CSMFO Pre-Conference Session B

JAMES RUSSELL-FIELD, CHAIR, COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE

The Leader in All of Us: Leadership in the Next Normal

The COVID-19 pandemic marked a drastic shift in how everyone approaches day-to-day tasks in their personal and professional lives. What was once “routine” seems to have been completely upended. With all these changes, everyone looks to leaders to provide guidance and direction. But how can leadership keep up with the changes and ensure they are providing the proper support to their teams? CSMFO Conference training veteran Phil Bertolini presented Pre-Conference Session B, “The Leader in All of Us: Leadership in the Next Normal” to provide some guided reflection and tips on how to handle leadership in the new normal. Phil opened the presentation with an important statement, “Now more than ever, finance officers must be good leaders to ensure that government functions at the highest level possible for the people they serve. The pandemic changed government forever and leadership must adapt for the future.” What a fantastic opening! Everyone can relate to the changes we have experienced over the last year, but how can we adapt as leaders? Especially in an era where leaders are not only expected to do “more with less,” but sometimes “less with less.” Phil framed his presentation around the “WHYs.” The “WHYs” are an exercise to reflect on day-today activities, and ensure they are connected to the bigger picture. For leadership, the “WHYs” included empowering staff, mentoring people, and guiding the team. For government, “WHYs” included to provide, serve, and help. It is important for leaders to stop and ask, “why are we doing this” and make sure work activities have a purpose tied to the “WHYs.” However, it is even more important to connect the “WHYs” and efficiently communicate them to teams and the community. When it comes to change, being able to tell a story based around the “WHYs” can help staff and the community get to “yes” instead of an immediate “no.” The session included a robust discussion on remote work. Specifically, remote work is the future. When it comes to remote work, Phil emphasized leaders should understand the “big three.” Leaders first need to understand people, and if they have the right people and facilities for remote work, as well as a way to hold people accountable. Next, leaders need to understand the process. Leaders should reflect if they have the right project management, time policies, and a method for people to report in for remote work. Finally, leaders need to understand technology. This includes making sure everyone has the right network, hardware, communication and collaboration technologies, proper cybersecurity, and digital access for remote work. Understanding the “big three” will help leaders set their staff and agencies on a path to success. The session ended with five key takeaways: 1.Leaders must be many things for the team. 2.Telling a great story is everything. 3.Remote work is the ‘next’ normal. 4.People, process, and technology are the big three! 5.You must understand your WHYs. Reflecting on the session, Phil shared that “Leadership in this new world will require increased awareness of the team and their needs especially in the new hybrid remote workplace. The new leader is live in their team’s living room with kids and pets in the background. You cannot simply pop in to their workstation physically so you must communicate clearly and often to ensure success or the team will struggle to understand their WHY for what they do. Leadership is harder today so be ready to listen, learn, and engage, your team needs you!” Thank you for the CSMFO Program Committee and Phil Bertolini for a fantastic pre-conference session!

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Special thanks to CSMFO for bringing us all together virtually. We wish we could have had the opportunity to visit with you in person. We hope you, your family, friends and colleagues weathered the storm of 2020 and that we will be able to connect with you sometime this year.

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