To prepare future bank presidents, the bank in which I began my banking career had a well-developed management training program. Since my goal was to become a bank president, I worked to get an invitation into the program. This intensive two-year program gave its participants exposure to all aspects of the bank and to its top leaders. Did you ...
After my father’s passing, I made many phone calls to secure my mother’s survivor benefits. During one call, I talked to a woman with a thick foreign accent who seemed uncertain what information to gather. For almost an hour she asked me the same questions multiple times. Just when I thought we were wrapping up, she blurted out, “I have ...
When my friend, Ray, was young he had many uncomfortable meetings with his boss. He usually felt intimidated, was belittled, and often felt his boss hated him. Years later, when Ray’s boss departed the organization, he said to Ray, “Don’t forget who trained you!” Until that moment, Ray never realized that this man was working to train him to ...
As a bank executive I was required to complete an annual conflict of interest report for our bank regulators. This report was looking for any affiliations and any financial transactions I was involved in with outside organizations that may also have a relationship with the bank. Although it felt like an invasion of privacy, I recognized it to be ...
Kathy and I recently witnessed an educational performance on shepherding by a shepherd from Ireland. He highlighted three qualities about sheep that I found instructive. The first we discussed is defenselessness. The second quality is their natural inclination towards community. The shepherd contended that when sheep dogs or predators approach sheep, the sheep begin to huddle together. They have ...
Many historians believe the seeds of Independence Day came from The Great Awakening. The revival of the mid 1700s brought to the church a different view than the strict social class structure of the Enlightenment philosophy. Historian, Bernard Bailyn, claims that the evangelistic efforts of The Great Awakening challenged the traditions of their day by teaching that the Bible ...
Because I’ve recently spent months searching for good job applicants, I was intrigued by a Harvard Business Review article. This article identified a pool of hidden talent that is typically being overlooked. The research conducted by Harvard Business School and Accenture discovered that automated hiring platforms often screen out qualified job seekers. These job applicants have unconventional backgrounds – ...
Two government agencies are attempting to force Christian employers to violate their faith. The Department of Health and Human Services and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission are requiring that health insurance providers, and employers, pay for gender identity-related services including gender transition procedures. Being asked to participate in the government’s social experiment seems inappropriate and Lord willing, will be ...
Speaker and author, Nicole Unice, shared with our Des Moines audience recently an incredible insight for those immersed in a workplace conflict. Nicole informed us that distance creates distrust. I don’t know about you, but when I’m having a conflict with someone that I’m struggling to resolve, I tend to avoid them for a while. If I must work with ...
In Jordan Raynor’s book, “Redeeming Your Time,” he references significant data that suggests that our bodies work in cycles. These cycles are called Ultradian Cycles. Basically, Jordan contends that our bodies work best in blocks of 90-minute cycles before we need a short break. These short breaks allow us to be more productive. Jordan references a study that Sony performed. ...
Equipping Others to Do Work Differently
