Episodes

Send us Fan Mail Episode # 49: Performance reviews may not be the most exciting topic, but determining a team member’s potential is critical to developing your team. Also, let’s think about performance reviews in a different way and that is through a leadership lens. I believe in doing something different, so you create a better way to do something. A better way to develop your team and a better way to create a positive outcome. That is why we lead….to create more positive outcomes for our te...

Send us Fan Mail Episode #48: A coach can help you see areas of your leadership and performance that must improve. The best coaching sessions are when we discover for ourselves what we need to change. If you desire to achieve positive results in your job performance, career and life, then you need to know what to change regarding your thought processes and how you organize your life. Episode outline: We all need career and personal coaching,The right questions lead to better personal discov...

Send us Fan Mail Episode # 47: I am talking about setting expectations for your team members. What you do, what you hold as accountable, and what you let slide as far as behavior and work performance will become new standards. Set clear expectations up front and then follow through with them, which includes your own personal behavior and work performance. Clear communication is always key to clear expectations. Episode outline: Effective communication is the key,Matching Team culture a...

Send us Fan Mail Episode # 46: The team’s culture determines how well everyone respects each other and works together. How do you want your team to interact with each other? Do you want to be all business all the time, more relaxed, or something else? As the leader, you set the tone for the team’s culture. Don’t overlook the relationship of team culture and its overall performance. Episode outline: What is team culture,How team culture shapes output and productivity,Your role as leader when ...

Send us Fan Mail Episode # 45: Since you will have to train and work with new people, how are you shaping and influencing the process? Are you working with HR to find the best candidates? Also, do you really know what the best candidate is who will fit well with your team? The old ways to hire Finance and Accounting team members must be relooked so we get the best candidates who can lead and influence positive outcomes. Episode outline: What is your ideal candidate?How does team cult...

Send us Fan Mail What do I mean when I say team culture? It’s the values, beliefs, and attitudes that are present on your team. Who controls this culture? Well, many factors control this. As a leader, you set the tone, expectations, and overall accountability of the team. If you are not paying attention closely, the team culture can shift to something not desirable. This is why this topic is so important. You have to be on top of team culture. Pay attention to words and how people are i...

Send us Fan Mail We need to be doing some important things in our life to ensure we reduce anxiety and stress. Additionally, as a leader, you should be setting the example for others to follow. This bonus episode is about a few self-care ideas to help you. You can download the Leadership Growth Blueprint for Finance and Accounting Managers here. You can use this guide to develop your leadership by focusing on communication, and growing and empowering your team. For more resources, ple...

Send us Fan Mail We should be continually reviewing our goals ensuring they are realistic, they are measurable, they can be achieved, and are time based. It’s best when we break up our goal into smaller, more easily achievable pieces. We can then achieve small victories to show progress and this positively affects our mindset. Please enjoy this encore presentation of Episode 36 on Goal Setting You can download the Leadership Growth Blueprint for Finance and Accounting Managers here. You ca...

Send us Fan Mail Episode # 44: We all need a mentor, and we can also become a great mentor to someone else. When looking for a mentor, I prefer someone who I had previously worked for with a history of a great working relationship. The mentor relationship is unique and differs from that of a coach and teacher. A brilliant mentor who knows the current challenges and market can help guide you as you navigate your career. Episode outside: Why we need a mentor,Traits of a great mentor,The...

Send us Fan Mail Episode # 43: We often think of conflict as something that is destructive. And it often is, but there are times when healthy conflict can drive you to a new level of excellence. As leaders, I want you to determine which type of conflict you are dealing with and take action immediately to stop the unhealthy conflict. You need to encourage healthy personal interactions that focuses on growing your team. It can be done. Episode outline: You created the team culture you have,Ge...

Send us Fan Mail Episode # 42: I am talking about wellness as part of an overall fitness plan. We should not be just surviving our jobs and our life, but, in fact, thriving, where we go to a higher level of overall fitness that leads to healthy growth, mindfulness and prosperity. I am encouraging leaders at all levels to set the example to embrace wellness programs and to include wellness in a team’s overall performance plan. Episode outline: You need to invest in your team,The benefits of ...

Send us Fan Mail Our morning routine is important. It sets up our day for success and having the right attitude. Exercise, eating healthy, a creative outlet and also building up our spirit for positive interaction. It’s all important for our hectic days to be successful. Please enjoy this encore presentation of Episode 23: Five Great Habits to Improve Your Day. You can download the Leadership Growth Blueprint for Finance and Accounting Managers here. You can use this guide to develop your ...

