North Region Management Training group Front row, from left: Ashwaubenon Branch Manager Gail Matzke with grads Service Bankers Kristi Brunson, Ashwaubenon, and Brittney Bystol, Pulaski.
Others present for graduation day, back row: District Manager Trisha Cravillion, North Region Training Specialist Jan Born, District Manager Kerri Collins, and Pulaski Branch Manager Mistine Thomson.

Central and South Management Training Group Front row, from left: Sr. Loan Processor/Closer Sheree Heuer (in brown sweater), Customer Assistance Rep/Security Services Kattia Abad, Franklin BOC Myra Rodriguez, Brookfield Square BOC Jessica Kohn, Shorewood PB Jennifer Mantooth.
Back row: West Allis PB Stephanie Bluemel, Franklin BCSM Nichole Sargent, Regency BOSM Marna Thillemann, Bayshore BOC Joseph Melton, Westgate BOSM Christopher Reed, and Central / South Training Specialist Nikki Shelton-Moss.

North Region Training Specialist Jan Born and Central/South Training Specialist Nikki Shelton-Moss have led another 12 associates through our in-house Leadership Development Training program.

Starting in late March and running through June 28, two associates from our North Region and 10 from Central and South who had been recommended by their managers attended six all-day sessions. Topics ranged from qualities of a leader, to coaching, to learning about managing time, change and conflict — and more. Here’s an overview:

Leadership & Communication Styles
Defining a leader and understanding various communication styles kick off the series. “Learning that people communicate differently enables us to adjust and adapt for better understanding and more harmonious relationships,” Nikki says.

Coaching & Developmental Discipline
Coaching and developmental discipline come next. Based on the principle “Their successes are our successes,” Nikki explains that being able to help others expand and fine-tune their skills and achieve their career goals multiplies the level of success of everyone involved — the trainee and the trainer.

And approaching discipline as a means to developing more-productive habits creates a focus of improvement rather than punishment.

Conflict Management & Diversity
Managing conflict and workplace diversity make up the third module, building on skills learned in the first two. “There will always be disagreements in the workplace,” Jan says. “Effective leaders learn how to constructively deal with conflict. Learning to understand, appreciate and embrace diversity of all kinds is a giant step in dealing with conflict.”

Time Management & Delegation
And who couldn’t use some help with time management, an element, along with ethics and respect, of the fourth training module.

“Part of the secret of having enough time for everything is learning to delegate,” Nikki explains. “This segment continues to build on previous modules. When we learn to be good communicators and artful managers, we develop our staff members, who then are prepared to take on more responsibility.”

Change Management
If there is one constant in our lives and in our industry, it is change. Change can be a positive force if we learn to welcome it and master the positive aspects of it. “Periods of change are key times for managers to listen to their associates and help them work through how their jobs are being affected by change,” Jan says.

Role-Play
The last class session, a culmination of everything leading up to this day, is spent on role-play, demonstrating lessons learned by applying principles from every aspect of the program. It includes the 10 Commandments of Leadership, a guide that serves as a reminder and quick reference.

Nikki, who has been with North Shore Bank for 13 years, calls it “priceless” to be able to help others. “I’ve walked in their shoes and shared their problems,” she says. “I never dreamed how rewarding it would be to participate in this program.”

Jan, who joined North Shore eight years ago, agrees. “As trainers, we often feel that we receive more than we give,” she says.

Training & Development Manager Jan Konkol was instrumental in designing the curriculum, which, as an in-house program, supports North Shore Bank’s commitment to developing its employees and promoting from within.

Trainees praise program
Shorewood PB Jennifer Mantooth shares these thoughts about the program:

“I love to learn and grow, and this class has not only given me confidence to expand on what I already know and have been doing well, but to take it to the next level. It has also provided me with more ideas and tools to do my job more effectively and help strengthen my branch.

“It was a joy to witness several transformations in our group. I could see that the lessons we were working on really affected the class members, myself included. Everyone grew in confidence and knowledge.

“Having a better understanding of communication styles has made a difference in how I conduct one-on-one meetings with staff members, with clients, and even in how I communicate with my 20 year old daughter.”

Heartiest congratulations to all the graduates!