IF it’s not clients it’s staff. I’ve literally only just calmed down.
In all my years in practice I can honestly say I’ve never been so shocked and disappointed with how I’ve been treated by a member of staff as I was yesterday.
I was greeted in the office first thing on a Monday morning by a set of keys and a resignation note. No explanation was offered, no notice was given, nothing. My phone number has been blocked, texts bounce back, and I have no way of knowing what on earth I have done to deserve to be treated in this way.
Little does the person in question know however that I have contacts in the local accountancy world. I know where he has moved to, and I am considering writing a reference to the partners of the new firm to let them know how badly I’ve been treated.
To some people reading the above it may sound as though I am overreacting and I’m somewhat of a psycho. Maybe I am reacting, but when you’ve invested time, effort and trust into a member of staff only to then be left high and dry without so much as a warning I feel entitled to be annoyed.
I mean, what sort of person walks away without any notice, leaving the firm in a very difficult position?
I’m usually good at keeping calm and thinking of the next move but yesterday really hit me for six. Maybe I’m getting more sensitive in my old age however.
Today is a new day though and I’ve found talking about it to several clients has helped me to clear my mind and start again.
The message repeated from several people has been the same; ‘no one cares more about your business as much as you do’. My old partner used that to me too, and it is so true.
You can pay them the earth and treat them like one of your own but it won’t make them care as much as you would like them to.
The hard part is to not let bad experiences change your outlook on things.
I feel more positive already!
The Practitioner’s uncensored thoughts come from within their own practice – having left a regional firm in the heart of England