Prioritize Leadership. Propel Your Career.

By Lindsay LaNore

Day-to-day issues eat strategy for breakfast. This rings true for nearly all industries, including community banking. Think about your day at the bank. No, really think about the number of “fires” you’ve put out, the number of interruptions, and how often you’ve thought to yourself, “I really wish I had time to tackle my to-do list.” 

The reality is that your “to-do list” is always going to be there as will those unexpected tasks that take you off course. But if you never give yourself permission to focus on your leadership and strategic skills, you may find it challenging to propel your career and your bank to the next level.

If you find a moment to think without being overcome by everyday operations or events, do you give yourself the opportunity to think about how you can grow in your role at the bank? Do you think about how you can maximize your actions to positively impact those around you?

By stopping to focus on our own leadership, we generate the needed grit and creativity to lead forward. If it seems like a challenge to you, accept it. If you already feel confident in your leadership skills, continue to fine-tune them and pass along that knowledge to others. If you’re looking for ways to refine your leadership skills, consider inside and outside sources for support.

The ICBA LEAD FWD Summit Sept. 17-18th in Louisville, Ky., is a great resource for fostering the next generation of community bank leaders by focusing on professional development to ensure our industry’s continued vitality and help move your bank forward. 

Attendees will:

• explore strategies for improved bank performance and maximum ROI,
• expand their network through interaction with colleagues and industry experts, and
• challenge conventional ways of doing business to turn obstacles into opportunities.

Take the opportunity to stop, notice the world evolving around you, and push your own leadership beyond the traditional boundaries. This effort creates contagious motivation to those around you and everyone’s energy lights up the bank!

Join the conversation on social media every Friday as we celebrate #LEADFWD Friday with our favorite leadership quotes, tips and advice.

Learn more about the 2018 LEAD FWD Summit. 

Lindsay LaNore is group executive vice president of ICBA's Community Banker University.