Pub. 4 2015 Issue 8

l e a d i n g a d v o c a t e f o r t h e b a n k i n g i n d u s t r y i n k a n s a s 14 BANK LEADERS OF KANSAS BLOK SESSION IV—MAXIMIZING TEAM RESULTS T he final BLOK session is held in conjunction with the Jim Maag Golf Scramble at The Firekeeper Golf Course in Mayetta. Following a day of golf or managing a fundraising challenge on hole #7, the class gathered in Holton for an evening of networking and entertainment. The local band Cross Roads played classic and contemporary country music for the BLOK class as well as several BLOK alumni. They were joined for various acts by members of the KBA staff and KBA Chairman Bob Leftwich. There was a surprise saxophone accompaniment by fellow BLOK class member, Travis Thompson that drew energetic applause from his class mates. It was apparent that the class had bonded and built friendships through the BLOK experience. First thing the following morning, KBA Chairman Bob Leftwich led a session on leadership. He encouraged the 2015 BLOK class to recognize that the culmination of their BLOK training experience is only the beginning and he challenged the 19-member class to seek leadership opportunities within the KBA, within their banks and their communities. In BLOK session I the class was divided into groups and each group was given a specific leadership book to read. The books assigned this year were: The 5 Levels of Leadership by John Maxwell; The 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player by John Maxwell; The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni; Leadership and Self-Deception by the Arbinger Institute; and Crucial Conversations by Patterson, et. al. The groups had to develop a book report presentation to be presented in BLOK session IV. The reports were excellent and involved various demonstrations including skits. Ted Garnett, Performance Resources Consulting, LLC, led an intense session on leadership and execution. Garnett shared that banks today need more than a list of services and a traditional marketing plan. Banks need their employees to buy into the bank “brand” so they will in turn encourage customers and potential customers to buy into the bank’s brand as well. Garnett stressed that in today’s competitive marketplace, it’s not enough to just provide good service; bankers need to develop customer loyalty to the organization and that starts with the loyalty of every single bank employee from the President/CEO to frontline staff. If a bank’s workforce isn’t bought into the bank’s brand, then there’s little chance of seeing the organization grow.” The class will gather one last time at the 2016 Public Affairs Conference to formally graduate from the leadership program. Travis Thompson, Farmers Bank & Trust, Larned, was the big surprise of the evening as he debuted his talent on the saxophone. Ted Garnett discusses accountability and execution in leadership. Brad Zimmerman, Bucklin National Bank branch GNB and Barbara Christ, Arvest Bank, Overland Park, pause for a photo during the evening out in Holton. Book reports were a slam dunk for this class. Pictured left to right are Sam Pepper, Equity Bank, Wichita; Sara Girard, Central National Bank, Topeka and Kim Hesting, Guaranty State Bank & Trust Co., Beloit.