“From Numbers to Narratives: How Finance Leaders Become Strategic Business Partners” is a collection of articles by Vena that emphasizes the importance of behavioral and soft skills for finance leaders to become effective business partners. It highlights that beyond technical expertise, finance professionals need to develop strong interpersonal skills to build trust, influence, and drive organizational success.

You can read full articles on Vena Solution website (1, 2, 3) or download the PDF version from NeoForm’s LinkedIn page.

Below is a detailed summary of the key points:

1. Relationship Building and Empathy

• Trust and Empathy: Good leadership starts with trust, and empathy is crucial for building strong relationships. Empathy helps finance leaders understand others’ perspectives, fostering better communication, collaboration, and negotiation.
• Reciprocal Relationships: Strong relationships are reciprocal, meaning both parties benefit. Finance leaders should offer value, whether through expertise, mentorship, or exceptional service, to build lasting connections.
• Empathy in Leadership: Empathy leads to higher employee engagement and innovation. Leaders who demonstrate empathy are more likely to inspire trust and loyalty from their teams.

2. Key Takeaways for Relationship Building and Empathy

• Understanding Others: Leaders should strive to understand different viewpoints and recognize their own blind spots. Asking for feedback helps in this process.
• Delivering on Promises: Trust is built by following through on commitments. When unable to deliver, transparency and problem-solving are essential to maintain relationships.

3. Enhancing Relationship Building and Empathy Skills

• Consider Other Perspectives: Leaders should make decisions with others’ viewpoints in mind, even if they don’t agree. This strengthens relationships and improves decision-making.
• Know Your Blind Spots: Self-awareness is key. Leaders should identify and address biases or poor habits that hinder relationship-building.
• Ask for Feedback: Regular feedback helps leaders understand how they are perceived and where they can improve.
• Deliver on Promises: Keeping commitments builds trust. When unable to deliver, leaders should be transparent and work towards alternative solutions.

4. Influence and Negotiation

• Influence vs. Authority: Influence is more powerful than authority in leadership. Finance leaders need to influence others to align with organizational goals.
• Negotiation Skills: Negotiation is essential for building consensus, especially when different parties have conflicting interests. It involves understanding others’ perspectives and finding common ground.

5. Key Takeaways for Influence and Negotiation

• Understanding and Preparation: Both influence and negotiation start with understanding others’ perspectives. Preparation is crucial for successful negotiations.
• Collaborative Approach: Negotiation and influence are not about winning but about finding solutions that benefit all parties. Emotional intelligence and flexibility are key.

6. Tips for Improving Influence and Negotiation Skills

• Come Prepared: Preparation improves negotiation outcomes. Leaders should understand the situation, the parties involved, and their goals.
• Listen Actively: Listening makes others feel valued and is critical for both negotiation and influence.
• Build Relationships: Strong relationships make it easier to influence others and reach agreements.
• Avoid Emotional Reactions: Leaders should remain calm and recognize emotions in negotiations to de-escalate tension.
• Follow Through: Keeping promises and knowing when to walk away are essential for maintaining trust and credibility.

7. Communication and Storytelling

• Importance of Communication: As finance leaders take on more strategic roles, communication skills become critical. Effective communication helps leaders convey their message and build consensus.
• Storytelling: Storytelling is a powerful tool for engaging audiences and making data-driven messages more impactful. It helps finance leaders connect with stakeholders on an emotional level.

8. Key Takeaways for Communication and Storytelling

• Customize Your Message: Communication should be tailored to the audience, whether it’s the board of directors or team members.
• Authenticity: Authentic communication builds trust and creates a safe space for collaboration.
• Use Data Wisely: Data should be precise and relevant to support the narrative without overwhelming the audience.

9. Tips for Effective Communication and Storytelling

• Write a Script: Preparing a script or framework helps leaders communicate clearly and avoid missteps.
• Know Your Audience: Tailor the message to the audience’s needs and level of detail.
• Be Authentic: Honest and empathetic communication fosters trust and engagement.
• Use Data Effectively: Choose the most relevant data points to support your message without overwhelming the audience.
• Precision Matters: Ensure data accuracy to maintain credibility.

10. Conclusion

• Soft Skills Are Essential: To thrive as a finance leader and strategic business partner, developing soft skills like empathy, relationship-building, influence, negotiation, and communication is crucial.
• Continuous Improvement: Leaders should continuously seek feedback, reflect on their blind spots, and work on improving their interpersonal skills to build trust and drive organizational success.

In summary, finance leaders must go beyond technical expertise and develop strong interpersonal skills to build trust, influence others, and drive organizational success. Empathy, relationship-building, effective communication, and negotiation are key skills that enable finance leaders to become better business partners.