APChannel Newsletter

November 9, 2011

In this Issue
Editor's Note Get the Word Out Internal Communication Continuing Education Just for Fun!

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November 17, 2011
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December 1, 2011
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Boost Your AP Team's Reputation

What do accounts payable managers and publicists have in common? They both spend a lot of time trying to change other people's opinions. The AP team often takes the blame for lost invoices or missed payments, regardless of the root cause.

Improving AP's reputation throughout the organization means performing some public relations. This issue features advice you can use to spread the word that AP is not always to blame.

Patrick Harbin – Editor

Get the Word Out

Being a good AP manager means having effective communication skills. You must use different strategies when communicating with your AP staff than with external customers.

See Getting the Message Across: Communication in AP on TAPC.

Internal Communication

The best way to battle the misconception that accounts payable is the cause of all late payments is to address the people making the accusation head on. Strategies for improving communication with business partners include:

Listening to complaints: Other departments often accuse AP of not listening. Be open with internal clients, listen to their complaints, and involve them in the decision-making process.
Publishing a newsletter: Newsletters are good for relaying information across the organization, introducing new employees, and profiling accomplishments.
Developing metrics: Consider involving internal customers in developing performance metrics that will demonstrate process challenges and lead to change that will have a wide-reaching impact on the organization.

Effective communication is just one weapon managers can use to improve AP's image. It should work hand-in-hand with process improvement.

Sign up for today's TAPN webinar, 7-Step Process: Streamline AP Operations, Increase Productivity, and Reduce Costs, featuring Judy Bicking, APM, AP & Procure-to-Pay Consultant and Former Director, Johnson & Johnson's AP Shared Services. Earns 1.5 CEUS and 1.5 CPEs.

Just for Fun!

When building a home, the default approach is to make the structure as wide as possible on the available land. In some rare cases, builders set out to do exactly the opposite. See 9 of the World's Thinnest Buildings: Cool, Thin Homes.

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