Pub. 6 2017 Issue 8

December 2017 9 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 the basic operations of the business. This is true with health care, law enforcement, airlines, the military, engineering—and banking. Connect the dots every day. There are plenty of pundits calling out the power of “why” in managing change; and with good reason. When I understand our motive, I can use judgment; I can adapt; I can experience accomplishment. Switched-on bankers get this—intellectually—but very few focus on identifying, communicating, and reinforcing these messages; every, single, day. One CEO recently told me, “My biggest lesson was realizing that just because you say it—it doesn’t mean people get it.” The key for leadership is clearly stating what differentiates your bank from everyone else. Keep that message clear and simple. Share it with everyone; the Board, employees, partners, vendors, and customers. And stay on that message every single day. Connect your people. As a strategic planner I can tell you with great confidence that you will accomplish nothing unless you embrace the root level interdependence that drives every effort in the digital age. Silos are no longer just inefficient, they are actively dangerous and create potentially catastrophic blind spots that can lead to security lapses and systemwide failures. Who should be on the team? Ops, IT, HR, Marketing, Lending? Yes. Really smart leaders realize this and (also) benefit from the performance excellence that shows up because humans do just about everything better when working shoulder to shoulder, sharing the same goals and values. Sue said, “I stay for my team. I feel accountable to them first.” Strategic transformation will only happen with cross departmental high- performance teams. There is no way to just “add on” five major projects, while also managing the demands of day to day business. There are plenty of tips around this idea in Slammed, but I also highly recommend General Stanley McChrystal’s book, Team of Teams —it is a powerful guide for the digital future. Dominate the basics. Connect the dots every day. Connect your people. As Navy SEAL Commodore Steve Ahlberg is fond of saying, “Sounds simple, and it is. But simple doesn’t mean easy.” Here’s the deal, this is not just a way to get a little better. These basic ideas are critical to your professional viability in this digital world. But, you know, no pressure. Randy Harrington will be a featured speaker at KBA’s 2018 Bank Technology Conference & Showcase on February 12-13 at the Hyatt Regency in Wichita. Enroll today to learn more about how to succeed in our “too busy” world.