Episodes

Send us Fan Mail Episode 65: The C Suite is a partnership of senior leaders who must be committed to working with each other to properly guide their organization to success, while also ensuring that group think never takes hold. Senior executives must challenge each other professionally, execute the strategy, and solve complex problems together. It begins and ends with leaders willing to hold themselves accountable for the organization’s success and failures. It’s a partnership th...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 64: The Role of Chief Financial Officer requires a different mindset, a different world view, and a perspective that helps you see the organization differently. The CFO must be forward thinking and must never quit. Episode outline: The qualities of the successful C-suite executive,You must pivot your skillset, mindset, and perspective,Embrace change and embrace adversity,You must set the right example every day to establish a high standard, and You must own you...

Send us Fan Mail Bonus episode # 28: This is the time to prepare for your future senior leader role. Don’t wait until you are a senior manager looking to break into a more junior executive position. Work on the key skills today and change your mindset. 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. Supp...

Send us Fan Mail This week I am sharing an encore episode from Season 6 – Episode 48, Coaching Leads to Better Results. I believe that everyone needs coaching, because great coaching can help us see things in our life and our career that we can’t see and the best coaching happens when the coach guides, but we actually discover the answers ourselves. When we self-discover what’s lacking or where we are falling short, we are more likely to own the solution. This is why coaching is critical. A...

Send us Fan Mail There are so many ways in which we limit ourselves from achieving our goals. A self-imposed limit is defeating ourselves before we even begin. Once we convince ourselves that there are no limits to what we can do and achieve, we become unstoppable in the pursuit of our dreams. You have lots of potential…potential for greatness if you believe in yourself. Rid yourselves of these self-imposed limits and free yourself to act. I have something for you. Consider joining The Fina...

Send us Fan Mail Bonus episode #25: The Finance and Accounting professionals who stay in their comfort zones and only do their daily tasks, will not get the same opportunities as those who get on high visibility projects and who are constantly improving themselves. You may be seen as reliable and trustworthy within the tasks you are given, but you will not be given additional responsibility or a promotion unless you can prove you can do more. Please connect with me on: 1. Instagram: s...

Send us Fan Mail I believe in having the right mentor, and that is someone outside your current work situation who can really help you fine tune your career strategy and even help you make some key connections for your future. The best mentor is someone you were worked with in the past, but are not working with now. They know you, they know your abilities, at least in the past, and they know your goals. I have something for you. Consider joining The Finance Leader Podcast Community Fac...

Send us Fan Mail Episode # 63: Leaders must be self-aware of their thoughts, actions, words and behaviors so they are constantly working to build trust and develop their teams. Self-aware leaders know what is appropriate and what isn’t appropriate. Emotionally intelligent leaders can read the room properly that leads to a positive outcome. Episode outline: The great leaders are emotionally intelligent,Think before speaking or taking action, andRead the room so you understand the tone and mo...

Send us Fan Mail Episode # 62: The most important responsibility leaders have is to grow other leaders. The first task a great leader will do is to build trust and that begins with our own actions, our attitude, and our behavior. We often get overwhelmed with the tasks, but I want you to shift from a task-focus to a people-focus leadership style. Lead and set a great example, build trust, and empower your team to create an incredible environment for your team to grow. Episode outline: ...

Send us Fan Mail Episode # 61: This week, I am talking about developing your plan for earning continuing professional education credits. Continual learning in the Finance and Accounting fields is essential to developing your expertise and establishing your credibility. Ensure you approach earning your annual CPEs by planning them out and adding them to your Individual Development Plan. I want to encourage you to be proactive and not wait until it’s time to recertify and renew to earn CPEs, wh...

Send us Fan Mail Episode #60: Finance and Accounting professionals should be partnering with senior leaders and their teams to better execute the organization’s strategy. We know the numbers and can better deliver insights when we open communication instead of staying in our usual stoved-piped function. I want to encourage you to get out of your comfort zone to open a constructive dialogue with senior leaders. Episode outline: You have more influence than you think,Partner with metric and a...

Send us Fan Mail Episode #59: Working on a group project that presents to senior leaders is a great opportunity to show off your skills and get recognized for your potential. Performing your daily duties will not move your career but taking risk by working on a group project can definitely move it along. Ensure you are improving and perfecting your group presentation skills to leave an outstanding impression of your abilities. I use the following outline during the episode: Always know...

Send us Fan Mail Episode # 58: Build your professional foundation which includes your education, earning a professional certification, and growing your business knowledge. Your Foundation establishes your professional credibility and expertise, which is key to being a sought-after Finance and Accounting Leader. Embrace a life-long learning mindset to firmly establish your Professional Foundation. Episode outline: We must build our credentials and knowledge,We will be known for our technical...

