Baltimore County Public Schools – Fiscal Services Division

Use of Technology ToolsUse of Technology Tools to Improve Leadershipp p

Tom Hood, CPA.CITP

CEO – Maryland Association of CPAsy

December 3, 2009

Being in business or governmentgovernment today is like

b i ibeing in permanent pwhitewater

Leadership – when the sailing was smooth

You need new skills & new tools to dealtools to deal

with this permanent

whitewater of change

You feel overwhelmed o e e edby the rapid and turbulentand turbulent pace of change in businessin business today

“As it relates to science and technology, the rate of change in the next decade, is likely to be 4 to7 

times faster than in the last decade.  If it is 4x faster it would be like planning for 2006 in 1890, if it is 7x   faster it would be like planning for 2006 in 1670.”faster it would be like planning for 2006 in 1670.

‐Expert on Education Panel, The Aspen Institute, 2007

You want to hmaster the 

skills neededskills needed to keep pace and lead in this newthis new environment

Today, you will learn to becomelearn to become a navigator of h ichange using

some new tools and skills

Sight Insight Create Communicate Inspire!

Did you know?Government Accountant Leading theGovernment Accountant Leading the 

CPA Profession

Ernie Almonte, CPA – Auditor General, State of Rhode Islandhttp://www.twitter.com/erniealmonte

Tools for LeadersTools for Leaders

First, Leadership in permanent hwhitewater

The I2A strategic thinking system is based on the five qualities of Extraordinary Leadersfive qualities of Extraordinary Leaders

1. Sight ‐ Ability to see emerging patterns and shift perspective when p p pnecessary

2. Insight ‐ Ability to learn faster than the rate of change in your industryg y y

3. Create ‐ Ability to think strategically and critically to gain insights that create new opportunitiesnew opportunities

4. Communicate ‐ Ability to collaborate inside and outside your organization and to build and sustainorganization and to build and sustain social networks of people engaged in the work

5. Inspire – Ability to mobilize support5. Inspire  Ability to mobilize support and engage others to join you in ACTION

SightWhat is above knows what is below, but what is below does not know what is above. One climbs, one sees. One descends one sees no longer but one has seenOne descends, one sees no longer, but one has seen. There is an art of conducting oneself in the lower regions by the memory of what one saw higher up. When one can no longer see, one can at least stillWhen one can no longer see, one can at least still 

know.

‐Rene' Daumal

“The faster you go, the further ahead you have to see.”

Sight

Insights & Opportunities

“But a time of turbulence is also one of great opportunity for those who 

d t d t dcan understand, accept and exploit the new realities. It is above all a time ofabove all a time of opportunity for leadership.”

‐ Peter Drucker, Managing in Turbulent Times

Insight

Create!

“The best way toThe best way to predict the futurepredict the futureis to create it.”

‐ Peter Drucker, Managing in Turbulent Times

Create

CommunicateExtraordinary leaders know howleaders know how to build and sustain large sociallarge social networks and 

icommunicate effectively above the noise of the whitewater.

Communicate

Inspire to Action

You must be able to reach the heartsthe hearts and minds ofand minds of the people doing the workwork.

Inspire!

Second, Social Media tools

Here comes the Net Generation

"There is plenty of cause for alarm and/or optimism when it comes to my generation; even I can see that. Still I thi k th ti i f f f fStill I think the negative views of us come from a fear of the unknown, a fear of change. Our world is evolving at a rapid rate and that can be scary for older generationsa rapid rate, and that can be scary for older generations

— Savannah Jones, 17, Portland, Oregon

NGenophobia—the irrational and morbid fear of youth, especially with regards to their use of the Internet

Three Drivers of ChangeThree Drivers of Change

WEB 2.0WEB 2.0 THE NETGENERATIONTHE NET

GENERATION

Wikinomics ‐

The New 

Economic

Wikinomics ‐

The New 

EconomicEconomic

Order

Economic

OrderInspired by Don Tapscott

Social Media is a Generational Issue

• Matures      64 ‐ 100

• Boomers     45 ‐ 63

• Gen X          29 ‐ 44

• Millennials   10 ‐ 28

Which one are you?

"Digital 'Natives' Invade the Workplace: Young people may be newcomers to the world of work, but it's their bosses who are immigrants into the digital world." 

Meet your future employees?

“over 64% of students in grades K‐12 play onlinegrades K 12 play online and/or electronics based 

games regularly”g g y

“Downloading music is #1 activity by middle and high school 

students”“40% of middle school students and 67% of high school students have a

personal website (Facebook,

students”

personal website (Facebook, MySpace, Xanga)”

Source: Project Tomorrow – Speak Up 2007 report

Generation Gap? Or Generation Lap?

