June 19, 2023

Bonus Episode 61: Empower Your Finance and Accounting Career through Growth and Visibility

Send a text Are you ready to skyrocket your finance and accounting career? We've got the tips and insights you need to gain a competitive edge in the workplace. This bonus episode is packed with valuable advice on adopting a growth mindset, dressing to impress, and participating in high visibility projects. You'll also learn the importance of having a written plan, taking risks, developing soft skills, earning professional credentials, and being part of the community at work. Please connect ...

Send a text

Are you ready to skyrocket your finance and accounting career? We've got the tips and insights you need to gain a competitive edge in the workplace. This bonus episode is packed with valuable advice on adopting a growth mindset, dressing to impress, and participating in high visibility projects. You'll also learn the importance of having a written plan, taking risks, developing soft skills, earning professional credentials, and being part of the community at work.

Please connect with me on:

1. Instagram: stephen.mclain
2. Twitter: smclainiii
3. Facebook: stephenmclainconsultant
4. LinkedIn: stephenjmclainiii

For more resources, please visit Finance Leader Academy: financeleaderacademy.com.

On the website, you can download the Become a Finance Leader Guide. You can use this guide to build your Finance Leadership skills so you can help senior leaders develop and execute the strategy.
I also offer a course, Advance Your Finance and Accounting Career: Developing a Promotion Strategy that Sets You Apart.

Support the show

Transcript

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Hi, this is Stephen McLain of the Finance Leader Podcast.

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This is Bonus Episode number 61.

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Good day and welcome to this bonus episode.

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Thank you for listening to the Finance Leader Podcast.

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I appreciate it.

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We are definitely in this together so we grow as leaders in finance and accounting and so that we have opportunities in the future.

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This week I want to talk about getting ahead in your career.

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If you are looking for recognition so you can advance in your career, let's talk over a few tips, but first a quick story.

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Have you watched the movie The Intern with Anne Hathaway and Robert De Niro?

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It is one of my favorites.

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It is about the growing bond between a startup founder and a senior intern.

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Anne Hathaway is the founder, slash CEO, and she is trying to figure out her role while she manages this fast growth e-commerce company.

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She has a pet peeve issue early in the movie and Robert De Niro's character solves it for her, winning her praises and her opinion of him vastly shifts in his favor.

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It's a great example of taking initiative to solve a problem that immediately wins you a favorable view from senior leaders.

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Again, it's from the movie The Intern and I highly recommend it.

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It's very fun to watch.

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Now I want to talk over a few areas to help you gain an advantage in the workplace.

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Number one mindset.

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I talk about mindset often.

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Mindset is our gateway to success, to our happiness, to getting things done and to our relationships.

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I want you to have a growth mindset where you believe in yourself and you believe that you can grow and develop into the role you desire so you accomplish your long term goal.

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If you change your mindset, you will change your outcome.

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Number two have a written plan.

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Speaking of goals, you must have a written plan that describes your goals.

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Those with a written plan have a greater chance of success.

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So please write down your goals and review them often, at least once a quarter.

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I recommend looking at them once a month.

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Number three take risk.

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Go beyond your daily tasks to take on something out of your comfort zone.

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This is where you can earn respect and recognition.

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So just don't sit back.

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Take on some risks.

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Number four high visibility projects.

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A high visibility project can help you develop key skills, build your network and show off who you are and what you have become in front of senior leaders.

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Again, high visibility projects are a moneymaker for your professional reputation.

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Number five develop your soft skills.

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Soft skills are critical.

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There is a point where you need to transition from growing your hard technical skills to growing key soft skills like leadership, time management, emotional intelligence, communication and many more.

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Number six become credentialed.

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This is still very important to many people.

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I am specifically talking about earning a graduate degree and a professional certification.

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This gives you professional credibility and should be part of your development foundation.

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Number seven be part of the community.

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Be seen and be heard, but also don't be irritating.

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There is a boundary and a balance.

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So be at your after work events and be in the office.

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Participate in the meetings where you get a seat at the table, but don't be annoying.

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Contribute, but don't be a know-it-all.

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Show that you are a loyal member of the team.

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So be part of the community at work.

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And finally, number eight dress to impress.

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Now, i used this term from the movie The Intern that I just spoke about a few moments ago.

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Again, it's dress to impress.

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This might be an older concept, but we still get judged by our appearance and if we fit in, i always recommend that you follow the appearance standards set by the executives and senior leaders in your organization.

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If they dress up every day, then I recommend the same.

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It might be this little thing that sets you apart from others.

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This doesn't mean you can't be yourself.

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I also encourage that you should be yourself, be comfortable at work, but also I want you to be able to fit in.

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It's a great recommendation to see what those executives and senior leaders are wearing and try to emulate that as much as you can.

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I want you to win.

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The following is a list of episodes to listen to if you miss them, or to listen again to help you.

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The first one is episode 104, and that's earning your professional credentials.

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The next is episode 99.

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Take more risk in your career.

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The next is episode 88.

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Earning a promotion to manager Also episode 86.

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Project teams provide opportunities to grow your skills and enhance your career.

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A high visibility project is a great way to make a name for yourself.

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The next is episode 83, and this is about key business social skills.

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And finally, episode 80, a tough conversation on advocating for yourself so you advance your career.

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We all need to learn to advocate for ourselves in the workplace.

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Now I also offer a course through Finance Leader Academy called Advance Your Finance and Accounting Career developing a promotion strategy that sets you apart.

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The course has six modules.

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Module one is the introduction to the course and it has the admin instructions.

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Module two takes you through establishing a professional foundation.

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Module three is about how to set yourself apart from your peers and the competition.

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Module four is about developing your leadership potential.

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Module five is about your executive presence.

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And finally, module six teaches about developing a promotion strategy.

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The link to the course introduction is in the show notes or go to financeleaderacademycom Now.

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Take a look at the introductory video on that page and I think you will really like it.

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If you have any questions about the course, please reach out at contact at stevenmichleincom and I will respond.

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I hope you have a great rest of your week.

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Keep working on your goals.

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I want you to win.

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Thank you for listening to the Finance Leader podcast.

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Until next time, look out for your team lead always and take care.

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See you next time.

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Thank you.

Bonus Episode 61: Empower Your Finance and Accounting Career through Growth and Visibility

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