During the fall season, there are two tasks that occur each year. The first is going back to school. The second is beginning the laborious budgeting process.

While the first task is dreaded by many children, the second is dreaded by almost every manager and executive. However, both are a fact of life! Rather than fight these activities, it is more productive to change attitudes toward going back to school and doing your budget.

Preparing a budget does not have to be the painful and time-consuming activity that you dread. In fact, preparing your budget could be as easy as making a pie. This is because of Budgeting Principle Number 1: “Budgeting is easy. It is everything else that makes it hard.”

There is a new book, just issued, which proves that budgeting is a simple yet powerful leadership activity that will help an organization prosper. Getting to that point will require an attitude change and an improvement in leadership.

Ron Rael, CPA, CGMA, just published an intriguing and innovative book on the overlooked connection between good budgeting and good leadership. “To have a great budget you must have good stewardship over the planning process and the entire organization. When an organization has great leadership, it will have a great budget and a planning process that is simple and smooth.”

What makes Ron’s book unique is that it consists of 14 stories about organizations that did budgeting right and wrong. Each narrative contains key lessons and take-aways that will apply to your organization. The book is easy-to-read. Its interesting format encourages the leaders of an organization to look in the mirror and see how well they are doing in their efforts to develop a budget and plan for the future.

The organizations that have followed Ron’s advice and improved the quality of their leadership of the process shortened the length of time it takes to prepare their budget and removed the pain and suffering that often comes from numerous reiterations and unsupportable goals.

As Ron says, “The budget is a management tool that is often misunderstood and used incorrectly. When developed properly, the budget allows leaders to feel more in control, while empowering employees to do what they must do well – take care of customers and execute the goals.”

Leadership: The Key Ingredient to a Great Budget is available on Kindle and other e-readers. It would be wise and in your best interest to read the book before you kick off this year’s budgeting process. You will be glad you did.

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