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Learn to Play Well with Others
Union State Bank, Arkansas, Kan.
$250 million in assets
"Spend time developing organizational skills [and] understanding how to interact with and adapt to all types of personalities."
Build Trust
First Midwest Bancorp, Itasca, Ill
$9.3 billion in assets
"Devote time building trust with others. The old saying, 'They don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care' still very much applies today."
Observe Closely
Sunflower Bank, Salina, Kan.
$2 billion in assets
"Keep watch how different people handle different situations can teach you a lot about leading people."
Prepare to Pivot
Stock Yards Bancorp, Louisville, Ky.
$2.6 billion in assets
"Prepare for a business environment of constant and rapid change. Be ready to work harder than you imagine, and expect most days to be very different from what is on your list of things to do."
Look Beyond the Numbers
Bank of Marin, Novato, Calif.
$1.8 billion in assets
"Numbers are just an introduction to the story about a business. It's more exciting, more fun, and involves more people than you might imagine."
Get a Handle on the Future
The Hardin County Bank, Savannah, Tenn.
$428.5 million in assets
"Learn more about modeling and forecasting. These are not my strong areas, but bankers have more requirements and needs for modeling and forecasting now."
Squeaky Wheel Gets the Grease
Comerica, Dallas
$69 billion in assets
"The more broad your path, the better be open along the way to lateral career moves and to stretch project assignments. And, be vocal about letting people know that you want to take these on. Your experience and your ultimate performance will get you noticed within the organization as someone who should be groomed for growing responsibility."
Be a Sponge
BankUnited, Miami Lakes, Fla.
$19.9 billion
"No knowledge you can accumulate along the way is wasted, so soak everything up and avail yourself of as many diverse opportunities as you can."
Family First
Pendleton Community Bank, Franklin, W.V.
$267.5 million in assets
"Family is more important than any work deadline. Deadlines aren't even a close second. Spend time learning, and digging into the things you don't understand."
Cross-Train
Community First Bank of Indiana, Kokomo
$203 million in assets
"Don't get pigeonholed into one area of the bank without getting a deep working knowledge of other areas."