Author: Peter Margaritis

S5E45: Communication Skills are Essential in the Accounting Profession with Joe Taylor and Courtney McKay

From the desk of Peter Margaritis

“Communications is the piece that underlines everything you do. Being able to articulate your idea or the message you want and having it perceived the way you wanted to.” Joe Taylor and Courtney McKay

Today’s guests are; Joe Taylor, a founding member of JTaylor in 1999 and currently Chairman of the Board of Managers. Joe delivers a full complement of business advisory and tax planning expertise to their clients with a particular emphasis on the areas of business formation and structural planning, business reorganizations, business, buy, sell, structuring, estate, and gift tax planning, business valuation, business planning, development, and more. Courtney McKay is also a founding member of JTaylor 1999 and has over 25 years of public accounting experience primarily focused on consulting and Business Advisory Services. She has extensive knowledge of business enterprise valuations, incentive compensation plans, and damage assessments. In addition, she has assisted clients with strategic planning, including joint venturing, business acquisition, and due diligence services.

According to Joe and Courtney, Communications plays a vital role in business, especially when accounting language seems so foreign to the test of the other departments in the organization. They agree that practicing and repeating communication to make accounting more approachable is essential to its effects on the rest of the organization.

Communication is an essential skill that separates those successful in the accounting industry. It’s not just running numbers but what you do with the numbers that make the difference. The skills you learn will enable you to know how to deal with different situations and people and what response you need to give them. Drawing examples from amongst themselves, they agree that communicating with colleagues is very different from how you will disseminate information to a client or the rest of the departments.

Listen to Joe and Courtney as they give tips on what they have learned in their journey and how they can help you navigate the ups and downs of accounting and personal growth and development.

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S5E44: Turned Off – Walking Away From Your Inner Critic (Part 2)

From the desk of Peter Margaritis

“Your ability to be vulnerable is your strength, not your weakness.” Peter Margaritis

In today’s episode, Peter Margaritis continues discussing the inner critic. We can learn how to turn off the inner critic, but they are not always so bad. The only people who know that you have done a flop are you, your inner critic, and nobody else.

As we continue to silence the inner critic, sometimes we are so focused on what went wrong that we forget that we are human beings and are allowed to make mistakes. Instead of focusing on yourself, it’s more important to focus on your audience and to whom you deliver.

Vulnerability can be a great way to connect to others. Giving examples from a fantastic songwriter, Peter gives excellent insight on how opening yourself up to others can make you a better connection and relatable, especially in the message you want to deliver.

Sometimes you need to reason with your inner critic instead of silencing them.

S5E43: Turned Off – Walking Away From Your Inner Critic (Part 1)

From the desk of Peter Margaritis

“Your inner critic wants to protect you by holding you back.” Peter Margaritis

In today’s episode, Peter Margaritis talks about turning off the inner critic in yourself. Sometimes it’s hard to quiet that voice that makes you not want to take risks. But, it gives you advice, usually in the negative kind, that holds you in your comfort zone.

Peter gives insight into the inner critic and why the critic comes out. Sometimes it’s because of self-preservation, but most times, the critic has no basis for criticizing. As Peter puts it, the inner critic is a good companion, but you shouldn’t let them control you.

Quieting the inner critic may seem like a hurdle, but once you do, you will have a better time at work, during meetings, and going on stage.

S5E42: Scripted For Safety Letting Go of Negativity and Dismissal (Part 2)

From the desk of Peter Margaritis

“How we learn to collaborate is more important than who is on the team.” Peter Margaritis

In today’s episode, Peter Margaritis continues to talk about safety, and today the main focus is psychological safety in the workspace. How a team works and is assembled speaks more volumes than the members’ contributions.

Peter talks about the meaning of psychological safety, the books he draws from, and how to handle conflict. How we react to stimuli (conflict) speaks volumes about the psychological calmness in the office. As an improv leader, it’s up to you to shift the culture of your organization or team to an open and intentional squad, where they can speak their mind and have their ideas and opinions listened to.

Listen to this and so much more in the episode; petermargaritis.com

S5E41: Scripted For Safety – Letting Go of Negativity and Dismissal (Part 1)

From the desk of Peter Margaritis

 “We learn when we make mistakes. Failure is good.” Peter Margaritis

In today’s episode, Peter Margaritis talks about scripting your mind and body and letting go of negative energy and dismissal. This is not only from others but also from yourself. As an Improv Leader, it’s easy to be in class but afraid to improvise. Sometimes it’s easier to beat ourselves up and focus on the negative energy and thoughts and term yourself as a failure.

Instead, Peter reflects on why we do not bring up the apparent ad. In so doing, you are better off storing the memory for future use and engagements. Going off script may seem unnatural, but this is where courage is most needed, and you learn, in the art of business, improvisation requires you to take time and be intentional.