“The Emperor’s New Clothes” is a classic story written by Hans Christian Andersen where, in a kingdom long, long ago there existed an emperor who loved wearing fine clothes and spent a fortune on them. In his obsession to find ever higher quality clothes, the emperor is tricked by a weaver into believing that he has been sold the finest set of clothes with the thinnest cloth material ever devised. To celebrate, the emperor arranges a grand procession through his capital city so that all may look upon his greatness.

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Four-day work weeks and unlimited paid time off sounds like workplace heaven. It also sounds like a recipe for attendance and productivity disasters. When I spoke with Joyce Maroney, the executive director at the Kronos Workforce Institute, I became even more convinced that giving employees flexibility and more time to focus on their personal lives can increase productivity and engagement.

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We have been trained to make certain our debits equal credits and our facts are indeed facts. We have been taught that numbers speak louder than words and to be suspicious when the right answer isn’t completely clear. It’s no wonder finance professionals have developed a reputation of being a little late to the party and hard to communicate with.

In an age when a wish today ends up on our doorstep tomorrow where does that leave a whole industry that methodically and meticulously creates a near perfect product that is often delivered too late to create much value?

It leaves us behind. With so much change facing us in the coming months, being left behind may not be a temporary condition for your company.

Here are some steps to help CFO’s get back in front.

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As a finance leader, you’re intimately familiar with your company’s data and KPIs. But guess what? Most of your board members aren’t—and they don’t want or need that level of detail. What do they want? Like your CEO, board members are searching for trusted, strategic deputies who can provide high-level, holistic insight that helps them navigate the swirling currents of today’s business world.

Luckily, top finance executives have a great vantage point from which to fill this role.

Here are five tips to ensure you make the most of your time at the front of the room.

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CFOs are facing challenges that include expanding markets, growing sales, improving margins and reducing costs. More and more often these challenges are being addressed through the lens of digital transformation. Gartner defines digital transformation as “the process of exploiting digital technologies and supporting capabilities to create a robust new digital business model.”

How are you positioned to lead digital transformation at your company?

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