Free CPD: communication and influencing skills

Today, finance professionals aren’t just expected to have a strong grasp of numbers but also to be able to eloquently share their findings with senior management and use their influencing skills to help business leaders make smart decisions.

Kelly Smith, CFO at Kantar, concurs, believing that to be a successful CFO in 2024. “There is a greater expectation for you to communicate and explain the numbers in a compelling way, both internally and externally.”

In another recent ICAEW article, Why you need great influencing skills, change consultant and behavioural scientist Alex Bond Burnett explains why storytelling is a crucial skill for accountants.

She says: “Essentially, we’re all rather selfish creatures, or at least our brains are. We want to know about what’s most relevant to us, why it’s so important and how it can change things. The brain is always being influenced by outside sources and bias. So, how you frame your narrative is key.”

If you want to develop your communication skills as part of your CPD, ICAEW has a range of content on the topic, much of which is free and could contribute to your verifiable hours.

Explore our hub on communication and presentation skills for the latest articles, webinars and eBooks. In the business press area you’ll find tips on defining your personal brand and the power of storytelling for finance professionals.

You may also like to take a look at our webpages on managing meetings and negotiation skills to broaden out your learning on the topic.

Below you’ll find five recent articles on communication, influence and presenting with confidence that you can read and add to your online CPD record straight away. Just click the CPD icon at the bottom right of the page to record it (for full details watch the video below).

• Why humour is a valuable workplace tool provides simple tips to bring humour into the workplace and five ways laughter improves employee engagement, according to communication expert and comedian Neil Mullarkey.
• Awkward or challenging discussions with clients are never moments that accountants look forward to – but there are ways to make these tricky chats proactive and productive. Get advice on how to have difficult conversations with clients.
• During recent market downturns, sustainable organisations have proven particularly resilient, making them attractive prospects for investments. Here’s how to tell a good ESG story for your business.
• Want to stand out from the crowd? How to be a star of the meeting features improv skills to help break the ice, from what to say to body language.
• And if you want to make sure you stand out in a virtual room rather than a physical one, we've got practical tips on how to maximise your virtual impact.