Send us a text Build your professional foundation which includes your education, earning a professional certification, and growing your business knowledge. Your Foundation establishes your professional credibility and expertise, which is key to being a sought-after Finance and Accounting Leader. Embrace a life-long learning mindset to firmly establish your Professional Foundation. The following outline is used during the episode: We must build our credentials and knowledge, We will be known for ...
Jul 27, 2021•15 min•Season 7Ep. 2
Send us a text What happens during your career journey mostly rests upon decisions you make along with your risk comfort level. Are you planning out your career moves or are you waiting on someone else to give you an opportunity? No one is going to seek you out to hand you what you need to achieve your goals and advance your career. Episode outline: You are the only person who will care about your career, Seek out opportunities to stand out, Embrace taking risk, Adopt a growth mindset, and Have ...
Jul 20, 2021•16 min•Season 7Ep. 1
Send us a text Next week, July 20th, Season 7 will debut, and I will be talking about career advancement strategy and how you can set yourself apart. Topics and areas of focus will be owning your career, what do leaders do, how to partner with senior leaders, perfecting our presentation skills, self-awareness and reading the room, and a few others. I have something for you. Consider joining The Finance Leader Podcast Community Facebook Group, where we can talk leadership and the other topics I p...
Jul 13, 2021•26 min
Send us a text I am sharing my interview with Army-Retired Colonel David Fivecoat, Managing Partner of The Fivecoat Consulting Group ( thefivecoatconsultinggroup.com ). David has a book coming out in July which discusses the leadership attribute “grit.” During the interview, we talked about leadership, dealing with adversity and leading change. For more resources, please visit stephenmclain.com . On the website, you can download the Leadership Growth Blueprint for Finance and Accounting Managers...
Jul 06, 2021•33 min•Season 6Ep. 12
Send us a text I have noticed over the last few months on all my social media timelines that people are talking more about their mental health. It’s become a very hot topic. Our mental health is key to our long-term success, our relationships, our view of ourselves, and many other aspects of our lives. Please visit a mental health professional to discuss your individual mental health concerns. For more resources, please visit stephenmclain.com . On the website, you can download the Leadership Gr...
Jun 29, 2021•4 min
Send us a text This week, I want to share an encore episode from earlier this year, Episode 37, Becoming Coachable to Improve Performance. Being open to feedback and to constructive criticism is key to our long-term development. I am encouraging you to be open to listening to feedback when it comes your way, then evaluate it and then make a decision if you want to apply it. If you are not open to receiving feedback, then you might miss something incredible that you can apply to your life or care...
Jun 22, 2021•17 min
Send us a text This week, I am sharing the second part of a two-part special interview with Talent Management Executive Kevin Richie. Last week, I shared Part 1, which was a tremendous success. This week, the interview focuses on what it means to be successful and taking risk in your career. For more resources, please visit stephenmclain.com . On the website, you can download the Leadership Growth Blueprint for Finance and Accounting Managers . You can use this guide to develop your leadership b...
Jun 15, 2021•16 min•Season 6Ep. 11
Send us a text This week, I am sharing the first part of a two-part interview with Talent Management Executive Kevin Richie as I wrap up Season 6. We talk about Leadership, Team Culture, Recruiting and Hiring new team members, Setting Expectations, Performance Reviews, and Coaching. For more resources, please visit stephenmclain.com . On the website, you can download the Leadership Growth Blueprint for Finance and Accounting Managers . You can use this guide to develop your leadership by focusin...
Jun 08, 2021•38 min•Season 6Ep. 10
Send us a text An effective weekly team meeting should help your team members and not just you. Your team should walk away more informed and knowing they will be better resourced and what they are working on has been synchronized within the team. Your meeting needs a well-defined purpose and not just a “check the block” approach each week. Begin by sending out an agenda ahead of the meeting so everyone can be more prepared, which will make it an overall more productive experience. I discuss the ...
Jun 01, 2021•16 min•Season 6Ep. 9
Send us a text Use leadership to better manage your team’s task workload. How you assign tasks also affects your team’s culture. Go beyond just getting tasks done so that they can be used to develop your team, and your people can be ready for greater responsibility. There is definitely a management approach that is required but use your leadership skills to make your team better for the long term. Episode outline: Your role as leader in task management, What you should work on versus your team? ...