Send us Fan Mail Episode # 57: What happens during your career journey mostly rests upon decisions you make along with your risk comfort level. Are you planning out your career moves or are you waiting on someone else to give you an opportunity? No one is going to seek you out to hand you what you need to achieve your goals and advance your career. Episode outline: You are the only person who will care about your career,Seek out opportunities to stand out,Embrace taking risk,Adopt a growth m...

Send us Fan Mail Bonus episode # 23: Next week, July 20th, Season 7 will debut, and I will be talking about career advancement strategy and how you can set yourself apart. Topics and areas of focus will be owning your career, what do leaders do, how to partner with senior leaders, perfecting our presentation skills, self-awareness and reading the room, and a few others. Please connect with me on: 1. Instagram: stephen.mclain 2. Twitter: smclainiii 3. Facebook: stephenmclainconsultant 4. Li...

Send us Fan Mail Episode # 56: I am sharing my interview with Army-Retired Colonel David Fivecoat, Managing Partner of The Fivecoat Consulting Group (thefivecoatconsultinggroup.com). David has a book coming out in July which discusses the leadership attribute “grit.” During the interview, we talked about leadership, dealing with adversity, and leading change. Please connect with me on: 1. Instagram: stephen.mclain 2. Twitter: smclainiii 3. Facebook: stephenmclainconsultant 4. LinkedIn: ste...

Send us Fan Mail I have noticed over the last few months on all my social media timelines that people are talking more about their mental health. It’s become a very hot topic. Our mental health is key to our long-term success, our relationships, our view of ourselves, and many other aspects of our lives. Please visit a mental health professional to discuss your individual mental health concerns. For more resources, please visit stephenmclain.com. On the website, you can download the Leaders...

Send us Fan Mail Bonus Episode # 21: This week, I want to share an encore episode from earlier this year, Episode 37, Becoming Coachable to Improve Performance. Being open to feedback and to constructive criticism is key to our long-term development. I am encouraging you to be open to listening to feedback when it comes your way, then evaluate it and then make a decision if you want to apply it. If you are not open to receiving feedback, then you might miss something incredible that you...

Send us Fan Mail Episode # 55: This week, I am sharing the second part of a two-part special interview with Talent Management Executive Kevin Richie. Last week, I shared Part 1, which was a tremendous success. This week, the interview focuses on what it means to be successful and taking risk in your career. Please connect with me on: 1. Instagram: stephen.mclain 2. Twitter: smclainiii 3. Facebook: stephenmclainconsultant 4. LinkedIn: stephenjmclainiii For more resources, please visit Fina...

Send us Fan Mail Episode # 54: This week, I am sharing the first part of a two-part interview with Talent Management Executive Kevin Richie as I wrap up Season 6. We talk about Leadership, Team Culture, Recruiting and Hiring new team members, Setting Expectations, Performance Reviews, and Coaching. Please connect with me on: 1. Instagram: stephen.mclain 2. Twitter: smclainiii 3. Facebook: stephenmclainconsultant 4. LinkedIn: stephenjmclainiii For more resources, please visit Finance Leade...

Send us Fan Mail Episode # 53: An effective weekly team meeting should help your team members and not just you. Your team should walk away more informed and knowing they will be better resourced and what they are working on has been synchronized within the team. Your meeting needs a well-defined purpose and not just a “check the block” approach each week. Begin by sending out an agenda ahead of the meeting so everyone can be more prepared, which will make it an overall more productive experie...

Send us Fan Mail Episode # 52: Use leadership to better manage your team’s task workload. How you assign tasks also affects your team’s culture. Go beyond just getting tasks done so that they can be used to develop your team, and your people can be ready for greater responsibility. There is definitely a management approach that is required but use your leadership skills to make your team better for the long term. Episode outline: Your role as leader in task management,What you should work o...

Send us Fan Mail Episode #51: The inevitable return to working in the office is coming. Is your team ready? What planning do you need to do? What support do you need from your organization? Moving back to the office isn’t as simple as telling your team I’ll see you in the office tomorrow. You need a plan. Your organization also needs a plan. Episode outline: What’s the plan for returning to the office?How will you prepare your team before going back?What support do you need from your organi...

Send us Fan Mail Episode # 50: Learning to be an effective leader will set you apart positively in the eyes of the senior leaders and executives you work with and will help you advance in your career. We are already expected to be technical experts in our field, so learn leadership to give you the edge you need to advance. Episode outline: Leadership starts with our mindset,Our personal character is key,We must lead and influence necessary change,A few areas we can positively change. Pleas...