Why do so many of us in Finance run from conflict? Probably because it's uncomfortable. But what if we did the opposite -- embraced it? Turns out, that's not a terrible idea: Conflict is good for teams when it's managed…
Business Communications
What's the one thing people fear most -- even more than death? Public speaking. And for finance professionals, who often like to keep their eyes on the spreadsheets and their noses to the books, it's usually even more difficult to…
Your boss has a really good idea – at least she thinks so – and you disagree with it. Awkward, isn’t it? On the one hand, you owe it to your company and any stakeholders to point out the problems.…
Some people naturally want confrontation. It’s just how they roll. And most leaders want to avoid confrontation -- especially in Finance where so much is on the line all the time. Confrontation at All Levels Nearly a third of all…
Every finance leader has to deal with (at least) one difficult person. Whether it's an employee, colleague, client or vendor, there are difficult people. And they come in all shapes and sizes: the know-it-all, the chronic complainer, the whiner, the…
Good finance leaders are vigilant about what employees need -- because it really is about making employees better. So you want to focus on what employees need first, and what employees want second. You can't please all the people all the…
Finance pros work with numbers mostly. But finance employees want to hear some important things from their bosses regularly. So you might want to keep your words in check, too! Whether you're an open-door or scheduled-meeting boss, finance employees need…
Even the best finance pros face times when they have difficult things they don't want to say to their team, boss or clients. And they struggle with how to approach the difficult subject. Think of the last time you had…
Successful finance pros get to the top by knowing and doing a lot. But one of the most practical skills you can have when you're a finance leader is knowing how and when to effectively delegate. Being able to tap…
In Finance, you need the right answers. All. The. Time. But you probably often get half-answers, some wishy-washy answers, a few "I don't knows" and a lot of blank stares. Usually, the fastest way to right answers is better questions.…
Clichés are so easy to use – but they are a cop-out. You may think they're great ways to connect with people, motivate your team or sound authoritative. But most business clichés are overused, outdated and meaningless. Simply put, they're…
Disagreements are at the heart of destruction in any industry. But disagreements in finance threaten to hurt business, books and people. The good news: If you know the value of handling disagreements favorably nothing is at risk. In fact, disagreements…
