Don't you hate the regret that sinks in after you make a poor decision? That feeling is exactly why finance leaders want to be better at decision-making. But even intelligent, well-informed leaders make bad decisions. Part of the reason that…
Policy and culture
Here's a common rollover scenario: An individual leaves one employer for another. The previous employer offered a 401(k) plan. The individual rolls over the money in his or her 401(k) into an individual retirement account (IRA) sponsored by the new…
Do you work in -- and have to work against -- a Doom Loop? Whether you call it a Doom Loop or something else, you likely understand what it is -- a constant cycle of people focusing on the negative.…
Why do you have to be so busy? You know there isn't a trophy for busyness, right? In fact, the best business isn't about busyness. Yet, many leaders create a "culture of busyness" -- where their employees feel like they…
Meetings are bad enough. Introduce anything that can derail meetings, and they can be torturous. How can we be so sure? One researcher found that only about 50% of the time spent in meetings is productive. Another researcher found that…
We know finance professionals love rules. But sometimes, in a workplace fraught with old-school ways that just don't work anymore, you just have to break the rules. It's likely you have some outdated rules and practices. And, there's good news…
Some people in charge of a finance team have leadership quirks. They're the kind of things that are obvious to the leader, but annoying to the employees. For instance, micromanaging and stubbornness. But once identified, leaders can usually turn their…
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.…
Productivity is essential to every finance professional. But being productive isn't always easy when you're pulled in many directions. So no matter how dedicated you are to “getting stuff done,” it’s a job in itself to develop habits that help…
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…
What are the three hardest words for any leader to say? If you're thinking, I don't know, guess what? You nailed it. Most leaders in and outside of Finance are afraid that if they say "I don't know," they will…
Finance pros always have a lot going on. It comes with the territory. So you sometimes need to say no to demands for your time. Many people respect that. A few don't. You Say No, They Don't Back Down Whether…
