---
title: "EP520: Amy Jacobson - Emotional Intelligence For Bookkeepers"
description: Emotional intelligence expert, Amy Jacobson shares how bookkeepers can build client trust, improve communication, and lead stronger teams using practical EQ strategies.
---

[Episodes: Listen Now to The Successful Bookkeeper Podcast — The Successful Bookkeeper ](https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/podcast)

# [EP520: Amy Jacobson - Emotional Intelligence For Bookkeepers](https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/podcast/guest-emotional-intelligence-bookkeepers-difficult-client)

 Written by [Michael Palmer](https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/podcast/author/michael-palmer) | Mar 3, 2026 2:00:01 PM

**" In order to create that trust, you have to be honest enough to know that you're not the right person for everybody. But those people that you do connect with, when you find that connection, that is when you can start to go through that process.”**  
**– Amy Jacobson**

In this episode, Australian emotional intelligence expert, speaker, and author of *The Emotional Intelligence Advantage: Mastering Change and Difficult Conversations*, Amy Jacobson explains why technical skill alone will not build a strong, sustainable bookkeeping firm. She shares how emotional intelligence drives trust, strengthens client relationships, and improves leadership inside growing firms, along with a practical five-step framework you can apply immediately.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

- **How emotional intelligence builds client trust & retention**
- **How to adapt your communication style to different clients**
- **Why leadership requires a different skill set than bookkeeping**

To learn more about Amy, click **[here](http://amyjacobson.com.au)**.

Connect with her on **[LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-jacobson-emotional-intelligence).**

Buy her book, *The Emotional Intelligence Advantage: Mastering Change and Difficult Conversations*, at [**this link**](https://amyjacobson.com.au/books/).**

****Time Stamps****

**01:11 – Amy’s background & her path into emotional intelligence  
04:14 – A clear definition of emotional intelligence for business owners  
06:08 – Where bookkeepers commonly struggle with EQ  
09:51 – How trust is built through real connection  
12:24 – The five-step emotional intelligence framework  
15:11 – A real example of client loss due to poor communication  
18:10 – Shifting from technical language to client-centered language  
21:10 – Becoming part of the client’s business instead of an outside vendor  
23:44 – Why leadership is not the same as technical skill  
27:13 – How reactive leadership drains time & energy  
30:00 – A simple daily question to improve emotional intelligence  
31:41 – Where to access Amy’s books and free tools

**This episode is brought to you by our great friends at [BILL](http://bill.com/successfulbookkeeper)!**

**They’re hosting Bookkeeper Appreciation Week from March 30th to April 3rd—dedicated to recognizing the real work you do and giving you tools you can actually use to free up time for more strategic work.**

**Get ready for 5 days of practical resources delivered straight to your inbox, plus live, CPE-eligible webinars!**

**Register now at[ bill.com/successfulbookkeeper](http://bill.com/successfulbookkeeper)!<http://bill.com/successfulbookkeeper>**

**Don't miss it!**

[View full post](https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/podcast/guest-emotional-intelligence-bookkeepers-difficult-client)

```json
{
  "@context" : "http://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Michael Palmer"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2026-04-23T18:05:12.415Z",
  "datePublished" : "2026-03-03T14:00:01Z",
  "headline" : "EP520: Amy Jacobson - Emotional Intelligence For Bookkeepers",
  "image" : {
    "@type" : "ImageObject",
    "height" : 512,
    "url" : "https://www.purebookkeeping.com/hubfs/TSB%20Guest%20Photos/ep-520.jpg",
    "width" : 512
  },
  "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/podcast/guest-emotional-intelligence-bookkeepers-difficult-client",
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "height" : 60,
      "url" : "/hs/hsstatic/content_shared_assets/static-1.4092/img/default-amp-logo.png",
      "width" : 60
    },
    "name" : "The Successful Bookkeeper Podcast"
  }
}
```