Independent Banker - July 2023 - 26

PORTFOLIO LEADERSHIP AT ALL LEVELS
5 skills to master early
in your career
By Lindsay LaNore, ICBA
In the third part of our ongoing series offering advice to new community
bankers, we're focusing on tips for the newest of them all. What are the career
skills you need to learn in your twenties? (Pro tip: Whether you are new to your
career or a seasoned professional, it's never too late to learn these lessons!)
Here are five ideas to share with the youngest among us.
1. Get uncomfortable. If you have a
comfort zone, get out of it from time
to time and take some risks. That
doesn't mean you should be reckless,
especially in banking. Calculated
risks are worth taking, however,
and it's OK (beneficial even) to
make a few mistakes. So, try making
decisions without overthinking
them, make some yes/no decisions
based on your gut, talk to people you
don't know at events and practice
asking for things that matter to
you. The more you get out of your
comfort zone, the easier it'll feel.
2. Take feedback. Even though it
may sometimes feel like criticism,
receiving feedback with grace is an
important skill, so try not to take
it personally. When you receive
compliments, take them in. Both
constructive and complimentary
feedback enriches professional
growth, so learn to lean into it.
3. Build a brag sheet. Keep those
compliments on hand to use later
on (say, at your next performance
review or to read on days when
you need a confidence boost). Few
of us remember to collect all the
positive feedback we get, so save
complimentary emails from your
boss or colleagues, and store records
of your successes.
4. Be a mindful communicator.
One of the most underrated skills
in the workplace is listening. Be
mindful during conversations by
listening carefully to what the other
person is saying, then reflecting
their words back to them. When
you're thinking about contributing
ideas in team meetings, count
to five before speaking, to make
sure you've fully thought through
what you're about to say. The
same goes for emails. Make sure
to proofread what you've written
before sending it. An error is hard
to claw back, especially if you
hit " reply all " by mistake. When
it comes to networking, hone
your communication skills there.
Practice mindful communication
in both interpersonal and digital
connections. Reach out regularly
and share information that
your contacts may find useful.
Relationships that you built early
on could travel with you through
your career.
5. Don't compare yourself
with others. Work life can be
competitive, and social media,
which has been shown time and
again to promote unrealistic ideals,
can take a toll on all of us. Don't be
distracted by what other people say
are markers of success. Set your
own goals, make a plan to achieve
them and appreciate the positive
support from all around you.
Professional and leadership growth
isn't always easy, but joy and learning
can be found in the journey itself.
Believe in your success, navigate like
a pro and know that you can conquer
your twenties!
Lindsay LaNore (lindsay.lanore@
icba.org) is ICBA's senior
executive vice president and chief
learning and experience officer
26 // ICBA Independent Banker // July 2023
Photo by Jeff Bergen/Peopleimages.com/Adobe
Independent Banker - July 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Independent Banker - July 2023
