Independent Banker - May 2022 - 7

FROM THE TOP
" Focusing on the 'whys' helps
employees see how decisions fit
together in a perfect puzzle for
high-performing success, and it
motivates them to be contributors
to that success. "
Brad M. Bolton
Chairman, ICBA
As a leader, you too are an educator.
Brad M. Bolton is president and
CEO of Community Spirit Bank in
Red Bay, Ala.
n community banking, we're not
ones to rest on our laurels. We're
always raising the bar for ourselves,
our teams and our communities to
ensure we provide the best possible
services to our customers. It's in our
nature to be overachievers, exceeding
our customers' expectations, so we
continually grow to meet their needs
in new ways.
I
And ongoing education is an
integral part of our ability to do
just that.
I am a firm believer in education.
My dad went to banking school, and
I was given the opportunity when
the time came. It set the tone for my
priorities as a bank leader. Beyond
a business emphasis on capital
adequacy, asset quality, management,
earnings, liquidity and sensitivity
(CAMELS), we have focused on
building team knowledge. That's
because it's our philosophy that the
more expertise we have in house, the
better our bank will perform.
My top three
Great leadership drives
great performance, so in
the spirit of continuous
learning, the following are my top
reads for that wisdom:
1. Book of Proverbs
2. The 360-Degree Leader,
John Maxwell
3. Good to Great, Jim Collins
Connect with Brad @BradMBolton
Teaching the " why " behind a decision
is as important as making the decision
itself. Telling people why it matters
and how it affects other aspects of
your community bank signals where
the bank's priorities lie and how it
supports its overall vision. Focusing
on the " whys " helps employees
see how decisions fit together in a
perfect puzzle for high-performing
success, and it motivates them to be
contributors to that success.
I love the saying, " If you give a man
a fish, you will feed him for a day; if
you teach him how to fish, you will
feed him for a lifetime, " because that's
exactly what we do at ICBA. Through
ICBA LIVE, LEAD FWD, certification
programs, webinars and a host of
other knowledge-based activities, we
don't just show your teams how to be
better bankers. We teach them.
Having served on the Education
Committee for several years and
on the Certification Board for a few
terms, I can attest to ICBA's strong
investment in future leaders. Sending
your teams to these events makes
them better educated and engaged
employees. In turn, these employees
will work even harder to take care
of your customers, ultimately
strengthening your bank's standing
and performance.
Overall, what defines a leader is
how many future leaders they are
nurturing. You want your teams to
think not like employees but like coowners
of your bank's successes. So,
as we read about the top-performing
community banks in this month's
issue, let's not only look to their
statistics but to the people behind
them. Because when it comes to
performance, it's the people who
make the bank. 
independentbanker.org Q 7
Photo by Chris Williams
http://www.independentbanker.org
Independent Banker - May 2022

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