Accountants are all too used to being characterised as ‘boring’. Maybe some fit the sterotype. In other cases the epithet is more down to the perceived boring nature of accounting and auditing.
One reason so many accountants are seen as boring is precisely because we enjoy doing the boring old stuff that clients don’t like to do themselves. It’s partly what people expect from their accountant – “She’s someone who does all the stuff I don’t like. It’s boring. Accountants like it therefore accountants are boring.” But of course we’re not, are we?!
It doesn’t help that so much of what we do is backwards looking. Many people therefore see us as Historians and if they find history boring, as many people do, then, by definition, accountants are boring too.
They are often thinking not about us as people but more about what they think we do all day. We check numbers, details and tax rules. We must be methodical, detail focused, punctilious, cautious and predictable?. We give the impression of understanding a load of complex rules and concepts.
Alternatively we could find ways to disabuse people of the idea that dealing with Boring Stuff makes us boring people. We have to reveal our personalities and core behaviour traits.
How do you do this?
You’ve put up a few posts/forum threads about this recently Mark…has someone really got to you by calling you boring?!
As a small, one man business, I feel my strengths which make me not boring are;
Clients know they can talk to me – I don’t hide behind a receptionist
I answer all calls personally if available, and check my answer machine regularly and call back on any missed calls immediately. There is no switchboard operator, and no irritating music.
I listen carefully to what my clients say. I am a businessman too, and at the end of the day we both face common problems. I am not merely a boring numbers man, but can empathise with them and relate to them.
I will talk freely about fees. I know that all small businesses expect value for money and my main aim will always be to offer cost effective and RELEVANT advice.
I make it clear to my clients that they are the most important people in the relationship, and I will assist them in every way I can.
In order to be boring, one must ask the same bog standard questions, and give the same bog standard replies, with no real substance behind them.
I find most politicians boring!