We’ve all been there – deadlines looming, exhaustion creeping in and the photocopier jamming for the twentieth time that day. What is a manager to do?
Take heed, there appear to be five things that successful finance managers practice on a consistent basis. Read on to find out what they are.
Trust Your Team
The most successful finance managers trust their team implicitly. As Theodore Roosevelt said, “The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good to do what he/she wants done, and the self-restraint to keep from meddling with them while they do it.” We understand that finance is all about strategically hitting deadlines with a high degree of accuracy. At the same time, understand that this almost obsessive need for attention to detail can result in micromanaging. A more constructive approach: realize that if you have hired the best talent, engendered positive attributes and mentored accordingly, success will follow.
…realize that if you have hired the best talent, engendered positive attributes and mentored accordingly, success will follow.
Accessibility
An open door policy is a cornerstone of the most successful finance managers. The reality: with 25 balls in the air simultaneously you can’t always take the time needed to connect with your team and ensure that they are comfortable and successful in the role you have defined for them. But by setting time aside if one of your team members comes to you with a concern, you not only gain valuable insight into their thought processes, but also potentially nip problems in the bud.
Collaborative Approach
Truly successful finance managers use a collaborative approach to problem-solving. They seek feedback and offer good information at critical junctures to help their team make sound strategic decisions. This inclusive approach engenders trust within the team and often results in more innovative solutions.
Celebrate Achievements
Hit a milestone? Celebrate it. Completed a project? Break bread together. The world of finance is an intense one and by celebrating your achievements together you build a sense of camaraderie and grow as a team. Even if you don’t have time to take your team out for lunch, simply crafting a thoughtful email acknowledging what they have accomplished can make them understand that their hard work has not gone unnoticed.
The world of finance is an intense one and by celebrating your achievements together you build a sense of camaraderie and grow as a team.
Unique Qualities
Successful finance managers understand what motivates each individual and craft expectations designed to allow that person to do what they excel at. As Marcus Buckingham, author of “The One Thing You Need to Know… About Great Managing, Leading and Sustained Individual Success” says, “In the minds of great managers, consistent poor performance is not primarily a matter of weakness… It is a matter of miscasting.”
Successful finance managers share a number of key traits. They trust their teams and approach problem-solving in a collaborative way. They are accessible and celebrate achievements. Most importantly, they seem to have an intuitive sense of what makes each team member unique and leverage that expertise to craft milestones that bring out the best in each employee. The result: a productive, strategically minded team that operates with energy, focus and passion.
Let us know what you think! At Clarity Recruitment, we’re always interested in hearing from accounting, finance and data analytics professionals like yourselves, who are ready for new, exciting opportunities that can take their careers to the next level. And be sure to follow us on LinkedIn for more great tips and advice!
