Becoming a Contract Controller

Chapter 6Hired Gun Skills—Part 1

“The trouble with being a leader in a dysfunctional company is that you can’t tell if the employees are following you or chasing you.”

Ron Rael, Leadership Coach

Introduction

After completing this chapter you should be able to

• Apply the skill of focus to be more productive.

• Increase your ability to lead by articulating your vision and creating opportunities for others.

• Enhance accountability, including your own.

• Improve how you communicate.

• Name and strengthen the three Controller’s Building Blocks.

• Get results from better priority management.

Daily Skill Set that Benefits the Client

In this chapter, we will concentrate on four specific skills that a part-time and contract Controller will need to be successful. While the technical, number crunching, and analytical skills are very important, we will assume you already have them. This particular skill set has both a technical and a softer side. For example, leadership includes accountability, communication, creating opportunities, and visioning.

Yet, to help the clients you serve, you often need to combine your financial acumen with your leadership abilities. It is a rare project where a Hired Gun can devote every client hour to number crunching or spreadsheet building. You will be involved with people and working with people to get things accomplished 99 percent of the time. Please do not dismiss the importance of these four valuable skills.

Special Skills the Hired Gun Uses Daily

The four special ...