Western Independent Banker - May/June 2009 - (Page 30)

If you invest in a regular lawnmower you may not consider it a big enough investment to take care of it regularly. But if you invest in a $300K one-of-a-kind lawnmower, I bet you would wipe it with a diaper after each use. This philosophy is all in your mind, not in your wallet. Output and profit are important to stay in business, but staying power is more important and it takes commitment to maintain. When you invest in human capital you create a legacy – that’s your real reward. You create and grow a family. It is about people, not just profits. You’ll become richer than any Profit-and-Loss statement can ever show. Profits are the beautiful lawn you’ll have from the hard work of you and your lawnmower. Treat it like you invested a lot, because you have. Think of your job outside the realm of yourself and the company. Everyone has different reasons for doing things. Not everyone is working because they want to make a million dollars. Most people work because they have to – they have bills to pay or families to feed. These disparities in work ethics and values can greatly impact how you do business. It’s important to discover why your people are working in the first place. For instance, if someone says they’re in a job because they love money, is that bad? Not really. Money lovers are not evil people. You should also understand that people don’t love money; they love what it does for them. You need to find out why they love money. To find out what makes your people happy at work you must find out what At Labhart Miles, we help community bankers increase net interest margin and build customer loyalty. ◗ California EZ Net Interest Deduction– permanent, immediate savings to your bottom line ◗ California EZ Hiring Credits for banks and your customers ◗ Reviews of multi-state tax filing requirements to ensure proper compliance Bill Labhart Monika Miles Contact us today for a free diagnostic. 3150 Almaden Expressway Suite 203 San Jose, CA 95118 makes them happy in life. Engage in dialog to discover what triggers their happiness. “What makes you happy?” “Why does it make you feel this way?” “Would you like to feel this way each day?” Is this really your job? Of course it is. You’re a leader and that’s what leaders do. What does your job do for people? If you are in the mortgage industry you don’t just do mortgages, you help people reach their dreams of owning a home. If you work at an airport you are moving the economy by helping business people reach their destinations to stimulate the growth in our country. If you’re a teacher, don’t forget you are impacting the future of many children who will never forget you. Is this idealism? I would challenge you to look deeper into this philosophy. Every small action will affect others. If you and your people are focused on the real reason you’re in business, you will quickly see how this changes how you operate. The real reward is not just profits; it’s about doing what’s right. It’s about people. Your people. Start today by asking yourself, “Why am I here?” Then ask that same question to your people. Find ways to create memorable experiences with your people. Involve them in active dialog to discover ways to impact your customers’ lives in everyday transactions. It is so easy. You’ll be amazed at the results. Brian Parsley is an advisory council member for Customer Feedback Systems LP in Charlotte, N.C. He can be reached at 704-226-8245 and brian@parsley.us 408.266.2259 www.labhartmiles.com S t a t e Ta x S o l u t i o n s through the professional delivery of sophisticated, cost-effective services with attentive, personalized service. From cash management, international services, cash letter presentment, treasury, investment products and credit, to custody and trust services, Bank of the West has the resources to meet your banking needs. The second largest commercial bank (by assets) in California, Bank of the West ranks among the best-capitalized institutions in the industry. Active in correspondent banking throughout the West, we are large enough to offer sophisticated solutions, yet small enough to meet your correspondent banking needs with unmatched service quality. [ BANK OF THE WEST ] Bank of the West is committed to meeting the specialized needs of ﬁnancial institutions JIM KENNEDY Executive Vice President (415) 399-8267 www.bankofthewest.com © 2008 Bank of the West. Member FDIC. 30 www.wib.org Western Independent Banker http://www.labhartmiles.com http://www.bankofthewest.com http://www.nationwidecompliance.com http://www.wib.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Western Independent Banker - May/June 2009

Western Independent Banker - May/June 2009 Contents A Message from the Chairman How to Keep Employees Happy … On a Shoestring Budget Keeping Good Employees in Today’s Marketplace Asset Appreciation: Front Line Employees Hold the Secret to Balancing Customer Loyalty and Profitability Great Places to Work – WIB Member Banks Why Real, Live Bankers Still Matter Getting the Best Results from an Executive Search Best Practices in Lender Incentive Programs The Enlightened Control Freak: How to Lead So Your Team Will Love, Follow and Work Like Crazy for You Even in These Wild and Tough Economic Times The Frightened Leader Don’t Train – Educate! WIB Service Corporation Report WIB Calendar New Members Advertiser.com Index of Advertisers

Western Independent Banker - May/June 2009

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.