This document provides a summary of a leadership conference presentation on strategies for extraordinary leaders. The presentation was given by Tom Hood, CEO of the Maryland Association of CPAs Business Learning Institute, at the 2010 IGAF Worldwide Women's Leadership Conference on CPA Island in Second Life. The presentation focused on the five qualities of extraordinary leaders: sight, insight, create, communicate, and inspire. It also provided a toolkit and practice exercises for developing these leadership qualities using the Insight to Action strategic thinking system.

1. The Power of
Influence:
Leadership
Strategies for the
Extraordinary
Leader
IGAF Worldwide 2010 Women's
Leadership Conference
Presented by :
Tom Hood, CPA.CITP
CEO
Maryland Association of CPAs
Business Learning Institute
1

2. IGAF Worldwide Headquarters
CPA Island in Second Life
http://slurl.com/secondlife/CPA%20Island/53/217/21/?title=IGAF%20Worldwide%20on%
20CPA%20Island

3. Are you an untouchable?
A Washington lawyer friend recently
told me about layoffs at his firm. I
asked him who was getting axed.
He said it was interesting: lawyers
who were used to just showing up
and having work handed to them
were the first to go because with the
bursting of the credit bubble, that
flow of work just isn’t there.
But those who have the ability
to imagine new services, new
opportunities and new ways
to recruit work were being
retained. They are the new
untouchables.

4. What is the # 1 reason leaders (and their
organizations) fail?
4

5. What is different?

6. Being in business today feels like being in
permanent whitewater
6

7. You feel
overwhelmed
by the rapid
and turbulent
pace of change
and
uncertainties in
business today

8. You need new skills and new approaches
to ride these waves of change
Photo: Pratt’s surfing page

9. You will learn how
to lead in turbulent
times and become
a navigator of
change using BLI's
I2A - Insight to
Action strategic
thinking system
Sight Insight Create Communicate Inspire!

10. Today’s agenda
• What is Leadership?
• What about women & leaders? What the
research says
• The Five Qualities of Extraordinary Leaders
• Toolkit & Practice
Sight Insight Create Communicate Inspire!

11. Leadership = Influence
the capacity or power of persons
or things to be a compelling force
on or produce effects on the
actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of
others

12. You have our attention!

13. What women need…
• Confidence in their abilities
• Getting over guilt
• Assertiveness
• Finding role models and asking for help
• Having a support network
Source: AICPA Women’s Initiatives Executive Committee

14. Some thoughts from my network

15. Some thoughts from my network
My advice to women is that one of my
insights is that the "strategic" process I use to
think about my work is exactly the same
process that works well at home, i.e., the 5
stages of if I2a and that is what allows me to
"do it all" without completely losing my mind.
said tongue in cheek but with all seriousness.
‐ Gretchen Pisano global consultant & co‐
founder of I2A

17. The Centered Leader
• Meaning
• Managing Energy
• Positive Framing
• Connecting
• Engaging
Source: McKinsey Quarterly
Centered Leadership: How Talented Women Thrive
Joanna Barsh, Susie Cranston and Rebecca A. Craske,

18. Soft is Hard
Hard is Soft
‐ Tom Peters “In Search of Excellence”

19. Five Qualities of Extraordinary Leaders
1. Sight - Ability to see emerging
patterns and shift perspective
when necessary
2. Insight - Ability to learn faster
than the rate of change in your
industry
3. Create - Ability to think
strategically and critically to gain
insights that create new
opportunities
4. Communicate - Ability to
collaborate inside and outside
your organization and to build
and sustain social networks of
people engaged in the work
5. Inspire – Ability to mobilize
support and engage others to
join you in ACTION

20. Leadership
Insights to Action –
A Strategic Thinking System

21. Sight
It’s not what you look at that matters, it is what
you see – Henry David Thoreau
“The faster you go, the further
ahead you have to see.”

22. Insight
& Opportunities
“But a time of turbulence is
also one of great
opportunity for those who
can understand, accept and
exploit the new realities. It is
above all a time of
opportunity for leadership.”
‐ Peter Drucker,
Managing in Turbulent Times
Insight

23. Create!
“The best way to
predict the future
is to create it.”
‐ Peter Drucker,
Managing in Turbulent Times
Create

24. Communicate
Extraordinary
leaders must be O
E W R
adept at network K
leadership – which T
S
is the building & N
sustaining of large
social networks of
people engaged in
the work.
Communicate

25. Inspire to Action
You must be
able to reach
the hearts
and minds of
the people
doing the
work. Inspire!

26. Sight
It’s not what you look at that matters, it is what
you see – Henry David Thoreau
“The faster you go, the further
ahead you have to see.”

27. Trends & Issues
• The economy
• The mega‐trends
– Globalization
– Workforce & Demographics
– Technology
• The Profession
Sight Insight Create Communicate Inspire!

