Amid the changes in the market nowadays, finance leaders are often caught in a balancing act between both financial management skills and inspirational leadership.
According to a guide by Oracle NetSuite, chief financial officers are now faced with the evolving role as a Relational Leader—someone who builds trust-based relationships that drive business performance.
These, amid an environment where cross-functional teams, digital communication, and changing workplace expectations have redefined traditional hierarchies, mean it is no longer about managing numbers in isolation but about embedding finance at the heart of the organisation’s relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.
Being a Relational Leader, according to the guide, is not just for senior executives, but rather a mindset that must be embraced across the finance team.
The Relational Leader’s value proposition centres on creating superior experiences for others, and driving performance through collaboration, empathy, and trust.
These leaders foster “relational capital”—the unique value created by people working together toward common goals.
By investing in relationships, CFOs help build an organisation that can withstand competitive pressures and adapt to the ever-changing business landscape
