HONEST MEASURE - Robert Half Management Resources Survey: CFOs Cite Integrity
as Most Important Trait for Future Leaders

TORONTO, Oct. 6 /CNW/ -A strong moral compass can give high-potential managers a leg up the career ladder, a new Robert Half Management Resources survey suggests. Twenty-four per cent of chief financial officers (CFOs) interviewed said that, other than technical or functional expertise, integrity is what they look for most when grooming future leaders. Interpersonal and communication skills also ranked high, cited by 23 per cent of respondents.

The survey was developed by Robert Half Management Resources, the world's premier provider of senior-level accounting and finance professionals on a project and interim basis. It was conducted by an independent research firm and includes responses from more than 270 CFOs from a stratified random sample of Canadian companies with 20 or more employees.

CFOs were asked, "Other than technical or functional expertise, which one of the following traits do you look for most when grooming future leaders at your organisation?" Their responses:

    
    Integrity......................................... 24%
    Interpersonal/communication skills................ 23%
    Ability to motivate others........................ 20%
    Initiative........................................ 16%
    Business savvy....................................  9%
    Other/don't know..................................  7%
                                                      -----
                                                       99%*

    *Responses do not total 100 per cent due to rounding.
    

"History has shown the importance of integrity in all aspects of business -- even a single lapse in judgment by an employee could adversely impact the reputation and financial viability of a company," said David King, Canadian district president of Robert Half Management Resources. "Leaders who demonstrate integrity in every interaction are also better able to inspire their teams and create a culture of trust."

King also indicated that communication skills are essential as executives take on more responsibility. "Managers must encourage open, two-way communication with their teams, especially during challenging periods," he said. "Executives recognize the importance of listening intently to employee feedback and are continuously trying to find this skill in future leaders."

About the Survey

The national study was developed by Robert Half Management Resources. It was conducted by an independent research firm and is based on more than 270 telephone interviews with CFOs from a random sample of Canadian companies with 20 or more employees. For the study to be statistically representative and ensure that companies from all segments were represented, the sample was stratified by geographic region and number of employees. The results were then weighted to reflect the proper proportion of employees within each region.

About Robert Half Management Resources

Robert Half Management Resources is the premier provider of senior-level accounting and finance professionals to supplement companies' project and interim staffing needs. The company has more than 145 locations worldwide and offers online job search services at www.roberthalfmr.com. Follow Robert Half Management Resources at twitter.com/roberthalfmr for workplace news.

For further information: Nadia Santoli, [phone], [email protected]