Independent Banker - August 2021 - 20

PORTFOLIO LEADERSHIP AT ALL LEVELS
The power of " I don't know "
By Lindsay LaNore, ICBA
n the fast-moving world of social
messaging, the phrase " I don't
know " has its own abbreviation. The
very existence of " IDK " suggests that
the state of not knowing-and being
willing to admit it-is an essential part
of being human.
Having said that, " I don't know "
isn't something we, as leaders,
necessarily want to say out loud.
That's especially true when we've
reached a certain milestone in our
careers or are managing self-imposed
expectations. But if you think not
having answers makes you vulnerable
and open to criticism, think again. It
may be part of the secret sauce that
can make you an even greater leader.
How can you overcome a reluctance
to say you don't know something?
Start by changing how
you look at learning
Remind yourself that you can't know
everything about the business, even
if you are deemed an expert in your
I
fi eld. A gut check every now and then
is critical to keeping your learning
gauge at the right level. In short,
great leaders must stay curious and
embrace learning.
Face your insecurities
and set your pride aside
If the past year has taught us
anything, it is that nothing is
guaranteed, and life's unpredictable
twists and turns require us to pivot,
adapt and traverse new situations.
COVID-19 forced community bankers
to learn new things overnight, such
as how to navigate working remotely,
how to serve a customer population
by appointment or through the
drive-through, and how to adopt new
technologies to communicate and
deliver services.
Acknowledge that
you have room to grow
It can actually make you feel more
alive. Ask questions and stay
inquisitive. The simple act of
saying " I don't know " can lead to
new discoveries and new thinking.
And that, in turn, leads to growth.
It also means you are setting a
good example for your team. Use
the phrase as an opportunity to
model curiosity and learning.
Be a champion of learning for
your community bank. If a leader
champions learning, it can drive
engagement across the whole
organization. This leads to higher
productivity, plus a stronger sense
of happiness among employees.
The benefi ts of embracing
" I don't know " are plentiful. It
prevents us from making mistakes
and going down the wrong path.
The phrase invites feedback
from colleagues and promotes
collaboration. Plus, it gives us
permission to shift direction
rapidly, if needed, and that can be
very exciting.
The unintended-and
unfortunate-result of never
admitting to our knowledge gaps
can be that we stop being curious,
stop upgrading our skill sets and
stop learning new things. And that
is never a good thing.
Remember: Every time you say
" I don't know, " it's another chance
to learn. 
Lindsay LaNore (lindsay.lanore@
icba.org) is ICBA's group executive
vice president and chief learning
and experience off icer
20 Q ICBA Independent Banker Q August 2021
Independent Banker - August 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Independent Banker - August 2021
