Independent Banker - November 2019 - 30

PORTFOLIO
Good leaders must be
comfortable with the
uncomfortable.
Leadership at All Levels
By Lindsay LaNore, ICBA
Ripping off
the Band-Aid
R
egardless of the job you do, there are times
when you realize that you've delayed starting
a task, fi nishing a project or just plain moving
ahead. It happens for so many reasons. But often,
when you sit back and look at all the scenarios
in which you have found yourself on pause, you
realize it's you that's holding you back.
If you've ever dealt with a small child with a
grazed knee, you'll know it can be hard to get them
to remove the Band-Aid, even days after they fell
off the swing. Yet, you know if you let them keep it
on for too long, the wound might fester.
Grown-ups aren't all that diff erent. The fear of
removing a metaphorical Band-Aid can stop us
from moving forward. And that hesitancy can have
a ripple eff ect on everyone around us.
Good leaders must be comfortable with the
uncomfortable. We are our own authors. If you're
30 Q ICBA Independent Banker Q November 2019
Lindsay LaNore
(lindsay.lanore@
icba.org) is
group executive
vice president
of Community
Banker
University
not ripping off the Band-Aid, it's stuck, and so are
you. Ask yourself these questions:
Q What will happen if I don't confront the
issue? Will it fester? Most likely, it will. Whether
you're anxious or just procrastinating, it's only
going to get worse if you don't deal with it.
Q What's the worst thing that will happen if
I rip off the Band-Aid? What's the worst thing
that will happen if I don't? Compare the two.
Most of the time, after completing a long-delayed
task, you feel relief, and there's a clear payoff .
Plus, you're more likely to confront other issues
you've delayed dealing with. Are there any payoff
s from not completing the task? Probably not.
Q What would completing this task or project
mean for your life? What was the original
goal behind it? Thinking of the purpose may
help motivate you to fi nish it, so visualize it complete.
If it seems daunting, break the project into
smaller tasks and set a timer or due date.
Now, think about your team, your peers and
even your board of directors. At times, they might
be resistant to new ideas, whether it's modifying
a process, approving a policy change or introducing
new technology. They might be fearful of
losing control or making mistakes. Lead by example,
and acknowledge that change can be painful
and that mistakes will happen. They always do.
Keep everyone moving forward.
You can use this concept for looking at all
kinds of transformation, whether it's technology,
customer demands, regulations, fi nancial risk,
examiner expectations or workforces. For some,
rapid evolution can be nerve-racking, but think
about changes that have already happened. The
banking industry is constantly ripping off BandAids
and continuing to evolve. That's half the fun!
There is always something to be gained by being
decisive. At the very least, you've taken something
off your to-do list. At best, you've made a positive
change for yourself and your organization. So, rip
off the Band-Aid and go for it.
Independent Banker - November 2019

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