Hoosier Banker 23 Josh Myers Assistant Vice President - Member Engagement Indiana Bankers Association jmyers@indiana.bank @joshmyersIN The 2021 FLD Leadership Conference, the IBA Future Leadership Division’s signature event, was held Sept. 21-22 in the heart of our state’s capital. The event brought together bankers, plus a handful of associate members, with varying levels of experience and expertise, providing an opportunity for all to focus on the shared goal of growing professionally and personally. Through a combination of speakers, roundtables discussions and networking, conference attendees were able to tap into one of the greatest resources that a banking association can offer: its people. Beginning in the morning of Tuesday, Sept. 21, the FLD Leadership Conference kicked off with welcoming comments from Amber Van Til, president and CEO of the Indiana Bankers Association, who encouraged attendees to network with each other and to learn about grassroots advocacy, among other topics. Next, conference attendees were treated to the hilarious yet insightful keynote address of Paul Long, whose “FUNdamism” presentation gave everyone the chance to laugh, reflect and have FUN. Long’s message centered on the idea that, while our society appears to be more focused on what’s not working as opposed to what is, we all have the choice to embrace “what’s GOOD.” Following a networking lunch, Amber Farley led a thought-provoking discussion about advancing the bank’s brand. While all banks have a brand, it is not always front-of-mind among all departments of the bank. Farley conveyed that each bank should create a unique brand that employees can be passionate about. She emphasized that emerging leaders can play a vital role in the brand’s success. Nic Baumann joined the conference for the last presentation of the day with a look at respect in the workplace. Baumann’s presentation left attendees with tools to recognize both obvious and subtle indicators of disrespect, suggestions for identifying contributing factors, and ideas to effectively establish respect-reinforcing behaviors. Speed roundtables closed out the education portion of the day, allowing attendees to meet with peers while discussing a variety of topics. Later that night, participants joined together for an impromptu game night after a rainy forecast changed plans for a previously scheduled outdoor scavenger hunt. After a few rounds of UNO, Pictionary, euchre and other games, the night finished up with a relaxing dinner at the Yard House restaurant. The FLD Leadership Conference continued early Wednesday morning with a grassroots advocacy panel moderated by Dax Denton, IBA’s SVP-government relations, who was joined by FLD Advisory Board members Emily Boardman, Jon-Myckle Price and Michael Clampitt. Board members shared their experiences in grassroots advocacy, how they have been impacted, and why emerging leaders need to get involved. Boardman, president of the FLD Advisory Board, then engaged attendees in an IBA action alert regarding IRS reporting rules. Karen Butcher served as keynote speaker for the morning, addressing the concept of transforming fear of conflict into “curious communication.” Her thorough discussion on communication provided attendees with various ideas to: experience the art of self-evaluation; face fear and transition to building courage; embrace curiosity; drop judgement while remaining neutral; and practice tough conversations. The conference concluded with a final opportunity for speed roundtable discussions, allowing for additional networking and idea-sharing. Following the roundtables, each conference attendee had the chance to share with the group a key takeaway. The 2021 FLD Leadership Conference was a memorable event and a much-needed opportunity for the nearly 75 attendees to connect and grow together. It brought about laughter, motivation, self-reflection and more. It was also a reminder that all bankers have a common purpose of serving their customers and communities, and we should all rally for each other as members of the IBA and the FLD. Thank you to all the bankers and associate members who participated in this year’s event, and special thanks to our sponsors. HB
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