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How To Get The Best From The Finance Team
You might have heard others say that TEAM stands for Together Everyone Achieves More
As a leader or manager of a Finance team, the results that you achieve are very much down to your ability to get the best from your team.
So how can you get the best from your Finance teams?
Get To Know Each Member Of Your Team
So often people leading or managing a team only have a vague or surface level understanding of each member of the team. Their views or perceptions might well be based on what others tell them rather than what they have found out for themselves. Make time to find out what motivates and fires up each member on your team. It will take time initially but will be hugely beneficial long term.
Show You Trust Them
People often ask what is the best way to build trust. You won’t be surprised to learn that the best way to build trust is to show trust in others. In practical terms this means supporting others and giving them the freedom to show initiative.
Set Clear Expectations
There is nothing worse than having to second guess what your boss wants from you. As a leader or manager make sure you set clear expectations for the team collectively and for individual team members.
Listen To Them
People want to have their chance to contribute their views and ideas. This does not mean that they expect to get it all their own way. They do however value having the opportunity to contribute to decisions.
Praise Both Effort and Achievements
It is easy to recognise achievements. Yet people often have given a huge amount of effort even if they have not quite managed to achieve exactly what you and they hoped. Make a point of recognising and praising both effort and achievement.
Be Honest With People
It is easy to make promises which you may or may not be able to deliver on. Be honest with people, even when the situation or context is difficult. They will appreciate it and respect you more as a result.
Avoiding Blaming
Things don’t always go to plan. It might be tempting to look for someone to blame or make a scapegoat. This never is a good idea. All that it does is destroy morale and stops people trying in the future.
The Bottom Line: Teams really are the catalyst to your success. Make sure you do all that you possibly can to get the very best from teams.
Duncan Brodie helps accountants achieve more career success. Learn more here.
About the Author Duncan Brodie
Since 2006 I’ve worked with in excess of 8,000 accountants and professionals in workshops, seminars and one to one helping them land their next jobs and become better leaders, presenters and business partners. Before that I spent 25 years in accountancy climbing the career ladder from Payments Clerk to FD. I’m a CIMA Fellow, Certified Professional Coach and Team Coach Facilitator.