Send us Fan Mail Episode # 41: Your goal is to be the CFO and even the CEO so you need to start preparing now. You need to develop the skills and mindset to grow into an effective senior leader. 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. Episode outline: Work on your executive presence,Develop these three key skills: communication, relationship building and strategic thinking,Pro...

Send us Fan Mail Episode # 40: Are you playing it safe in your career by not pushing yourself to reach your potential? When we stay in our comfort zone, we are oppressing ourselves by preventing our own advancement. You need to own your career and own getting out of your comfort zone. You are responsible for your success so don’t fear asking what you need to develop. Don’t let an opportunity get away. Own your career and own your future! Stop playing it safe! Episode outline: Are you a peopl...

Send us Fan Mail Episode #39: Perfectionism comes from insecurity and not necessarily from a desire to perform at a high level. When we fear others or we seek their approval, we can aim to be more perfect in our work, but it actually detracts because we don’t focus ourselves on the most important parts of the task since we are trying to have an answer for everything. Perfectionism wastes time and effort. Episode outline: You are a perfectionist due to an insecurity,Perfectionism has a high ...

Send us Fan Mail Episode # 38: 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 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. Episode outline: Limiting belief,Fixed Mi...

Send us Fan Mail Episode # 37: We all need coaching to help us see things in ourselves that we do not see. Becoming more coachable is having a growth mindset ready to change so we can rise to the next level. Humbling ourselves and self-awareness opens the door to accepting critical feedback that provides opportunity for growth. What will you do when you finally see an area in your professional life that needs an adjustment? Episode outline: We must be open minded about feedback,Become more ...

Send us Fan Mail Episode # 36: What is your Big Goal for 2021? For goals to be effective, they must be written down, be measurable, be specific, have a completion date, be realistic and achievable. Episode outline: 1) Our cheese moved in 2020, 2) What is your Big Goal for 2021, 3) Progress over perfection, and 4) Have a resilience plan. Please connect with me on: 1. Instagram: stephen.mclain 2. Twitter: smclainiii 3. Facebook: stephenmclainconsultant 4. LinkedIn: stephenjmcla...

Send us Fan Mail This upcoming week is New Year’s Day. The New Year gives us a great opportunity to start over, to start fresh. To begin anew. The New Year provides us the chance to address our goals, but never New Year’s resolutions. Resolutions are fleeting thoughts of impossibilities because they are not rooted in a plan or reality. A goal has a plan. A goal is measurable, its specific, it has a completion date, and it is written down. A goal has realistic planning around it. Here i...

Send us Fan Mail Hope has always been my most significant way of moving forward, dealing with adversity, and becoming more resilient. Hope is what keeps me going. I know that tomorrow and next week will be better. No matter what happens to me today….tomorrow is better. Today is already here….tomorrow will give me relief. Tomorrow is where I reside and see the great possibilities. You can download the Leadership Growth Blueprint for Finance and Accounting Managers here. You can use this guid...

Send us Fan Mail Episode # 35: A spreadsheet can be an amazing tool to analyze data or create a report, when planned out and organized properly. Our spreadsheet files should be simple and easy to use by all members of our team. Leaders should set expectations on how analyst tools should be created and maintained by their teams. Let’s create analyst tools that deliver what we need, but also easy to use, easy to understand, and easy to maintain. Episode outline: What is the purpose of the spr...

Send us Fan Mail Episode #34: Strategy is often a set of tough choices of what to do and what not to do with the limited resources you have. Your strategy includes your target market, your product and service offerings, the business structure, how resources are allocated, and how you will transform the business. As finance and accounting professionals, we need to do our best in supporting and help to develop the best strategy. We have access to data and information to assist us. Episode outl...

Send us Fan Mail Bonus episode #14: Adapting to a People Focused Leadership style will create a dynamic environment where you develop and empower your team instead of only trying to complete items off your to-do list. There are three significant reasons to change your leadership style from being Task Focused to Becoming People Focused: 1) You can not do the work alone - you need a well developed team, 2) Productivity, effectiveness will increase as your team feels more appreciated and...

Send us Fan Mail Episode # 33: Why do teams fail? Often, leaders don't realize their teams or organizations are failing due to complacency. It's not usually the product or service line that has caused the failure, but actually ineffective communication or a lack of trust. It takes great leadership to turn around failing teams. Episode outline: It starts with us,Determine what the real problem is,Creating a shared purpose, set of values, and standards, and,Build trust. Please connect with m...