Member Insights from Stephanie Artino
You’ve got a to-do list a mile long, an inbox full of emails and no indication you’ll be leaving the office any time soon. What would you do to stay productive, and sane? Take a walk at your desk, according to CPA Stephanie Artino, Owner of Artino Advisory Group PS.
“I have a treadmill desk in the office that I can use with my laptop,” Artino says. “When I need a change of pace I can use it to walk and read emails.”
Movement throughout the day combined with strategic daily planning helps her get the most out of her day.
“I use a daily planner that not only outlines my schedule for that day but helps me prioritize my top 3 items each day, as well as, what I’m going to stop doing, what I want to change and what I’m grateful for.”
Including actions outside of the standard to-do items, like noting what she’s grateful for, helps Artino think clearly. She’s also clear on the messages her employees need to hear from her, thanks to her big leadership takeaway from Simon Sinek’s book Start with Why.
“As a leader you need to know your personal ‘why’ in what you are doing, as well as, the ‘why’ for your company.” Artino explains. “Knowing your why helps you lead with purpose, drive better results, and communicate more effectively what your purpose is.”
Knowing your “why” drives decisions and messaging, and sometimes there isn’t an easy or good way to deliver tough news.
“One really great piece of advice that I gleaned from the book The Hard Thing About Hard Things – Building a business when there are no easy answers by Ben Horowitz is how you come to terms with bad news. Horowitz’s example involved the strategy behind admitting and delivering bad news in regard to revised earnings forecasts. His infamous quote, ‘If you’re gonna eat sh*t, don’t nibble’ is powerful and applicable almost daily in our profession.”
That approach has helped Artino address bad news head on, and made her more confident in dealing with challenges, because you shouldn’t avoid adversity in your career or business.
“You need to allow yourself to face challenges because that’s the best way to learn,” Artino says. “Those situations also help you develop empathy and relate to other people which impacts how well you work with everyone.”
Those challenges can also help you develop a leadership style at your own pace, with or without the treadmill at your desk.
Jen Mueller is a veteran sports broadcaster and the founder of Talk Sporty to Me. She is an expert in business communication and can be contacted at Jen@TalkSportytoMe.com.
Find more leadership lessons through the WSCPA! Attend the Women's Leadership Summit, May 17, 2018, or find additional CPE events in the Store.