To be overloaded by information and communication everyday is frustrating, but not inevitable.

If you’re adept at spotting the significant industry trends, you can cut down on the amount of extraneous information that otherwise competes for your attention. How so?

Much of what reaches us today in terms of information and communication is not critical to our effective functioning, professionally or personally. Much of what we’re exposed to, even within accounting, often represents heightened trivia or passing fancies. Long-term, significant trends, though, are relatively easy to spot, and to monitor, with a few simple guidelines.

A Long Time Coming

Significant trends are usually long-term developments, such as the reliance on cell phone apps or mergers among the mega-corporations. The U.S. population’s propensity towards being overweight and obese, as a culture example, now 40 years in the making, was discernible in the early 1980s as are so many other trends such increased world travel and the miniaturization of technology.

When you identify a verifiable trend, whether it’s global, national, social, or specific to accounting, consider how this trend will impact the industry – specifically in terms of how:

        * businesses or organizations operate
        * executives and managers lead
        * supervisors will be impacted
        * front line workers will be impacted
        * costs and operations might change

What About Me?

Consider as well economic or financial implications that might result, new opportunities that might arise, and new risks that could emerge. On an individual level, ask yourself:

        * Acknowledging what I believe will occur, what are my optimal action steps?
        * How can I capitalize on my understanding of this trend?
        * What benefits can I bring to my organization, department, boss, and team?
        * In what capacity can I serve?
        * Should I act as a harbinger to others?
        * Can I provide training or instruction?