Virtual Rolodex with Julie Thiel Founder, TTS Company
Don't Assume, Ask: The Leadership Conversations That Build Stronger Teams Episode Summary What if one of the most effective ways to retain your best employees takes just 15 minutes? In this episode of TXCPA Houston Virtual Rolodex, Kristie Ondracek sits down with Julie Thiel of TTS Company, an HR professional with 30 years of experience, to discuss why strong leadership starts with meaningful conversations. While CPAs and finance professionals spend years developing their technical expertise, managing people, communicating effectively, and supporting career development require an entirely different set of skills. Kristie and Julie explore the importance of regular one-on-one meetings, creating opportunities for honest career conversations, and helping employees take ownership of their professional growth. They also discuss how leaders can recognize potential they may not see in themselves, navigate concerns about losing talented employees, and prepare their teams for the demands of busy season. Whether you're a firm leader, manager, emerging professional, or someone looking to take the next step in your career, this conversation offers practical strategies for building trust, strengthening relationships, and creating a workplace where people feel supported and valued. What You'll Learn Why regular 15-minute check-ins can make a meaningful difference in employee engagement and retention How leaders can move beyond project updates to have meaningful career development conversations Why employees need to communicate their goals, interests, and professional development needs Practical ways to initiate difficult conversations with managers, including preparing an agenda or sending an email How mentors and professional networks can help individuals discover opportunities and strengths they may not recognize Why succession planning and cross-training are essential when developing and retaining talent How leaders can better prepare their teams for busy season by asking questions instead of making assumptions Key Leadership Insight Don't assume you know what your employees want or need. Have the conversation. A high-performing employee who wanted a promotion last year may have different priorities today. Career aspirations, personal circumstances, and professional goals change. Great leaders make time to understand those changes rather than relying on assumptions. Sometimes a simple conversation can make all the difference in retaining a valuable team member and building a stronger organization. Why This Matters The accounting profession continues to face challenges related to talent development, employee retention, and changing workplace expectations. While technical expertise remains essential, the ability to lead, listen, communicate, and develop others is increasingly important. For CPA firms, finance departments, and business leaders, investing in regular conversations can help: Strengthen employee engagement and retention Identify career development opportunities Build trust between managers and employees Improve succession planning and knowledge transfer Create stronger, more collaborative teams Prepare employees and leaders for demanding periods such as busy season And for emerging professionals, the message is equally important: your career development is a shared responsibility. Know what you want, ask questions, seek feedback, and build relationships with people who can help you grow. About the Guest Julie Thiel is an HR and leadership development professional with 30 years of experience in human resources. Through TTS Company, she focuses on helping professionals and organizations strengthen leadership capabilities, improve communication, and develop the people-management skills necessary for successful teams. Julie brings practical insights into employee engagement, career development, leadership training, and building workplace relationships that support both individual and organizational success. Connect with Julie Website: https://thettscompany.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliemthiel/






