to help them to thrive in their work life and personal lives,” Ms Meiklejohn said.
Developing the person can include employee coaching, identifying areas where they can gain more confidence, giving them the tools, training and resources to expand their knowledge.
“It benefits the business as well as the individual. Creating self-assured leaders and engaged employees creates a positive work culture for the organization, leads to better performance and improved staff retention,” Ms Meiklejohn said.
Hayley Meiklejohn is a chartered accountant and director of Team Wellbeing Online.