Course Description

Synopsis:

This course is designed to provide CFOs / CFOs-to-be with actionable insights and strategies to enhance their communication skills in alignment with their leadership roles. The course aims to equip CFOs with tools to communicate effectively with stakeholders, manage crises, and influence organisational outcomes.

Learning Outcomes:

1. At the end of the module, participants will be able to:
2. Understand the changing expectations and responsibilities of CFOs in communication and in building stakeholder trust and organisational alignment
3. Adapt their messages for different stakeholder groups to maximise impact
4. Deploy communication strategies to engage employees during periods of change.
5. Appreciate cross-cultural communication differences that may pose challenges for CFOs operating in increasingly globalised and multinational settings.

Topics:

Section 1: The Evolving Role of Communication for CFOs

Objective: This section is aimed at setting the stage for CFOs to understand how their roles have shifted from number crunching to strategic partnerships. The section will discuss the changing expectations and responsibilities of CFOs in communication and their role in building stakeholder trust and organisational alignment.

Section 2: Stakeholder-Centric Messaging

Objective: In their line of work, CFOs often deal with intricate and complex financial information which may not be easily understood by non-financial audiences / recipients. This section aims at helping CFOs develop awareness on the importance of stakeholder-centric messaging and how they can tailor their messages for different stakeholder groups to maximise impact.

Section 3: Building Trust in CFOs’ Communication

Objective: How do CFOs build trust with their stakeholders especially during crises and uncertain times? This section aims to examine the role transparency, open communication and consistency play in fostering trust among stakeholders.

Section 4: Handling Difficult Conversations as a CFO

Objective: This section is aimed at equipping CFOs with navigating sensitive or high-stakes conversations while fostering collaboration (e.g. addressing underperformance, negotiating priorities).

Section 5: Leading Organisational Change Through Communication

Objective: This section examines the role of CFOs in change management (e.g. mergers, restructuring), and explores communication strategies for engaging employees during periods of change.

Section 6: Navigating Global and Cross-Cultural Communication Challenges

Objective: The section serves as a wrap by addressing some cross-cultural communication differences that may pose challenges for CFOs as they operate in increasingly globalised and multinational settings.