How to mentally prepare for tax season

By Jessica Salerno-Shumaker, OSCPA senior content manager  

Tax teams are gearing up for busy season, and the right mindset and prep ahead of time can help ensure success. 

“Tax season is a perfect opportunity to grow,” said Jim Laudato, managing member of the 912 Experience.  

While busy season can be a stressful experience for those in the tax realm as they juggle demanding clients and a looming deadline, Laudato said the focus should be on performing each task at a high level before moving on to the next one. Too much multitasking or outside distractions can lead to burnout.  

“When you're at home, be at home; when you're at work, be at work,” he said. “We can't be in two places at the same time. And this is where stress can come in. Our desire to perform at a high level is contingent upon our ability to be present.”  

Laudato said everyone on the team needs to act as a “chief reminder officer” to remind the team of the purpose. Then when things get hectic or mistakes are made, the overall purpose is always clear, and it doesn’t derail everything.  

Teams should have discussions ahead of time about how they’ll handle mistakes or frustrations because inevitably things will go wrong. Instead of letting unfortunate circumstances derail the entire team and ruin everyone’s mood, consider how to deal with those setbacks to address what went wrong and ultimately move forward.  

“You don't rise to the occasion, you fall back on your training,” he said.  

He encouraged professionals to be vulnerable during meetings and not be afraid to ask questions to better understand problems and find solutions. This also helps keep the team cohesive and aligned, Laudato said, which helps avoid the “meeting after the meeting” where everyone discusses what they wanted to say but didn’t.  

Remember to make time to take care of yourself during the months ahead, Laudato said. To be the best professional and teammate you can be, you need to feel rested and energized, so be sure to practice whatever self-care supports that.  

“You can't pour from an empty cup,” he said. “You need to keep yourself filled up first. And then you'll be able to extend yourself and help others.”