One of the most influential and, I think, most important books I've read in recent times is The Answer is a Question, by Dominic Ashley-Timms. It’s important because it lays out a clear pathway to transforming the quality of conversations across your team.

Arguably, it influences how you're going to raise the bar in terms of the conversations with your clients as well.

If you listen in to this podcast discussion with Dominic, you're likely to walk away with insights and ideas that could save you and everyone who is in a management role in your firm a time saving of somewhere between 20% and 40%, which is, by the way, what Dominic suggests is more than likely.

So, please seek out this Remarkable Practice: Humanise the Numbers podcast at HumaniseTheNumbers.online, and scroll down the podcast’s episode page for the contact information for Dominic and for the additional, downloadable resources mentioned in the podcast.

What persuaded Martin Wardle to give up a partnership in one of the fastest growing firms in the Northeast to start his own business, not in general accountancy, but as a specialist tax boutique focusing only on tax returns.

What were the triggers for that event happening?

In the course of this podcast with Martin Wardle of TH WARD, we cover a lot of ground, including the pace of technology and where Martin sees the future of accountancy going. He also tells some great stories about the significant impacts he's had on clients that he's worked with over the years, and he shares a lot about what he's learned, both about himself and about the profession.

This is one not to miss. If you can, join us at HumaniseTheNumbers.online or wherever you get your podcasts.

Please scroll down the podcast’s episode page for the contact information for Martin and for the additional, downloadable resources mentioned in the podcast.

Given the current pace of technology, how can you know how it will impact your firm?

Well, you obviously can't know for sure, but isn't it good to get an insider's viewpoint on how technology will change things?

In this podcast with Derek Granger of Aris Growth, Derek talks about where he works and how he sees the changes coming through into today’s firms, changes that will have a significant impact, not only on recruitment and training, but also on fundamental work practices.

To hear more about technology and to listen in to a wide-ranging conversation where we discussed private equity and the importance of soft skills in accountancy, go to HumaniseTheNumbers.online or wherever you get your podcasts.

Please scroll down the podcast’s episode page for the contact information for Derek and for the additional, downloadable resources mentioned in the podcast.

When we discuss technology in relation to accounting, it seems that there has been a rapid pace of change with technology for years now, and it's only accelerating. And with the advancements in artificial intelligence, perhaps the speed of change will accelerate even more.

When I interviewed Luke Farren of The Modern Firm recently on the podcast, I felt that Luke's comments about why accounting needs shaking up are certainly worth a listen.

To hear more, join me and Luke at HumaniseTheNumbers.online or wherever you get your podcasts.

Please scroll down the podcast’s episode page for the contact information for Luke and for the additional, downloadable resources mentioned in the podcast.

When someone with an engineering background moves into accountancy, what skills do they bring along with them?

What struck me in this podcast with Gareth Burton of Assure UK was Gareth's curiosity about the way that accountancy is carried out and the potential improvements to processes that can happen across virtually every part of our business. Gareth has got that down to a tee.

To listen to more of that and to further useful insights about how and why Gareth set up his firm in the first place, join us at HumaniseTheNumbers.online or where you normally get your podcasts.

Please scroll down the podcast’s episode page for the contact information for Gareth and for the additional, downloadable resources mentioned in the podcast.

How do you ensure that you are continually delivering value to clients, so that they never question the fees that you charge, especially in this volatile, uncertain world in which we're living?

In this podcast with Phil Hobden of Sage, Phil and I cover several topics that are very relevant to the profession today, including: how do we deliver value?

Phil shares some great insights into his nine years working with accountants in a tech space, and also how he's developed a real understanding of accountants and their motivations and capabilities.

And we have a really interesting chat around how accountants explain what they do to clients.

So, if you want to find out more, join me and Phil at HumaniseTheNumbers.online, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Please scroll down the podcast’s episode page for the contact information for Phil and for the additional, downloadable resources mentioned in the podcast.

As an accountant, do you think of yourself first and foremost as a storyteller? Probably not. And I've not met many who do.

But in this podcast episode with Paul Miller of Cornish Accounting Solutions, that's exactly what I found. Paul genuinely thinks of himself first and foremost as a storyteller.

The reasons for that will become apparent during the podcast, and that's why I highly recommend it to you. In a wide-ranging discussion, Paul and I talk through the importance of client selection, as well as how a scare with meningitis affected Paul’s outlook, not just on his firm, but on life in general.

And you'll certainly want to dive into what's on Paul's ‘sacred cow’ and ‘magic wand’ lists.

Please have a listen to the podcast. You’ll find it where you usually find your podcasts or at HumaniseTheNumbers.online.

Scroll down the podcast’s episode page for Paul’s contact information and for the additional, downloadable resources mentioned in the podcast.

Occasionally, you have the privilege of having a deep conversation with someone who's well-versed in the profession, has worked in industry, has set up multiple businesses, who runs his own accountancy practice and, at the same time, is doing everything he can to influence the success of the profession.

That's the discussion that I dived into with Jonathan Gaunt from FD Works. He set up Xavier, which was sold to Dext and became Dext Precision, and then set up Socket.

In this conversation with Jonathan, we struggled to get to the numbers part of Humanise the Numbers and talked quite a bit about some very specific small things that have big results in enabling you to build your culture the way you want to build it – the working environment that you can be proud of, enjoy, and which delivers real financial success as well.

I hope you'll take time out and go to your favourite podcast platform or to humanisethenumbers.online and look out for this Humanise The Numbers podcast with Jonathan Gaunt. I thought it was remarkable!

Scroll down the podcast’s episode page for Jonathan’s contact information and for the additional, downloadable resources mentioned in the podcast.