Our CFO is highly capable and has been with us for years, but she refuses to use our newly implemented AI cash flow forecasting tool because she prefers her manual spreadsheets. How do we handle this GWC™ conflict as we prepare for an exit?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Preparing for an exit requires clean, real-time, and scalable financial data, which manual spreadsheets cannot reliably provide. If your CFO refuses to adopt modern, automated systems, you have a GWC™ issue that must be addressed immediately. While she clearly gets the finance function, she does not want or have the capacity to operate the modern, automated workflows that your business requires to scale and pass due diligence. First, you must have an honest, objective conversation outside of your daily routine. Explain that the roles of the CFO seat on your Accountability Chart have evolved. The seat now requires driving financial efficiency through automated forecasting to eliminate key-person risk for potential buyers. Ask her directly if she is willing and able to GWC™ this updated seat. If she resists because she is intimidated by the technology, offer training and support. However, if she simply refuses to adapt and prefers the old manual ways, she is no longer in the Right Seat. You cannot compromise your exit readiness to accommodate a leader who refuses to evolve. If she cannot GWC™ the modern seat, you must begin looking for a successor who can, perhaps transitioning her to a specialized advisory role.