Accounting and Consulting
Clarity of purpose
How Tim Bentsen sets goals to drive alignment at KPMG
By Kristy J. O’Hara
Smart Business Atlanta | September 2009
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Tim Bentsen has been working at KPMG LLP longer than many of his employees have been alive.
After 34 years with the audit, tax and advisory service firm, one thing he recognizes is that he has a large group of generationally diverse people, which makes it a challenge to get everyone to understand him and the vision he’s communicating — and to buy in to it.
“We have so many smart, bright people that are out there trying to serve clients in a variety of ways — how do you keep them all aligned under the firm guidelines, processes, goals and objectives?” says Bentsen, the firm’s managing partner for the Southeast area and the Atlanta office.
He starts by setting goals for the 2,000 people in his region, following up to make sure they understood and then stepping back and letting them execute.
“That links into how do you get buy-in around things,” he says. “You can’t just tell someone, ‘This is our vision, and by golly, you just have to buy it, and it’s our way or the highway.’ You have to let them take some ownership of it. Say, ‘OK, this is the firm’s vision. What’s my piece of it? How can I influence it at my level? And how, at my level — even me as a partner — can I really influence what’s happening?’
“If you start to understand that piece and see how if I push in that direction or contribute in this particular area, it helps move the firm forward overall.”
