Independent Banker - November 2023 - 28

PORTFOLIO LEADERSHIP AT ALL LEVELS
¡ Studies show that when we
anticipate something, we tend to
focus on the positive aspects and
ignore the negative ones. That
isn't always a good thing, but a
positive way of thinking does have
considerable benefits for a team
and leader, not least in terms
of morale.
Anticipation should be part of any
planning process and any strategy
discussion, but how can you channel
your skills into anticipation?
1. Look for cues in nonverbal
language such as facial
expressions.
Relishing anticipation
By Lindsay LaNore, ICBA
here's something about this time
of year. The changing of the
seasons, the anticipation of time spent
with family and friends, the chance
to pause and create memories. And
when it comes to making positive
changes, the end of the calendar
year is also approaching, bringing
with it resolutions. If you want to
leave something behind, it's a good
time to look to the new year and
new opportunities.
It's all about anticipation, a word
that has multiple meanings. MerriamWebster
defines it as " a prior action
that takes into account or forestalls a
later action; the act of looking forward;
visualization of a future event or state. "
It's all those things, and many roles
at the bank have a natural connection
to the act of anticipation: customer
T
service, business development and risk
management, for instance.
But there's more to anticipation
than planning ahead. For a leader,
anticipation can be a powerful skill
to use as you navigate different
situations, discussions or projects.
It's not always a skill we leverage, but
being able to anticipate a response,
reaction or need has many benefits.
¡ Anticipating a future need allows
us to make the sale or meet
a customer's needs before a
competitor does.
¡ It demonstrates to teammates and
colleagues that you're thinking
about the full picture and what may
come of a situation or discussion.
¡ Looking forward can help defuse
a problematic situation before it
becomes negative or hostile.
2. Listen to the exact words that
others share. Silence can be your
friend if you give others the space
to speak, but only do so if your goal
is to listen and then respond.
3. Ask questions. Learn the thoughts
of the team members involved in
the process or decision.
4. Stop and pause. Give yourself
time and space to think about the
scenario.
5. Run through the " what ifs. "
If you do anticipate a certain
response or reaction, act before
things get out of hand. This allows
for goals to be reached earlier and
results in increased satisfaction from
those involved.
As the upcoming holiday season
reminds us, there's a lot of beauty
and optimism in anticipating the
future. In fact, for many, the act of
anticipation is almost more fun than
the actual event. So, tap into that
feeling-and keep looking forward!
Lindsay LaNore (lindsay.lanore@
icba.org) is ICBA's senior
executive vice president and chief
learning and experience officer
28 // ICBA Independent Banker // November 2023
Illustration by Jozefmicic/Adobe
Independent Banker - November 2023

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