A Dynamic Leader in Today’s Environment

FGFOA Nature Coast ChapterApril 16, 2014

Diane Reichard, CPA, CGMA, CGFO, CPFO

Agenda

• The Time is Now!

• Developing Leaders

• Learning Opportunities

THE TIME IS NOW!

Our World is Changing

Leadership Inspires - Management Controls

Empowerment - Essential To Organizational Performance

Coaching – Essential to Learning

Communications – Essential to growth and change

Recruiting Talent

The Baby Boomer exodus puts pressure on talent recruitment efforts:• Have a “quality” HR Manager

• Understand “who” are the targeted recruits

• Engage your best and brightest employees

• Pay competitive wages above the market

• Be open to change

Retaining Talent

• Who should we retain?• Workers that want to keep learning• Those that work even if not financially necessary

If we do not challenge, workers are more eager to retire or change jobs

• How can talent be retained?• Organization: training, opportunities, promotions,

communication, implement change slowly• Leaders: feedback, supervision, mentorship• Subordinates: certifications, evaluations

Leaders Look For Leaders

• Market yourself• Learn as much as you can• Participate; be a team player• Cross-train for higher positions• Critique your performance honestly

CFO’s – Leaders inChange Management

• Business Partners• Change management programs

• More than just financial aspects

• Skilled and experienced people• Limit success of the project

• Rigorous budget and inflexible

• Understand value of change

What is a Great Leader?

ME!

Great Leaders

• Find Purpose

• People First

• Develop Awareness

• Shun Complexity

• Get Personal

Developing Leaders!

Leadership Defined

“Limitless like the ocean are your excellent qualities.” Dalai Lama

Leadership – the process of influencing people, by providing purpose, direction and motivation, while operating to accomplish their tasks and improve the organization.

Developing Leaders

Leaders must stay focused to:

• Motivate

• Manage

• Mentor

Motivation Leads to Empowerment

• Motivation – “Everybody at their level wants some control. They want to matter, and they want to make a difference.“ General Bill Creech

• Empowerment – When you engage people in organizational decisions, you develop their ownership in the organization and this begets a culture of commitment.

Mentoring Leaders

• Programs help develop future leaders

• Keeps valuable people with the organization that will become leaders

• You become an advocate that believes in the person and helps solve problems

TransformationalLeadership

• Emphasizes quality of service• Encourages others to master work processes• Involves others in decision making• Admits error and searches for a better way

How to Transform

• Instill a sense of pride and value to all employees•Communicate the task and purpose to everyone •Create cohesion through small team involvement•Provide team training to increase trust•Emphasize the importance of all parts of a team•Allow subordinates to share ideas•Learn from mistakes and make improvements

Learning is Continuous!

• Technology effects an organization– Stay current on certifications– Upgrade software– Update operational functions

• An organization is filled with many talents– Value employees to uncover their skills– Award appropriately; both good and bad.

• Top-down and Bottom-up communications will increase positive change

Bring Out the BEST in People

• Believe in people to release potential• Encourage others to expand• Share stories and philosophies• Trust them to make decisions

“A leader produces other leaders.” From John C. Maxwell’s book, Developing Leaders Around You.

“Outstanding leaders go out of their way to boost the self-esteem of their

personnel. If people believe in themselves, it’s amazing what they

can accomplish.”

Leadership Influence

Coaching involves building on strengthsCoaches help employees remove barriers to

optimize work progress.

Counseling involves correcting behaviorCounseling helps employees work through

problems that affect performance.

Positive Feedback

• Provide helpful suggestions on how to improve performance

• Reinforce desirable behaviors with praise, recognition or rewards that are sincere and specific

• Reinforce your belief in their ability to do better and your desire to see them succeed

Help others reach potential

• When satisfied, you become stagnant• Moving forward is making improvement• Pay attention to get action• Control thought patterns• Choose right habits• Cancel bad habits

Thoughts Become Habits

Thoughts

Decisions

Habits

Actions

Me – A Leader?

•

Learning Opportunities!

Limitations Today

• Be safe; be careful

• Don’t risk

• Don’t fail

• What will other’s think

• Don’t be different

• Listens to internal messages

Failure

• Failure is a detour• Winner admits mistake – learns & corrects• Repeated success breads confidence• Confidence erases fear of failure• Overcome fear by action• Background - no positive reinforcement• Wrong conditioning requires us to make

choices to change

Great Communicators

• Close the loop• Keep the manager updated• Understand the need to be proactive• Realizes the importance to reach out to

manager without having to be asked the status

Bricks vs. Rocks

• All bricks are the same– Size– Material– Weight

• Rocks are unique– Various sizes– Shapes– Gems

Positive/Negative Game

• Can• Expect• Knows• Will make• Positively• Do• You (promoted)

● Can’t● Doubt● Don’t Think● Don’t Have● Maybe● Don’t● I (minimize)

Effects of Positive Thinking

• Completes tasks On Time!• Establishes cohesion• Expands potential• Creates an atmosphere that others enjoy• Allows for a smoother conversation

Effects of Negative Thinking

• Creates clouds• Is contagious• Blows everything out of proportion• Limits potential• Keeps away joy• Hinders others from a positive response• No one wants to be around you

Example

Two men look through prison bars– One sees mud– One sees stars

Plane flying– How do you monitor performance• Gadgets • Altitude indicator

Get Involved

Specialization vs. experience in various functions of the organization• Broaden your knowledge beyond your strict review

of the numbers• All functions within an organization impact the

numbers• Understand various aspects that allow you to

become a better CFO

Get Involved

• Network to build relationships• Volunteer with professional and state

organizations and local chapters• Self motivation is a crucial skill for success• Planning and organization are important

management skills

Helpful Hints

• Learn all you can (ask questions)• Train others• Be open-minded to technology changes• Surround yourself with smart people• Promote good behavior• Respect everyone

Helpful Hints

• Accept responsibility (ownership)• Take risk and erase fear of failure• Learn from mistakes• Accept challenges• Solve problems objectively• Communicate ideas with others

Contact Information

Diane Reichard, CPA, CGMA, CGFO, CPFOChief Financial Officer/ACM

City of Ocala352.629.8365

dreichard@ocalafl.org