Independent Banker - March 2023 - 27

PORTFOLIO LEADERSHIP AT ALL LEVELS
7 ideas for cultivating inspiration
By Lindsay LaNore, ICBA
project, invite them to take a break,
pose a fun question to the group
or play a quick game. Fostering
camaraderie cultivates a stronger
team. Colleagues who are invested
in each other will look forward to
working together.
5. Make motivation a topic. Adopt
" Motivation Monday " and ask the
team to talk about what motivates
them. Ask them how they find
inspiration personally. This can
give leaders and fellow colleagues
a beneficial understanding of what
each employee values.
he theme for ICBA LIVE 2023 is " Light the Fire. Light the Way. " As leaders,
that's a huge part of what we do: spark enthusiasm, encourage creativity
and guide our teams on the paths to success. But inspiration doesn't always
happen spontaneously, or even daily, so it's incumbent upon us to develop
strategies and create environments that inspire and motivate our teams, all
while making sure we stay inspired ourselves.
Here are some great tools for cultivating inspiration.
resource to remind us of the dreams
(big or small) that we have, and
that reminder can jump-start the
enthusiasm needed to begin or
continue a task.
2. Don't forget to dream. This idea
is inspired by the book The Dream
Manager by Matthew Kelly, and it's
a powerful message to share with
your team. Encourage everyone to
start a dream book, to write down
their dreams (both professional and
personal), and to dream without
limits. The book can serve as a
3. Focus on strengths. Lean into
your employees' strengths and
talents, and they'll feel naturally
more authentic and empowered.
Cultivating a strengths-based
environment increases creativity
and productivity.
4. Focus on team bonding. On
average, a full-time employee
spends 40 hours a week working
with the same people. Don't
underestimate the value of teambuilding
exercises to bring them
together. If they're in the thick of a
T
1. Remove limitations. Sometimes
a project or task seems, on its
face, to have restrictions. But we
can often remove those perceived
limitations, be experimental and
think outside the box. Yes, this
could result in a few errors, but it
might also generate successful new
ideas or strategies. Let your team
know that it's OK to fail.
6. Let people do their jobs. No
one wants to be micromanaged.
Allow for autonomy where
possible and be clear in your
words so that employees know
they are empowered to do their
job. It shows a level of trust and
respect, which generally leads to
higher job satisfaction and greater
productivity.
7. Show appreciation. We've said
this before, but leaders must show
appreciation for the work their
team is doing. It goes a long way.
But above all, remember that
employees are individuals. What
inspires or motivates one may not be
as powerful for another. So, tailor your
tactics to suit both your team and the
individuals within it.
Lindsay LaNore (lindsay.lanore@
icba.org) is ICBA's group executive
vice president and chief learning
and experience officer
independentbanker.org // 27
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Independent Banker - March 2023

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