May 25, 2021•18 min•Season 6Ep. 8
Send us a text The inevitable return to working in the office is coming. Is your team ready? What planning do you need to do? What support do you need from your organization? Moving back to the office isn’t as simple as telling your team I’ll see you in the office tomorrow. You need a plan. Your organization also needs a plan. The following points are highlighted in the episode: What’s the plan for returning to the office? How will you prepare your team before going back? What support do you nee...
May 18, 2021•15 min•Season 6Ep. 7
Send us a text Learning to be an effective leader will set you apart positively in the eyes of the senior leaders and executives you work with and will help you advance in your career. We are already expected to be technical experts in our field, so learn leadership to give you the edge you need to advance. The episode follows this outline: Leadership starts with our mindset, Our personal character is key, We must lead and influence necessary change, A few areas we can positively change. For mor...
May 11, 2021•16 min•Season 6Ep. 6
Send us a text Performance reviews may not be the most exciting topic, but determining a team member’s potential is critical to developing your team. Also, let’s think about performance reviews in a different way and that is through a leadership lens. I believe in doing something different, so you create a better way to do something. A better way to develop your team and a better way to create a positive outcome. That is why we lead….to create more positive outcomes for our team. I will be talki...
May 04, 2021•16 min•Season 6Ep. 5
Send us a text A coach can help you see areas of your leadership and performance that must improve. The best coaching sessions are when we discover for ourselves what we need to change. If you desire to achieve positive results in your job performance, career and life, then you need to know what to change regarding your thought processes and how you organize your life. The episode uses the following outline: We all need career and personal coaching, The right questions lead to better personal di...
Apr 27, 2021•16 min•Season 6Ep. 4
Send us a text I am talking about setting expectations for your team members. What you do, what you hold as accountable, and what you let slide as far as behavior and work performance will become new standards. Set clear expectations up front and then follow through with them, which includes your own personal behavior and work performance. Clear communication is always key to clear expectations. The episode covers the topic using the following outline: Effective communication is the key, Matchin...
Apr 20, 2021•15 min•Season 6Ep. 3
Send us a text The team’s culture determines how well everyone respects each other and works together. How do you want your team to interact with each other? Do you want to be all business all the time, more relaxed, or something else? As the leader, you set the tone for the team’s culture. Don’t overlook the relationship of team culture and its overall performance. Team culture is covered using the following outline: What is team culture, How team culture shapes output and productivity, Your ro...
Apr 13, 2021•15 min•Season 6Ep. 2
Send us a text Since you will have to train and work with new people, how are you shaping and influencing the process? Are you working with HR to find the best candidates? Also, do you really know what the best candidate is who will fit well with your team? The old ways to hire Finance and Accounting team members must be relooked so we get the best candidates who can lead and influence positive outcomes. I will highlight the following topics: What is your ideal candidate? How does team culture d...
Apr 06, 2021•15 min•Season 6Ep. 1
Send us a text What do I mean when I say team culture? It’s the values, beliefs, and attitudes that are present on your team. Who controls this culture? Well, many factors control this. As a leader, you set the tone, expectations, and overall accountability of the team. If you are not paying attention closely, the team culture can shift to something not desirable. This is why this topic is so important. You have to be on top of team culture. Pay attention to words and how people are interacting....
Mar 30, 2021•2 min
Send us a text We need to be doing some important things in our life to ensure we reduce anxiety and stress. Additionally, as a leader, you should be setting the example for others to follow. This bonus episode is about a few self-care ideas to help you. You can download the Leadership Growth Blueprint for Finance and Accounting Managers here. You can use this guide to develop your leadership by focusing on communication, and growing and empowering your team. For more resources, please visit ste...
Mar 23, 2021•4 min
Send us a text We should be continually reviewing our goals ensuring they are realistic, they are measurable, they can be achieved, and are time based. It’s best when we break up our goal into smaller, more easily achievable pieces. We can then achieve small victories to show progress and this positively affects our mindset. Please enjoy this encore presentation of Episode 36 on Goal Setting You can download the Leadership Growth Blueprint for Finance and Accounting Managers here. You can use th...
Mar 16, 2021•18 min
Send us a text We all need a mentor, and we can also become a great mentor to someone else. When looking for a mentor, I prefer someone who I had previously worked for with a history of a great working relationship. The mentor relationship is unique and differs from that of a coach and teacher. A brilliant mentor who knows the current challenges and market can help guide you as you navigate your career. I highlight the following topics during the episode: Why we need a mentor, Traits of a great ...
