The six skills of strategic leaders

Accountants are known for being detail-oriented and analytical, as well as strict followers of rules and principles. While this skill set suits the daily functions of accounting, it doesn't fit naturally with forward-thinking, risk-taking and strategic leadership behavior. Accounting firms face many changes, from industry consolidation and disruptive technologies, to a changing field of competition, new revenue models, fee negotiations, and continued innovation. To meet these challenges, accounting firms need to build a strong strategic leadership bench. Here are six skills of strategic leaders an accounting firm needs you to develop: 1. anticipate, 2. challenge, 3. interpret, 4. decide, 5. align, and 6. learn. When distilled to their essence, this six disciplines suggest that accounting leaders must become more outside-in focused in their strategies and learn how to think backward from the future when they formulate plans. Through scenario planning, market segmentation, core-competency analysis and exploring different strategic visions, a five-year strategy can be articulated. But to make it happen requires clear plans, milestones, reviews and feedback loops.