Finance chiefs at growth-focused companies have a momentous opportunity today to evolve from number crunchers to strategic leaders shaping the business’s future. But many CFOs struggle to shift mindsets, enhance executive presence, and apply their financial acumen more broadly. Without the right training, companies miss out on invaluable guidance from their finance experts.
As a FocalPoint business coach with extensive experience empowering CFOs and financial executives, I help unlock strategic leadership capabilities through personalized one-on-one coaching. Here are some of the ways I work to help CFOs transform into multifaceted leaders delivering immense value:
Develop a Strategic Money Mindset
Traditionally trained CFOs tend to approach decisions reactively – how can we offset costs and risks to meet quarterly budgets? I coach CFOs to become more creative and future-focused when assessing financial outlays. Rather than just mitigating risks, how can investments drive long-term growth?
For example, I encouraged one Libertyville client’s CFO to view R&D spending through a lens of accelerating innovation momentum rather than merely containing expenses. This shifted budgets from defensive to offensive positioning.
With big-picture vision grounded in financial rigor, CFOs can powerfully shape an organization’s strategic horizons. They evolve into partners identifying where resources should be deployed for maximum impact.
Master Executive Presence and Gravity
Many CFOs struggle to project confidence and authority when presenting to influential executives and Board members. Their technical mastery doesn’t automatically convey gravitas.
Through coaching on voice modulation, body language, and storytelling, I help CFOs strengthen their executive presence both internally and representing the company externally. We practice high-stakes presentations and speeches until they inspire belief in the future vision.
At a Libertyville tech firm, for example, I helped the CFO improve his public speaking skills to better communicate growth plans to investors and analysts. Unlocking presence accelerates career trajectories.
Reframe Your Communication Style
Spreadsheet jargon and excessive detail can limit a CFO’s ability to connect with diverse audiences. I coach softer communication tailored to each situation, emphasizing clarity and impact.
For a client needing to inspire her team around cost optimization goals, we worked on moving from dictating directives to telling motivating stories that resonated emotionally. Reframing style helps CFOs build bonds enterprise-wide.
Anticipate Problems, Don’t React
Many CFOs have a bias toward pointing out everything that might go wrong with a given strategy. I advocate balance – maintain diligence but also anticipate creative solutions to emerging issues.
Rather than quick “no” responses, I coach CFOs to pause and consider obstacles as problems to solve. This solutions mindset helps constructively advance strategy rather than halt momentum.
Expand Your Scope
Pigeonholing CFOs into finance limits their impact on everything from operations to marketing. I encourage CFOs to share their expertise across functions, tailoring financial frameworks to help throughout the business.
For a manufacturing client, the CFO started consulting with the sales team on profitable customer segments and pricing optimization. This expanded her influence and unlocked new revenue streams.
Get Comfortable With Ambiguity
Many CFOs gravitate toward certainty and defined systems. But today’s ambiguous business environment requires leaning into unknowns. I coach CFOs on weighing risks intelligently but not letting missing data paralyze progress.
With the Libertyville tech firm, we worked through the CFO’s discomfort with projecting returns for new products without historical models to draw on. Exercising judgment despite uncertainties was empowering.
While every CFO has unique development areas, my coaching enables you to evolve from narrow specialists to strategic enterprise leaders. Unlocking potential across communication, mindset, and executive presence allows CFOs to guide companies toward the future. My name is Vibha Chawla, let’s connect to discuss how I can help you expand your impact and build leadership capabilities to match your experience.