Mar 09, 2021•17 min•Season 5Ep. 9
Send us a text We often think of conflict as something that is destructive. And it often is, but there are times when healthy conflict can drive you to a new level of excellence. As leaders, I want you to determine which type of conflict you are dealing with and take action immediately to stop the unhealthy conflict. You need to encourage healthy personal interactions that focuses on growing your team. It can be done. I use the following outline: You created the team culture you have, Get out fr...
Mar 02, 2021•15 min•Season 5Ep. 8
Send us a text I am talking about wellness as part of an overall fitness plan. We should not be just surviving our jobs and our life, but, in fact, thriving, where we go to a higher level of overall fitness that leads to healthy growth, mindfulness and prosperity. I am encouraging leaders at all levels to set the example to embrace wellness programs and to include wellness in a team’s overall performance plan. In the episode, I highlight the following points: You need to invest in your team, The...
Feb 23, 2021•15 min•Season 5Ep. 7
Send us a text Our morning routine is important. It sets up our day for success and having the right attitude. Exercise, eating healthy, a creative outlet and also building up our spirit for positive interaction. It’s all important for our hectic days to be successful. Please enjoy this encore presentation of Episode 23: Five Great Habits to Improve Your Day. You can download the Leadership Growth Blueprint for Finance and Accounting Managers here. You can use this guide to develop your leadersh...
Feb 16, 2021•25 min
Send us a text Your goal is to be the CFO and even the CEO so you need to start preparing now. You need to develop the skills and mindset to grow into an effective senior leader. Don’t wait until you are a senior manager looking to break into a more junior executive position. Work on the key skills today and change your mindset. During the episode, the following areas are discussed: Work on your executive presence, Develop these three key skills: communication, relationship building and strategi...
Feb 09, 2021•15 min•Season 5Ep. 6
Send us a text Are you playing it safe in your career by not pushing yourself to reach your potential? When we stay in our comfort zone, we are oppressing ourselves by preventing our own advancement. You need to own your career and own getting out of your comfort zone. You are responsible for your success so don’t fear asking what you need to develop. Don’t let an opportunity get away. Own your career and own your future! Stop playing it safe! The following points are discussed further in the ep...
Feb 02, 2021•19 min•Season 5Ep. 5
Send us a text Perfectionism comes from insecurity and not necessarily from a desire to perform at a high level. When we fear others or we seek their approval, we can aim to be more perfect in our work, but it actually detracts because we don’t focus ourselves on the most important parts of the task since we are trying to have an answer for everything. Perfectionism wastes time and effort. I talk about the episode with the following areas: You are a perfectionist due to an insecurity, Perfection...
Jan 26, 2021•15 min•Season 5Ep. 4
Send us a text There are so many ways in which we limit ourselves from achieving our goals. A self-imposed limit is defeating ourselves before we even begin. Once we convince ourselves that there no limits to what we can do and achieve, we become unstoppable in the pursuit of our dreams. You have lots of potential…potential for greatness if you believe in yourself. Rid yourselves of these self-imposed limits and free yourself to act. I discuss the following in the episode: Limiting belief, Fixed...
Jan 19, 2021•15 min•Season 5Ep. 3
Send us a text We all need coaching to help us see things in ourselves that we do not see. Becoming more coachable is having a growth mindset ready to change so we can rise to the next level. Humbling ourselves and self-awareness opens the door to accepting critical feedback that provides opportunity for growth. What will you do when you finally see an area in your professional life that needs an adjustment? The episode follows this outline: We must be open minded about feedback, Become more sel...
Jan 12, 2021•16 min•Season 5Ep. 2
Send us a text What is your Big Goal for 2021? For goals to be effective, they must be written down, be measurable, be specific, have a completion date, be realistic and achievable. I talk about Goal Setting in 2021 within the following outline: 1) Our cheese moved in 2020, 2) What is your Big Goal for 2021, 3) Progress over perfection, and 4) Have a resilience plan. You can download the Leadership Growth Blueprint for Finance and Accounting Managers here. You can use this guide to develop your ...
Jan 05, 2021•16 min•Season 5Ep. 1
