Finding, retaining, developing and motivating staff is a huge problem for firms. What could possibly be more important? We believe that firms cannot properly improve their staff programs unless they first find out what the staff think of them.

We have developed a proprietary instrument for surveying staff. It is narrative; staff must respond to each question with a written response. And we have perfected a unique system for analyzing the responses and tabulating the results.

We proceed as follows:

1. Compare the results with those of other firms we have surveyed.
2. Prepare a comprehensive report of the findings, including recommendations for addressing the issues raised in the survey.
3. Facilitate a partner meeting to discuss the findings and recommendations and to decide upon a plan for improving staff relations.
4. Conduct focus groups of the staff if further probing is needed or desired.
5. Present the results to the staff (optional)

Best Practices for Retaining, Developing and Motivating Staff. For firms that don't wish to conduct a staff survey, we facilitate a meeting of the partners to discuss staff issues in general, and CPA firm staff issues in particular. Partners come away from this meeting with action steps for improving retention, development, training and motivation of staff in their firm.