28. The economy is still uncertain?
Economists offer a wide range of predictions...
Source: Banham, R. (2010 Mar 1). The shape of things to come. CFO Magazine.

31. The fact of the matter is, this is not a normal
downturn, this is a …fundamental re-SET!
- Steve Ballmer – CEO Microsoft

32. How many of you think changes will slow down in the near term?
“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 2010 in 1890, if it is 7x
faster it would be like planning for 2010 in 1670.”
‐Expert on Education Panel, The Aspen Institute

33. Globalization

35. 5 Forces of Globalization
1. Growth of consumers in emerging economies
2. Technologies that empower consumers &
communities
3. Increase in labor productivity in developed markets
4. Shift of economic activity between and within
regions
5. Increasingly global markets for labor & talent

36. It is not either global or local, it is AND…
Glocal

37. Workforce / Pipeline

38. Bright spot?

41. Live First,
Work Second
Digital Natives

42. Generation Gap? Or Generation Lap?
Generations
“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”
NGenophobia—the irrational and morbid
fear of youth, especially with regards to
their use of the Internet

43. How to start the conversation
The eight Net Gen Norms
1. Freedom – The freedom to work
when and where you want
2. Customization – My job my life
3. Scrutiny – I know what you did last
night
4. Integrity – Be a good company to
work for
5. Collaboration – Teamwork
6. Entertainment – Work should be fun
7. Speed – Let’s make things happen
now!
8. Innovation – Let me invent

44. Bottom Line: How to keep your star talent
• Engage your top performers
• Coach tomorrow’s leaders
• Manage your Millennials
Think AMP
• Autonomy
• Mastery
• Purpose

45. Technology

46. • Information Security • Training & Competency
Management • Identity & Access
• Privacy Management Management
• Secure Data File Storage, • Improved Application &
Transmission and Integration
Exchange • Document, Forms, Content
• Business Process & Knowledge Management
Improvement / Work Flow • Electronic Data Retention
• Mobile & Remote Strategy
Computing • Cloud computing
• XBRL

47. Technology & Web 2.0
By 2010, Millenials/Gen Y-ers will outnumber
Baby Boomers.

48. Here are five major benefits that The Economist
report says that social media has created:
1. Trusted online venues where real people
can meet up using their real identities.
2. New ways for firms and organizations to
reach their customers and those who
influence them.
3. Reduced friction in labor markets by
allowing employers and prospective
employees to find each other and connect.
4. Faster information flow and communication
inside companies and organizations.
5. A "free and immensely powerful set of
communication and collaboration tools to
everyone on Earth who has access to a
broadband internet connection."

49. Risk Management
• Educate & train your staff
• Set security & usage policies
• Restrict Access during certain
times (if you have to)
• Monitor – using search &
google alerts

50. CPA Profession

51. The urge to merge?
First wave – the public co consolidators
Second wave – small practices unite
Third wave – super-regionals, national, global

52. Top 10 Issues Facing CPAs
1. Economic Outlook
2. Tax
3. Business Operations
4. Implementation and Execution
of Plans
5. New Business Development
6. Personal/Professional
Development
7. Management and Leadership
8. Financial Regulatory Reform
9. Access to Financing and Credit
10 New Accounting Standards,
IFRS
Source: CPA Trendlines for AICPA Feb, 2010

53. Top Ten Issues for MFG
1. Regulatory/Legislative (56)
2. Private Company Leadership (47)
3. Capital Markets Awareness / Recognition (34)
4. Rethinking Business Model (25)
5. Protect Audit/CPA Franchise (20)
6. Risk Management (Audit efficiencies) (20)
7. Leadership Development / Succession
Planning (19)
8. Global / International (Clients / IFRS /
Branding) (17)
9. Leveraging Technology & Social Media (17)
10. MFG Issues specific forums / focus groups (8)
53

54. PCPS/TSCPA MAP Survey 2009
Top Five Issues Facing Firms < 21
1. Client Retention
2. Marketing / Practice Growth
3. Tax Law Changes & Complexity
4. Keeping up with Regulations &
Standards
5. Retaining Qualified Staff /
Work/Life Balance
For larger firms add Partner
Accountability & Succession Planning Mark Koziel, CPA
AICPA PCPS
http://pcps.aicpa.org/
54

55. Top Ten Issues for FEI
1. Economic Recovery and the U.S. Fiscal Outlook
2. Health‐Care Reform
3. Employee Benefits
4. Financial Regulatory Reform
5. Global Convergence of U.S. GAAP and IFRS
6. Financial Instruments
7. Financial Statement Regulation
8. Revenue Recognition
9. Business Taxation
10. *XBRL
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56. They have you in their sights!

