Who doesn’t love a good surf and turf meal? Probably a lot of people, but we’re not here to talk about restaurant menus.
As you may know, lobsters shed their shells many times over the course of their lifetimes—a process called molting. Juvenile lobsters molt as many as 17 times a year, adult males generally molt once per year and adult females molt once every two years. Scientists believe the molting process is painful for lobsters.
Lobsters begin to experience discomfort as they grow larger than their shells, so they shed them to grow. Believe it or not, community bank or credit union leadership training is a similar brand of painful growth.
Grow Through Discomfort
As leaders, you must imitate the lobster. You must continually grow, and to do so, you will constantly experience discomfort. Through discomfort comes growth.
Your comfort zone will kill you. If you’re comfortable, you’re not growing. Avoiding discomfort means you’ll be stuck in your current shell forever. And when a leader is stuck in his or her shell, that means the organization is stuck too. The eventual pain that comes from a floundering institution is far worse than a bit of discomfort as you try new things.
Life’s lessons are called “growing pains” for a reason. Don’t be afraid of a little difficulty during your community bank or credit union leadership training.
Embrace Vulnerability
During molting, lobsters shed their outer shells and are vulnerable until a new one forms. The same is true for learners and leaders.
When you’re comfortable, you feel safe. When you’re attempting to learn and grow in new and uncharted waters, you feel vulnerable—because you are. Some people have a hard time stepping out of their comfort zone during community bank or credit union leadership training because they fear this vulnerability.
What should you actually fear? Fear the consequences of stagnation, of finding yourself sitting in the same spot a year from now.
So, step out there, lean into the fear and conquer it. Never fear change. Never fear your mistakes. Vulnerability is just another form of courage.
Develop Continuously
Leadership expert John Maxwell says, “There is no finish line to developing leadership.”
Through the process of continuous learning and vulnerability, you expand your leadership skills and impact. You lead people better and more effectively. You and the people you lead are more valuable.
Continue to develop your leadership style so that you may develop more leaders. Look beyond the people you lead today. What will your coaching tree look like? What will your legacy be?
Your impact during community bank or credit union leadership training is entirely within your control. That is both exciting and empowering.
For further help empowering yourself and other leaders at your institution, book a free consultation for On The Mark Strategies community bank and credit union leadership training. Talk with you soon!
