Leading the Way at the Branch

The highly accomplished basketball coach at Duke University, Coach Mike Krzyzewski, has earned a reputation for being an outstanding leader. In his book, Leading with the Heart, Coach K says, “There are five fundamental qualities that make every team great: communication, trust, collective responsibility, caring, and pride. I like to think of each as a separate finger on the fist. Any one individually is important. But all of them together are unbeatable.” His philosophy for the business world is to approach it like basketball. “Business, like basketball, is a game of adjustments. So be ready to adjust.” 

 

Leadership isn't better than management nor is it a replacement for it. Not all leaders have responsibility for managing others but, more often than not they do. Leadership is circuitous; what you give is what you need to get. A classic example at the bank is the role of the branch manager. Here the leader is given a set of objectives and is expected to work with a team to produce meaningful results. The branch manager will need a dynamic role model that is devoted to encouraging and coaching the manager to success.

 

Effectiveness as a leader doesn't include walking on water or perfection. Rather it includes a genuine desire to make a difference – to continuously work on personal effectiveness. At the same time, recognize that the more you contribute and the higher up the ladder you go, the more vulnerable you become. Taking on more responsibility and signing up for big challenges increases the risks associated with scrutiny, failure, criticism and disappointment. Yet, when weighing all the odds, the chance to experience a deep sense of personal satisfaction that comes with meaningful work will make the effort outweigh the risk.

 

Still learning,

 

Honey

Eight Principles that Count at the Teller Window

Every teller has a personal interest in cash-handling procedures and should be certain cash-related  policy is meticulously obeyed.  Cash limits vary from institution to institution and even from one teller to another, depending on the teller's specific responsibilities.  Limits can also vary from day to day, depending upon your cash needs. 

 

1. Large bulk-cash deposits should be removed from the teller window as soon as possible.  Similarly, prepared change orders should not be kept at the teller window awaiting pickup. It is tempting fate to use teller windows as temporary storage space for large sums of money.  The teller's coin vault could be used for safe temporary storage during the day.
2. Each teller is responsible for the currency and coin supply assigned to him/her.  Tellers also are charged with the responsibility of accepting money from--and paying money to--their customers.
3. Financial institution tellers are the constant target of thieves, swindlers, and con artists.  This is true of almost all phases of teller activity.  Teller training must go beyond the basics of counting money and making change.  Learning how swindlers cheat  tellers is an essential part of the training.  This requires continuous, on-going teller training.  Professional crooks are clever and resourceful.  They are well acquainted with internal procedures, and constantly invent new deceptive tactics.  Management must understand that a "new" teller steps up to the window and enters the world of major-league fraud.
4. The teller's responsibility for handling money begins before the teller window is opened and extends up to the point of balancing and turning in the cash supply at the end of the day.  During that time thousands of dollars are handled--money set up in the drawer, taken in from and paid out to depositors and customers, or transferred within the institution.
5. If interrupted during counting, stop and start again.  It's better to take the extra minute than to shortchange or overpay someone.
6. Avoid making unnecessary conversation when counting.  This discipline enables the teller to stay focused and avoid being distracted during the counting steps.
7. Ask customers to count large amounts of cash before they leave the window.  As an added precaution, follow procedures for having customers sign for large amounts of cash, to indicate receipt of the money.
8. By handling currency and coin in a consistent and professional manner, the work is simplified and the chance of error is reduced.  Equally important, tellers develop the skill to concentrate on both the transaction and the customer.

Pay the teller the respect they are due, smile when you see them and provide them training and coaching routinely!

Still learning,

Honey