may2021 - 21

FEATURE
3 Tips for a Less Taxing Tax Day This
Mental Health Month
By Jodi Chavez
TAX DAY IN 2021 coincides with Mental Health Month, observed
each May - and while that's almost certainly a coincidence, it's
a coincidence that certainly feels apt. This won't be lost
on already under-the-gun tax professionals, for whom
the lead-up to the filing deadline, even under ordinary
circumstances, is invariably, well, taxing. And the
circumstances right now are anything but ordinary.
With all of that in mind, here are
three tips to help tax pros de-stress,
deepen client relationships and avoid
issues like burnout during what is
bound to be a very busy time of year.
1. STAY CURRENT WITH THE
LATEST CHANGES FROM
THE IRS
This goes without saying, which is why
it needs to be said. Make sure you're
aware of all the latest from the IRS.
Personally, I recommend checking in
with the IRS Newsroom on a daily, or
at the very least weekly, basis. Another
approach would be to set up simple
Google Alerts.
Whatever approach you take, it's
been a crazy year, and you need to
be prepared. Otherwise, strikes right
down the middle will start looking like
curveballs.
2. SIMPLIFY, SIMPLIFY,
SIMPLIFY
Take it from me, simplifying complex
information and explaining technical
language when asked are two things
that every client appreciates. And
while doing so is easier preached than
practiced, it'll make all the difference
this year. Why? Two reasons:
* Communication ensures alignment,
which is comparatively less of
an issue when you're meeting clients
face to face. Relegated to screen-toscreen
digital interactions, however,
it's a different
story.
* Clients
will come away
from the meeting
feeling like they've
been heard, which
should increase
satisfaction levels
and ensure clarity
around next steps. You
can reinforce the latter by sharing
simple takeaways - checklists, for
example, or brief summaries of what
was discussed - after every meeting,
as well.
3. SELF-MONITOR FOR
SYMPTOMS OF BURNOUT
You've probably heard of the concept
of " burnout " before. It's a condition
characterized by excessive stress,
exhaustion and a general inability
to cope. But did you ever consider
whether or not you were at risk?
Right now, with tax deadlines
looming on the horizon, maybe you
should - because if burnout strikes,
the consequences would literally be
costly to your practice. One survey
(https://tinyurl.com/yxxrwbxv) from
around the start of the pandemic, for
example, showed that mental health
concerns like burnout had become the
number-one cause of long-term work
absences.
How to avoid this? A few simple
tips: Take micro-breaks throughout the
day (for example, five minutes away
from your desk each hour). Take your
lunch outside (and away from work).
Take a moment to breathe.
These might sound like relatively
simple actions to take, but knowing
the signs of burnout is an important
first step - alert to these warning
signs, you'll be that much better positioned
to combat burnout, or avoid it
altogether.
LOOKING AHEAD
If there's one thing the global pandemic
has brought home for all of us,
I hope it's this: health and wellbeing
have to come first. These things are
a lot more important than work. You
should keep that in mind at all time.
For now, here's hoping you - and
tax pros everywhere - had a valueadding,
relationship-enriching and
above all burnout-free tax season! ■
With more than 22 years' experience
in the staffing industry, Jodi
oversees the field organization
and provides direction for Tatum.
Jodi is responsible for continuing
to transform Tatum into a datadriven
organizational search and
consulting firm helping clients
select the key financial talent they
need to execute their business
strategies. Throughout her career,
Jodi's entrepreneurial drive and
strong business acumen have led
to increased revenues, gross profit
growth and improved ROI. Along
with a proven track record of
building high-performing teams,
she brings a wealth of knowledge
in strategic planning and execution,
mergers and acquisitions,
brand strategy, social media and
multi-generational leadership.
MAY 2021 ■ www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com
21
https://www.tinyurl.com/yxxrwbxv http://www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com
may2021

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