GenerationsOne third (35%) of American adult internet users h fil li i l t k itGenerationshave a profile on an online social network site, four times as many as three years ago, but still much lower than the 65% of online American teens who use social networks 

“In 1997, young people for the first time were recognized by adults as being authorities on something truly revolutionary – digital technology, interactive media, and collaboration.” 

– Don Tapscott “Growing Up Digital”

Eight Net Gen Norms1. Freedom – The freedom to work when 

and where you want2. Customization – My job my life3. Scrutiny – I know what you did last night4. Integrity – Be a good company to work for5. Collaboration – Teamwork6. Entertainment – Work should be fun7. Speed – Let’s make things happen now!8. Innovation – Let me invent

To be a guild master in a game like World of Warcraft, you need to be able to create a vision, find recruits and give them a platform , g pon which to learn, and orchestrate the group's strategy. To me, it sounds a lot like the skills a corporate executive needs, doesn't it? – Don Tapscott “Grown Up Digital”

Thi i S i l N t kThis is a Social Network 

The New Math

Social Networking (Old)

Social Media (New)+A change in the way we build= A change in the way we build 

relationships=

Source: Matt Goddard, CEO R2integrated 

Old School vs. New School

Chamber of Commerce

Class Reunions

Friends and Family

E‐mail

I d t M tiIndustry Meetings

NewslettersNewsletters

It’s all about your WhuffieIt s all about your WhuffieWhuffie is the culmination of your reputation, 

i fl b id i d b di i linfluence, bridging and bonding capital, current and potential access to ideas, talent 

d d f dand resources, saved‐up favors, and accomplishments.

‐ Tara Hunt “The Whuffie Factor”

It’s about the Network Effect

Metcalf’s Law"states that the economic value of a network increases like the square ofnetwork increases like the square of the number of its nodes, or the law of 

increasing returns. Usually, when people share a piece of equipment, the return diminishes. When more people are engaged in the network, more value is returned to the user."

It’s about the Network Effect

How big is your 

network?

“In a sentence {to recognize a network} means ‘To discover how A, who is in touch with C,Is affected by the relation between B and C.” – Russ Eckel “Becoming the Eye of the Tiger”

Whuffie Example

Get found – Digital FootprintsGet found  Digital Footprints

Our Journey…

• Share

• Listen & Learn

• Communicate

• Connect

Meet your customers where they are

Benefits of Social MediaBenefits of Social Media• Share & discuss informationI bilit t t t l• Increase ability to connect to more people

• Increase ability to manage more relationships• Customer service & supportCustomer service & support• Tool for recruitment & retention• Information & knowledge management• Increased findability on web (SEO)• Brand management• Accelerate your strategy• Accelerate your strategy• Did I say it’s cheap?

Marketing Strategy 2.0

Website

e‐mailT itt

newslettersTwitter

Social NetworksBlog

James Carroll, CPAJames Carroll, CPAWebsite Facebook

Twitter

Last two storiesLast two stories

• Client contact viaClient contact via Facebook

• Staff relations via Facebook

Leadership & Social Media – panel of young professionalsAICPA Leadership AcademyChicago, 2009

Government & Social Media

AGA & Social MediaAGA & Social Media

http://twitter.com/stlagahttp://aga.typepad.com/

CPAs’ “favorite?”

ChallengesChallenges

• Social media requires loosening the reins on technology platforms and access

• Social media management requires constant care and feeding, as well asfeeding, as well as monitoring

• Because social media is MASS di i t kMASS media, mistakes and missteps are amplified a p ed

Social Notworking?Social Notworking?

This is defined as “The s s de ed as epractice of spending time unproductively on social‐

k bnetworking websites, especially when one should be working ” or “When yoube working,  or  When you spend all days at your job on social networking sites such gas facebook,myspace and twitter.”

Research says…

"One day at work they took away our tools, likeOne day at work they took away our tools, like Facebook, Pandora, Bebo, NPR. Work is slow now, cold and boring." —STEVE RESSLER, 27, TAMPA, FLORIDA

In a social environment based on networked individualism, theinternet’s capacity to maintain and cultivate social networks has realinternet s capacity to maintain and cultivate social networks has realpayoffs (in the workplace).”– “The Strength of Internet Ties” Report

Sooooo….Sooooo….

Social Notworking is a managerial problem, not a technology problem.

If a salesman spends his day making personal phone calls rather than phoning potential customers, the solution is not to take away the phone. The solution is to make clear what i d i t t blis and is not acceptable behavior and…

Discussion at AICPA Leadership AcademyChicago, July, 2009

Risk Management• Educate & train your staff

S t it & li i• Set security & usage policies

• Restrict Access during certain 

times (if you have to)

• Monitor – using search & g

google alerts

Next steps…1. Educate yourself –

www.cpalearning2.com2. Create your digital footprint. Create y g p

profiles on Facebook, LinkedIn and Google. 

