How Communication Skills Help Finance Leaders Get CEOs and Other Stakeholders to Listen

The responsibilities of CFOs are rapidly changing. According to a study by Ernst & Young, the new skills that CFOs must possess more than ever include listening and communication, according to Tom McGrath, Senior Vice Chair, Accounts for Americas, EY. In this study, E&Y conducted interviews to gain perspectives from CFOs. It was determined that today’s CFO requires more breadth of experience and versatility than ever before and the next generation of CFOs must possess a vastly broader set of skills than its predecessor which include listening and communication.

Finance skills remain fundamental, but other key developmental areas for aspiring finance leaders now include experience in corporate development and strategic M&A, in international markets, and in the commercial side of the business.

This course was designed to specifically enhance communication skills in order to help CFOs and corporate finance leaders get CEOs and other stakeholders to listen and for CFOs to better understand the core concerns of their companies in order to provide optimum service. Communication and listening are actually highly empirical skills that have been studied again and again. According to the DNA of a CFO by Ernst and Young, 75% of CFOs desire a larger leadership role in their companies. So, why are CFOs often not given such opportunities? It is because CFOs often don’t understand the science of leadership communication. According to the Ken Blanchard group, nearly 100% of leaders fail significantly with the most important leadership qualities. The UCLA Career Center has determined that 90% of CFOs feel that their leaders do not completely understand their work.

This course unlocks the scientific principles of communication that enables CFOs to increase listening, enhance comprehension of their work and to create a more productive work environment.