ALPHARETTA, Ga.–True leadership is most often a balancing act, including between instilling in people an intrinsic willingness to pursue a larger purpose or goal, while at the same time respecting all the different personalities involved, notes Meredith Deen, president of FMSI. Below, Ms. Deen shares her insights on leadership as well as some lessons learned in her career in CUToday.info’s The Corner.
CUToday.info: What intangible of leadership is most difficult to convey or prepare for?
Deen: Obviously, leadership is about instilling in people an intrinsic willingness to pursue a larger purpose or goal, but entangled with that effort is the myriad of personalities of those that you are leading. As I’ve grown in my managerial and leadership abilities, I’ve been both touched and a bit scared by how deeply leaders impact the individual person so much more than encouraging a group to achieve a common goal. Leaders shape people’s lives. As leaders, we are being watched in absolutely everything we do. And, sometimes the unspoken interpretation can have wonderful consequences, and sometimes it can have unintended consequences.
CUToday.info: Are you a fan of a management book or books, or a TED talk or talks? If not, why not. If so, which have resonated with you and why?
Deen: I do enjoy reading management books, and I particularly enjoy TED talks. There are two books that I believe stand above the rest. One is “Making the Noise Go Away: The Power of an Effective Second in Command” by Larry Linne, and the other is “Fierce Conversations: Achieving Success at Work & in Life One Conversation at a Time” by Susan Scott. The first book is great for both anyone seeking, or actually is a second in command. It’s a powerful roadmap for how to effectively communicate and drive results that an owner or founder seeks to achieve. The second gives you the tools to have the difficult conversations in work and in life. It’s so easy to shy away from these conversations, but they are the ones that really create change and connections.
As for TED Talks, I like “Kelly McGonigal: How to Make Stress Your Friend”.
She expels the myths about stress being a detriment to our lives, and shows us how to embrace it as we do the things that really make a difference. My absolute favorite TED Talk is “Drew Dudley: Everyday Leadership.” His very short and funny story demonstrates exactly how powerful we all are as individual leaders.
CUToday.info: Innovation: four syllables getting all the attention. Deservedly so? If so, can you really drive innovation? Or is it coming at the cost of implementation and delivery?
Deen: Sometimes I believe we allow ourselves, particularly in financial services, to be overwhelmed by the concepts of innovation. It seems we are all trying to create the next iPhone of banking. However, we are innovating every day and making differences in how people bank and manage the financial aspects of their lives. Innovation comes in many formats, and I believe the most important thing we can do is to allow room for innovation. If we allow the opportunity for silence, innovation will follow.
CUToday.info: If you could go back and talk to You On The First Day On The Job, what advice do you share?
Deen: I would encourage myself to enjoy the journey toward management and the leadership role. I was so eager to achieve my goals that now, as I look back, I think of all the amazing people and opportunities I’ve encountered. It would be wonderful to take more time to reflect on those times and situations, and how they truly shaped me as a leader—particularly the failures. Those were the biggest lessons and, while I would have preferred to get past them quickly, the actual journey shaped me into the person I am today.
CUToday.info: My Keeps-Me-Up-At-Night concern is? Why? And My-Let’s-Me-Sleep-At-Night optimism is?
Deen: Mostly what keeps me up at night is when I know my son is driving out on the crazy Atlanta roads! Seriously, I focus on trying to find solutions to items I can control. Those items that I cannot control, like sweeping regulatory changes, I challenge my team to prepare for those types of items and foresee them. That way we can focus on growing our business and being the best possible company we can be for our customers.
Meredith Deen is president of FMSI, Alpharetta, Ga. For more info: www.fmsi.com.