THE SKILLS WORKERS SAY
MANAGERS NEED TO IMPROVE
MOST
Strong communication skills are necessary
at every career stage, but especially
for those in leadership positions. In a new
study from Robert Half Management
Resources, however, one in three workers
(33 per cent) did not give their boss
high marks in this area, reporting communication
and diplomacy are where
their managers most need improvement.
Greater leadership (20 per cent) and
technical expertise (14 per cent) ranked
second and third, respectively, on professionals’
wish lists.
“At the executive level, successful leadership
is often measured by strong
communication skills, capable of engaging
workers regardless of the business
environment,” said David King, Canadian
president of Robert Half Management
Resources. “To inspire their staff, managers
must be able to clearly articulate
company goals, and ensure each employee
understands how their work contributes
to the success of the business.”
Be proactive about honing your soft
skills as a manager.
“Create an atmosphere that allows for
open dialogue with your staff, encouraging
regular feedback,” said King. “Showing
an openness to hearing and acting on your
team’s recommendations sets a good example,
allows them to feel more involved and
creates a strong foundation for growth, individually
and as a business team.”
■■ Request 360-degree feedback.
Opinions from your manager, peers
and employees are invaluable. Ask them
about your strengths and weaknesses,
their communication preferences
and how you can make it easier for
them to come to you with questions
or concerns. Not everyone will feel
comfortable giving candid feedback, so
consider gathering input anonymously.
■■ Find a role model. Think of a manager
you admire who enjoys great rapport
with his or her staff. What makes this
person stand out? Observe how he or
she interacts with others.
■■ Define your comfort zone – and go
outside of it. If you struggle handling
difficult conversations, ask a mentor or
trusted colleague for pointers. If giving
presentations is not your strong suit,
take a public speaking class or join a
group like Toastmasters.
■■ Practice active listening. In
conversations, focus on what others are
saying instead of formulating your next
thought. Pause an extra second before
jumping in to make sure you don’t
interrupt others.
■■ Be yourself. Don’t try so hard to be
a manager that you stop being an
individual. Be honest and relatable, and
show vulnerability from time to time.
To err is human – your team wants to
know that you are not perfect and don’t
expect them to be either.
SLEEPLESS IN THE C-SUITE
What issues are Canadian CFOs losing
sleep over? New research from Robert
Half Finance & Accounting shows the
news
biggest work challenges for CFOs are anxieties
around their own performance on
the job and the pressure to find and hire
good employees.
“Being in charge of the financial wellbeing
of a company is, on its own, a big
responsibility,” said Greg Scileppi, president
of Robert Half, International Staffing
Operations. “With expectations continuously
mounting as the role of the CFO
evolves, it can become increasingly difficult
to leave work at the office.
“The key to mitigating sleepless nights
as a CFO is in having confidence that projects
at work are taken care of, which starts
with good business practices and establishing
a strong support system of talented
professionals. With a carefully designed
and strong team, executives can ensure
that initiatives are running smoothly, freeing
them up to focus on new opportunities
for business growth and success.”
Robert Half Finance & Accounting offers
five tips for CFOs to mitigate work
challenges and rest easier:
■■ Address issues as they arise.
Workplace conflicts only get worse
when ignored and avoided.
UPFRONT
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