Episode 42: Why Good Work Isn’t Enough Anymore

Why Good Work Isn’t Enough Anymore

There’s a familiar piece of career advice many professionals still hear: keep your head down, work hard, and your efforts will speak for themselves.

According to networking expert Kingsley Aikins, that advice is badly outdated.

In a recent discussion featured by Chartered Accountants Worldwide, Aikins argues that “good work does not speak — people do.” In today’s professional world, visibility matters just as much as competence. If colleagues, clients, and decision-makers do not understand the value you bring, opportunities can easily pass you by.

That does not mean becoming loud or self-promotional. In fact, one of the most interesting insights from Aikins is that introverts often make excellent networkers. Why? Because strong networking is less about talking and more about listening, asking thoughtful questions, and building genuine relationships.

The message is especially relevant in professions like accounting, where technical expertise is often prioritised above all else. Hard skills may get you through the door, but communication, relationships, and emotional intelligence are what help careers progress over time.

The wider update also highlighted another important shift happening within the profession: greater openness around workplace wellbeing. Research from ICAS explored women’s experiences around menstruation, menopause, and miscarriage — topics historically overlooked in many workplaces despite affecting countless professionals throughout their careers. Bringing these conversations into the open is an important step toward building more supportive and inclusive environments.

Finally, with exam season underway for many students, the concept of “flow state” was explored as a practical way to improve revision. Rather than forcing endless hours of study, flow comes from focused, distraction-free work at the right level of challenge. When achieved, studying becomes more productive — and significantly less draining.

Taken together, the themes are connected by one idea: professional success is no longer just about technical performance. Relationships, wellbeing, communication, and sustainable ways of working are becoming equally important parts of a successful career.

Transcript

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Hello and welcome to the Chartered Accountants Global Update. This is episode 42. We have three stories for you today. Kingsley Aikens challenges the idea that good work speaks for itself. ICAS publishes important new research on the experiences of women in accounting around menstruation, menopause, and miscarriage. And we look at how to find your flow state during exam revision. Let's get started. Kingsley is the author of Networking Matters, published by Chartered Accountants Ireland, and the man who spent 21 years building one of the world's great philanthropic networks for Ireland. He is joining host Shine Donovan for a live difference makers discuss event on the 28th of May. And his central argument is simple, good work does not speak, people do. If nobody knows how you are contributing, they move on to someone else. A few ideas from the preview stand out. First, the two most important words in your career are other people. You will never land a job or win a client without others agreeing to it. Yet almost nobody is formally taught how to build professional relationships. Second, and this surprises people, introverts can be better networkers than extroverts, because they ask better questions and listen more genuinely. And third, hard skills get you on the ladder, but soft skills get you up it. The event is on the twenty eighth of May, and it's free. You can register on the Chartered Accountants Worldwide Webs. The Institute of Chartered Accountants Scotland has published research exploring the lived experiences of women in accounting around what they call the three M's menstruation, menopause, and miscarriage. The research was led by Sarah Chisnell, Director of Public Affairs at the Institute of Chartered Accountants Scotland, as part of their Shaping the Profession program. This matters because the profession has historically been quiet on these topics. Menstrual conditions, perimenopause, and miscarriage affect large numbers of women, often during the most demanding phases of their careers, and most workplaces have offered little in the way of support or even acknowledgement. The research looks honestly at what the lived reality is inside accounting firms and what needs to change. It is the kind of evidence-based work the profession needs if it is serious about retaining talented women at every level. The full article is available on the Chartered Accountants Worldwide Knowledge Hub. And finally, something practical for anyone in exam season. The Chartered Accountants Worldwide Wellbeing Hub has published a piece on flow state. That mental condition where you are fully absorbed in what you are doing, time disappears, and your thinking is at its sharpest. For revision, it is a genuinely valuable place to be. The key conditions for getting there. The task needs to sit at the right level of challenge. Not too easy, not overwhelming. Distractions need to be removed. Having a clear specific goal for each session helps. And warming up gradually works better than expecting to be immediately focused. The broader point is that flow is not about grinding. It is actually a state of calm, absorbed engagement. And when you find it, revision becomes both more effective and a little more bearable. That's all for episode 42 of the Chartered Accountants Global Update. Kingsley Aikens on Why Your Work Needs a Voice, the ICAS Research Breaking the Silence on Women's Health in Accounting, and How to Find Your Flow State in Exam Season. Everything is on the Knowledge Hub at Chartered Accountantsworldwide.com, and you can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and all major platforms. Thanks for listening and see you next time.