Pub. 7 2018 Issue 3

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 6 TRI-STATE LEADERSHIP AND HR CONFERENCE SCORES IN OVERLAND PARK T he 19th Annual Tri-state Leadership and HR Conference, co-sponsored by the Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri Bankers Associations, drew a near-record crowd in Overland Park on March 27-28. Bankers from all three states participated in the conference to hone their leadership skills and learn techniques to better manage our most valuable resource…people. Jackson Hataway, a bank consultant with Strategic Arts & Sciences, kicked things off with a leading edge presentation on making the leap from high performing people on high performing teams to becoming a high performing bank. Using personal experiences and examples, Jackson demonstrated how important it is that leaders deliver an ability to “get things done” that can drive our banks to new levels of performance and service. What is a high performing team? Jackson explained how the best teams are iterative in their approach to problem solving and they share what they learn with others. They must think creatively and differently about how to solve problems using limited resources. In order to be successful, organizations must create a culture and systems that encourage this. Participants had the opportunity to attend two out of three breakout sessions on the following topics: Managing Multiple Priorities, presented by Lisa Carver; Best Practices in Cross-team Communication, presented by Hataway; and Engaging and Retaining Talent with Karen Shannon. The afternoon featured a unique panel of individuals known as M & M’s: Management and Millennials. The group of four, who happened to be two sets of Father-Daughter duos, shared their perspectives on the co-mingling of different generations in the workplace and how they can learn to work together toward a common goal. Karen Shannon, facilitator, challenged the panel members with various scenarios that resulted in different viewpoints and ways of handling problems. Day one concluded with an “attitude checkup” by Lisa Carver, Moxie Consulting. Is your cup half full or half empty? The lens through which you view the world determines whether you set goals and your ability (or inability) to reach them. Participants were introduced to new skills that use “attitude” as a proactive approach to enhancing relationships, professionalism and credibility on a daily basis. Lisa left the group with a final thought: You choose your attitude. Which do you prefer…half full or half empty? Day two featured an impressive lineup of speakers, including a special presentation by Esther George, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. President George started off by recognizing the tremendous challenges facing the banking industry from regulation to technology to the tight labor market. She also stressed that challenges can become opportunities under the right circumstances. And finally, Ms. George shared with the group lessons she has learned over the years which she tries to put into practice every day: 1) Be prepared; 2) Be flexible; 3) Be brave; 4) Be humble; and 5) Be grateful. Ann Lueth, SVP with Wisconsin-based First Bank Financial, shared her bank’s road to becoming an “employer of choice.” It’s more than just a buzzword – it is representative of a whole new design of corporate culture. It means that people will choose to work for you, dedicate themselves to your success and choose to stay with you. Ann provided the group a whole host of tested strategies that have earned her bank a “Top Place to Work Employer” for the past seven years, including her “best practices” checklist: 1) Align hiring with your culture to ensure a good fit; 2) Promote an open atmosphere that encourages employee input; 3) Offer programs that build stronger working relationships; 4) Ensure all employees have meaning and purpose in their work; and 5) Stay true to who you are and what you represent. Inspirational speaker, Holly Hoffman, closed the conference with her presentation titled “Never Give Up – the Survivor Way” based on her personal experience as a contestant on the hit reality show “Survivor.” While sharing her extraordinary story, Holly interjected lessons learned and steps to achieving your greatest potential in life. Holly’s words of wisdom focus around six things: Choose your own ATTITUDE…don’t let someone choose it for you; Believe in yourself…when CONFIDENCE goes up, competence follows; DETERMINATION is focus to the finish; DESIRE is the key to motivation; FAITH makes things possible…but not always easy; PERSEVERENCE – whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right. Holly left us with this quote by Marie Robinson...“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” THANK YOU to our 15 sponsors and exhibitors who made this conference possible with their financial support. In addition to the many prizes awarded by exhibitors, a $100 cash prize drawing was presented to each of three attendees who completed their exhibitor card: Janel Mertel, VisionBank, Topeka; Carol Nielsen, First Nebraska Bank, Valley, NE; and Kris Nelson, Citizens State Bank, Delphos, KS. Congratulations, ladies!