3. Start listening. Use Google Reader or Bloglines to begin reading thoughtBloglines to begin reading thought leaders in your profession or areas of interest. 

4. Continue listening. Create your Twitter4. Continue listening. Create your Twitteraccount and follow your profession and areas of interest. 

5. Start sharing. Create a blog and record h hyour thoughts. 

6. Share. Recognize and promote the people you find interesting. 

Educate yourself

http://www.cpalearning2.com

You can…Ignore itFight it orFight it or

Harness it’s power

Third, Communicate Visually

visual communicationiis

more

effectivemore

effective

6x6x Retention90

60

70

80

40

50

60

10

20

30

0

10

Oral Visual Oral + Visual

Source: ”Presenting Effective Presentations with Visual Aids,” U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA Office of Training and Education

83%83%of learning occurs visually

Source: ”Presenting Effective Presentations with Visual Aids,” U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA Office of Training and Education

67%67%more persuasivep

Source: ”Effectiveness of Visual Language Presentations,” MacroVU, Inc., www.macrovu.com.

80%80%increase in willingness to readincrease in willingness to read

using color visuals

Vs.

Source: Ronald E. Green: “The Persuasive Properties of Color” Marketing Communications

MAP it! think plan act learnMAP it! think, plan, act, learn…

http://www.mindjet.com/cpas/mj.aspx

CPAtemplatestemplates

to help pyou with...

connect your productivity toolsconnect your productivity tools

Fourth, Learn XBRL

Transparency Now! – A Wired ManifestoN d FDIC

OregonNevada FDIC

SEC

Source: Wired magazine  17.03 March, 2009http://www.xbrl.org

XBRL is already here!• FDIC

• SEC

• Oregon

• Netherlands Australia New Zealand• Netherlands – Australia – New Zealand

• Nevada

1. I2A Insights to ActionAction

2. Social media3. Communicate visually

4. XBRL

U killUse your new skills + technologyto innovate to lead!technology…

Accounting Professional 2.01 L i & t i1. Learning & staying 

on the cutting edge2 M i2. Managing my 

career3 D i k3. Doing my work4. Interacting with 

peers5. Becoming a leader 

i fi ldin my field

Allen Blue – Linked In

Create your future!http://www bizlearning net/learningcenter/http://www.bizlearning.net/learningcenter/

http://www.bizlearning.net/learningcenter/customizedtraining/event_detail_inHouse.cfm?eventid=09IASTS

Questions?

Technology Tools for Leaders

Tom Hood, CPA.CITPCEO

Maryland Association of CPAsBusiness Learning Institute

(443) 632‐2301E mail tom@macpa orgE‐mail tom@macpa.org

Web http://www.macpa.orgBlog http://www.cpasuccess.com

MACPA resources• CPA Spotlight, our daily blog

www.CPASuccess.com

• CPA Spotlight, our weekly podcastwww.macpa.org/podcast

• Other MACPA blogs:

• www.CPALegislativeInsider.com

• www.NewCPAs.com

• www.TCPAblog.com

• CPA Learning 2, a Web 2.0 playground by CPAs for CPAswww.CPALearning2.com

Tools• I2A – Insights to Action – a strategic thinking system

– http://www.bizlearning.net/learningcenter/customizedtraining/event_detail_inHouse.cfm?eventid=09IASTS

• CPA Vision projectCPA Vision project– http://www.cpavision.org

• Social media – How are CPAs using social mediaSocial media  How are CPAs using social media– http://www.cpasuccess.com/2009/09/how‐are‐cpas‐using‐social‐media.html– Social Media Quick Start Program– http://www.bizlearning.net/learningcenter/customizedtraining/event_detail_inHouse.cfm?eventid=09SOCMED

• XBRL – http://www.xbrl.org– Blog posts from CPA Success– http://www.cpasuccess.com/2009/06/xbrl‐and‐government‐a‐marriage‐made‐in‐nevada.html

– http://www.cpasuccess.com/xbrl/

• Mindmanager CPA edition• Mindmanager CPA edition– http://www.mindjet.com/cpas/mj.aspx

CPAs and Social Media – Passing Fador Valuable Tool?or Valuable Tool?

Tom Hood, CPA.CITPCEO & Executive Director

Maryland Association of CPAshttp://www.MACPA.org

t @tom@macpa.org

• Follow me on: Twitter: http://www.Twitter.com/tomhood LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/tomhood Facebook: http://www facebook com/thoodcpa Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thoodcpa Plaxo: http://tomhood.myplaxo.com Slideshare: http://www.slideshare.net/thoodcpa Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/thoodcpa Second Life avatar name: Rocky Maddaloni