Don’t Be That Guy: Why Manners Still Matter in Modern Accounting

Ghosted emails, rude replies, and silent leaders—Accounting ARC tackles the etiquette breakdown in today’s firms.

In an age of Slack reactions, ghosted emails, and hyper-efficiency, are we forgetting our manners? The latest episode of Accounting ARC explores why professionalism with kindness still matters—and how it can shape workplace culture, client relationships, and even hiring decisions.

Courtesy Is Currency
Byron Patrick, CPA.CITP, CGMA, kicks off the conversation with a modern dilemma: varying responses to a helpful group email—some warm and appreciative, others cold and transactional, and some that never replied at all. “It really got me thinking,” says Patrick, CEO of VERIFYiQ and co-founder of TB Academy. “In our rush, we often forget how impactful a simple thank you can be.”

Fellow co-host Donny Shimamoto, CPA.CITP, CGMA, recalls a personal story: his aunt kept sending birthday cards with money well into his adulthood—only to his side of the family. Why? “Because we always said thank you,” says Shimamoto, founder and managing director of IntrapriseTechKnowlogies LLC and founder and inspiration architect for the Center for Accounting Transformation. That lesson stuck with him professionally, too. “Gratitude keeps generosity alive,” he shares.

Leadership Starts with Empathy
Co-host Liz Mason, CPA, emphasizes that etiquette isn’t hierarchical. “Leaders should model respect, not just expect it,” says Mason, CEO of High Rock Accounting. Whether it’s a thank-you after an interview or recognizing effort in a Teams chat, acknowledgment fosters loyalty and morale.

She also points out that manners are cultural. What reads as abrupt in California may feel normal in New York. “Being self-aware and adjusting based on context is a skill,” Mason says. “Not rudeness—just relevance.”

From Clipboards to Connection
Mason’s story about “the clipboard guy”—a soulless partner who silently tracked after-hours attendance—offers a powerful lesson. By consistently greeting him warmly and asking about his life, she eventually broke through his icy exterior. “Even the toughest shell can be softened with consistency and kindness,” she says.

Etiquette in the Digital Age
From emojis to email reactions, the group discusses how modern platforms create new manners. Shimamoto and Mason both recommend tailoring tone to the medium—and using emojis to inject clarity or light-heartedness.

“In today’s workplace, it’s not just what you say, it’s how you say it—and where you say it,” Patrick says.

In a profession built on trust, manners aren’t optional—they’re essential.

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