How to be a better colleague

Multiple-choice questions. In order to be awarded CPD units you must answer the following five random questions correctly. If you fail the test, please reread the article before attempting the questions again.

What differentiates professionals in the workplace?

Possession of advanced tech skills

How they contribute to the team environment

Working independently

Speed and efficiency

According to the article, which abilities are highly sought by hiring managers?

Communication

Building trust and being authentic

Networking

Leadership

What is the danger of excessive overtime within teams?

It reduces the quality of technical work

It can escalate

It affects morale

It creates unrealistic expectations for others

What does being a good colleague NOT mean?

Building relationships

Saying yes to everything

Offering support

Understanding workloads

Why are interpersonal skills becoming increasingly valuable in finance teams?

Regulations require more communication training

Finance functions are becoming more strategic and collaborative

Finance professionals are working with a wider range of stakeholders

Technical accounting skills are less necessary

What is necessary when working with colleagues who have different personalities and working styles?

Persuading them to your point of view using empathy

Accepting differences and learning how to work together

Supporting them with their responsibilities

Trying to find a solution before reporting weaknesses to management

Why is setting boundaries important in high-pressure environments?

It helps prevent burnout and team friction caused by overcommitment

It reduces the need for collaboration

It encourages employees to work independently

It maximises team efficiency

What makes feedback most effective in improving team performance?

The sharing of 360-degree feedback with the whole team

Matching it to the wider team objectives

A focus on the individual rather than the work

Clear and timely comments focused on the work itself

In remote and hybrid working environments, why is intentional communication particularly important?

Because finance teams are finding it harder to collaborate in person

Because employees are more easily distracted

Because tone, timing and visibility of progress can easily be misunderstood

Because of the deluge of online meetings

What additional challenge do data-driven finance functions create for professionals?

The need to turn complex data into commercial insight for non-specialists

There is less opportunity for personal interaction

There is a greater focus on data crunching

There is less time available for data experts to develop soft skills

1 unit