Entertain While You Educate!

Entertain your internal auditors while you provide them with practical training! Book your next training event today! info@bibiconsulting.net www.bibiconsulting.net

Depending on What you Read:"Reading Can Seriously Damage your Ignorance"

I love this quote from "The Mindunleashed"! But, it can not be complete without pointing out that the damage is dependent on what you read!! The wrong readings (and/or correctly understanding what you read) may damage your intelligence, dignity and probably your humanity!!

The Internal Auditor is Now Available on Amazon!

The Internal Auditor (short fiction) is now Available on Amazon for Pre-Order! Below is a link to order:


                           Amazon Canada


You can also order it from other Amazon Country websites depending on your Country.

Internal Auditors: What do you see when you take a selfie?

You probably know what stakeholders think of you, those who like you and those who don't. You may agree or disagree with their views, and you may feel that your profession deserves more appreciation and recognition. At the end of the day, it is all about perception gained through experience gained dealing with internal audit! But, do you truly know what you think of yourself? When was the last time you took a hard and honest look at yourself and performed a self-assessment of your image, reputation, and performance?

 If you take a selfie (snapshot) of yourself today, what would you see? Choose from the list below:

1. I love what I see: I see an almost perfect professional with little or no need for change or improvement. I am on top of every topic; it can't get any better! If this is what you see, it is highly recommended that you seek immediate professional help!
2. I like what I see: So far, so good, I am on the right track. There is always room for improvement and continuous development. I know my areas for improvement, and I am continuously working on them!
3. I neither like nor dislike what I see: It is neither bad nor great. I guess it’s acceptable!
4. I don't like what I see: things are not working as planned or as supposed to. I am not happy with my contribution. There are too many things that need to be changed and improved.
5. I don’t see anything: don’t be disappointed, you are not alone. Your stakeholders don’t see anything either!

In analysing your selfie, ask yourself the following questions:

·         Is your company really in a better position because of internal audit? In other words, does the presence of internal audit make any noticeable positive difference?

·         Have you ever been told, “What would we do without you”? (No sarcasm intended, of course!).

·         Do you feel you are respected and sought after for advice and consultation?

·         When was the last time the audit committee and/or management thanked you for a job well done?

·         Can you name the top five risks facing your company/industry without having to think about it first?

·         Does your company feel “safer” because of your work?

·         Is your definition and understanding of “add value” in line with those of your stakeholders?

·         Do you see yourself as a dynamic and flexible person who can adapt and respond to emerging risks/issues in a timely manner?

·         Are you a good communicator? How often do you communicate with management and the audit committee?

·         What have you learned today?

Of course, there are many more questions that you can ask yourself if you are willing to!

Now, what do you see when you take a selfie? Share if you can!

The Fine Line Between Arrogance & Self Confidence!

A recent experience with a young Realtor, during the process of selling my house using a "for sale by owner system", has inspired me to re-examine the issue of arrogance, big ego, and self-confidence! I was contacted by the realtor's representative and was asked to give his firm a chance to present their  "sales pitch" in an effort to convince me to list my property with them instead of selling it by myself. What I took from his unsolicited visit was that " I should be humbled and honored because he showed up personally at my house since he does not chase customers (!!! ) and that his marketing technique is one of a kind "! I don't think he was pleased when I conveyed that "I have seen this movie before". Do I need to tell you that I will not be using his services any time soon!

While I strongly encourage young professionals to have self-confidence, I always warn them to be careful not to confuse it with arrogance. After all, there is a fine line between both of them!

Let's examine the definition of both terms :

Self Confidence: When you google "self-confidence" the first result that jumps at you is this definition:" a feeling of trust in one's abilities, qualities, and judgment". A simple but yet a thorough definition.

Arrogance: Urban dictionary provides my favorite definition: "The assumption that one's self-worth is far superior to others. A false sense of pride. Foolishly believing that everyone is inferior to you, looks up to you, and should bow down to your graces"

I hope the above clearly shows the difference between self-confidence and arrogance.

A May 15,2011 article in the Washington Post mentions that arrogant people (the article is about job candidates) tend to, among other things, :

• Have a tendency to speak using overbearing and harsh tones and intimidating body language.
• Display limited active listening skills.
• Answer questions almost too quickly, using “canned” or mechanical responses.

 Having said that, does arrogance lead to success?
Leisa A. Bailey, Ph.D.  said: "Arrogant people can and often do have successes but there are significant costs. Relationships are often shallow and superficial or strained. Additionally, professional successes can be fragile due to difficulties in accepting guidance and feedback and impaired abilities to accept and learn from mistakes."

My last message is: remember to check your ego at the door!