57. State CPA Statutes
police power of the states to protect their citizens vs commerce clause

58. Where do major changes come from?
Us – MACPA & AICPA Them
OR

59. Current Issues
• Federal Legislation
– Wall Street reform
– IRS – 7216
– FTC Red flags
• State Legislation
– Sales Tax on services
– Mobility
– State Boards of Accountancy
• International - IFRS
• Fair Value Accounting
• XBRL – SEC mandatory
• Codification Project – FASB
• Clarity Project – ASB
– Convergence with international
• Reliability Project (comps & reviews)
• DOL 403 (b) Plans
• Form 990 Changes
• Fraud & Forensic SAS 99

60. Toolkit & Practice
• Powerful questions
• Thought Leadership
• Communicate to Inspire

61. Insights & Opportunities
The art of asking
powerful questions
• Engagement
• Alignment
• Accountability
• Commitment

62. “If I had an hour to solve a problem
and my life depended on the solution,
I would spend the first 55 minutes
determining the proper question to
ask, for once I know the proper
question, I could solve the problem in
less than five minutes.”
—ALBERT EINSTEIN

64. Insights & Opportunities
The four most
important words
for an
organizations are,
“what do you
think?”
‐ Tom Peters

65. Appreciative Inquiry – The Art of
Asking Powerful Questions
• Discovery
• Dream
• Design
• Destiny

66. Which of these are powerful
questions?
1. What time is it?
2. Did you take a shower?
3. What possibilities exist that we haven’t
thought of yet?
4. What does it mean to be ethical?
Hands – on Exercise

67. The four key leadership questions
• Who are we?
• Where are we now?
• Where are we going?
• Why are we going there?

68. Thought Leadership – find your tribe &
build your social capital

69. Communicate
Meet Joe – Paving foreman

70. MACPA social media efforts featured
in J of A and win 3rd place in Mobbies,
Top 75 Biz blogs & Top 50 Acctg blogs
MACPA won 2
out of top 10 Biz
blogs in MD

71. Social media = social capital
real world examples

73. Insight & Communicate – Social Media Tools
http://www.cpalearning2.com

74. Communicate to Inspire
Invite them to see the whole movie

75. The meta map of the I2A™Strategic Thinking System provides an
architecture or framework to structure thinking and conversation as you
engage. When talking about complex issues that aren’t completely
understood, or debating solutions where there are multiple points of view, it is
easy 75 get lost in the conversation and prematurely locked into a solution.
to

76. Insight & Communicate
CPA
templates
to help
you with...

77. Turbulent
times require
new skills and
new thinking
Source: Chief Learning Officer magazine

78. Does it really work?
I2A Story – Ebonie Hughey
Corporate Controller

79. Are you indispensable?
Imagine an organization with an
employee who can accurately see
the truth, understand the situation,
and understand the potential
outcomes of various decisions.
And now imagine that this person
is also able to make something
happen.
This is our leader, our marketer,
our linchpin!

80. The only question for leaders
Have I made
you feel
stronger and
more capable?
Source: Emmanuel Gobillot -
LeaderShift

81. Tom Hood, CPA.CITP
CEO
Maryland Association of CPAs
Business Learning Institute
(443) 632‐2301
E‐mail tom@macpa.org
Twitter @tomhood
Web http://www.macpa.org
Blog http://www.cpasuccess.com

82. Resources & Tools
• FREE CPA Social Media self‐directed learning tool
– http://www.cpalearning2.com
• Social Media Quick Start Program
– http://www.bizlearning.net/learningcenter/customizedtraining/event_detail_inHouse.cfm?eventid=09SOCMED
• Social media articles
– How are CPAs using social media
http://www.cpasuccess.com/2009/09/how‐are‐cpas‐using‐social‐media.html
– How to leverage social networking
http://www.journalofaccountancy.com/Issues/2009/Aug/20091768.htm
– Tom’s interview with JofA
http://www.journalofaccountancy.com/Multimedia/TomHood.htm
• Leadership Development I2A – Insights to Action – a strategic
thinking system
– http://www.bizlearning.net/learningcenter/customizedtraining/event_detail_inHouse.cfm?eventid=0
9IASTS

83. MACPA resources
• CPA Success, our daily blog
www.CPASuccess.com
• CPA Spotlight, our weekly podcast
www.macpa.org/podcast
• Other MACPA blogs:
• www.CPALegislativeInsider.com
• www.NewCPAs.com
• www.cpaisland.com
• CPA Learning 2, a Web 2.0 playground by CPAs for CPAs
www.CPALearning2.com
83

84. Contact Information
Tom Hood, CPA.CITP
CEO & Executive Director
Maryland Association of CPAs
http://www.MACPA.org
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
 Plaxo: http://tomhood.myplaxo.com
 Slideshare: http://www.slideshare.net/thoodcpa
 Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/thoodcpa
 Second Life avatar name: Rocky Maddaloni