Significant Career Lesson From an Internal Auditor at Compass Diversified

As an auditor, especially an internal auditor, you interact with many people. I make sure I'm listening to everyone at every level.

I've found that people doing the actual work often have great ideas about how processes flow. They might suggest enhancements or changes that could make things better, easier, or more effective.

Unfortunately, they may not feel comfortable discussing these ideas with their supervisor or management. As the auditor, I talk to them about the processes and ask if they have any ideas or thoughts they'd like to share.

Usually, after a moment, they share their ideas. I then gently challenge them, asking if certain controls would still be effective. They often agree that the proposed change could be a good idea.

At that point, I offer to bring their suggestions up with management. I make sure to give them credit, saying something like, "The receiving clerk or staff accountant brought this up, and it seemed like a good idea."

This often makes them more willing to listen and consider the suggestion further. It's a great win when you can give someone who works within the organization the confidence to share their ideas.

This helps management realize the potential contributions of their entire team. I'm happy to facilitate that in any way I can.

Another similar situation occurs when I move between companies with similar processes. If I see something done well at one location, I'll mention it to another.

I might suggest they consider how it was done elsewhere, or even have them talk to each other to understand what's possible. Sharing these potential efficiencies and different ways of doing things is rewarding.

It always feels great when people say, "Thanks for that help." This is something I've learned in my career: truly listen, ask questions, draw out better answers, and then share their ideas.

Hopefully, this benefits everyone involved.