Risk WATCH with Alberta Quarcoopome: The only way to do great work is to love what you do”-  Steve Jobs (2)

The possibility thinkers’ creed (Courtesy: Robert H. Schuller)

When faced with a mountain
I will not quit.
I will keep on striving
until I climb over,
find a pass through,
tunnel underneath,
or simply stay and
turn the mountain
into a gold mine!
With God’s help!

 

Hello dear Readers, last week I started a series on learning to love your job as a palliative in minimizing risks. Having looked at the various reasons people give for working and wanting to work, coupled with so many stresses and challenges faced, there is a need to take a decision: QUIT or LEARN TO LIKE/LOVE your job.  How did you find the American debate on the issue? Very interesting. If even in such countries where there are more employment opportunities, people feel forced to stay on for the sake of their needs and wants. How much more in our part of the world where jobs are non-existent and counted as life boats to survival! Even the economy and the increasing unemployment figures are so scary that many employees have little say to voice their concerns.

I also started listing some of the stresses on the job associated with working in financial institutions, which if not managed well, can cause risks, fraud and even job losses. Many bankers find themselves going through the motions just to get by. I find this a very disturbing trend.  Having looked at some difficulties of young entrants into banking performing the role of tellers, sales and marketing, and loan officers, I will look at a few others and then set the ball rolling on ways one can learn to love one’s job.

Understandably, there may be aspects or tasks that you do not look forward to as much or feel you are not as accomplished in; however, you can learn to enjoy the rewarding feeling of completing the challenges or difficult parts that come with a role.

I believe there is a global misconception about being a bank manager, or rather a branch manager. I may be wrong but until one actually works in a bank, there is a tendency to believe that every bank or branch manager is rich. Why do I say so? The old time banking systems were manually operated and therefore becoming a manager obviously required long years and experience on the job, so usually middle aged persons were branch managers. They were usually arm-chair managers, waiting for customers to bring in their deposits, request for loans, and queue at the secretary’s waiting room to have a chance of meeting him or her. In fact they really played the role of the managing directors in their branches.   Looking after all the cash in the vault creates an impression among the general public that the manager is rich. What stress is there about this perception?  I hope nobody is “listening”. Ha. ha. it seems you are expected to give more donations during fund raising at church, attend all society functions and again give generously. Relatives make frequent visits to the office and homes to discuss their financial problems expecting that you would dip your hands into the coffers of the bank! There is pressure from members of the opposite sex for friendship and its attendant expectations. Although recently branch managers are found between the ages of late twenties and thirties, these misconceptions are still prevalent among some people. Many young managers feel stressed when they also believe that they should also match these expectations, and when they do so, they eventually find themselves in trouble.

THE SWOT ANALYSIS

Before we start judging our jobs, can we perform a SWOT analysis of our current jobs? Let us look at the STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, OPPORTUNITIES and THREATS.

For a special reason, I will treat the negative issues first (threats and weaknesses).

• The Weaknesses/ Threats

I have already listed some negatives or stressors that one may find within certain functional roles in a financial institution. However when you take a second look, ask yourself whether there is no job without stress. One person’s stressor may be another person’s motivation to press on. Do you know the purpose of the adrenalin rush in our bodies? I am not a medical person, but sometimes the targets and the seemingly impossible demands on the job have the effect of training us to be stronger, more focused, more strategic and more results-oriented. Sometimes when you sit down and look back at some “mountains of stresses” which you found yourselves confronted with, you now smile, knowing that it was rather a gift to you which prepared you for higher roles in your career path.

 

• The Strengths and Opportunities

Can you find some advantages or things about your job that make you smile at least occasionally?  At least, you get a stipend on payday to make you also feel like a “somebody”. It’s better than sitting at home.

In identifying the opportunities that one may come across on the job, ask yourself these questions:

• What is in it for me?
• Where do I want to be in the next five years?
• Is the job a stepping stone? In what way?
• Are there any lessons to be got from my present job which I can use in future? Is this position going to have an impact on my future plans?
• Whom am I working with? What are they like? Can they partner me in my career path?
• What is my boss like?
• Is he a leader or a just a boss?
• What can I do to get a good appraisal?
• Am I ready to assist others?

 

BRANCH BANKING EXPERIENCES

Teller: are you a teller? Do you know the advantages and skills that you take away from your experience that will be useful in future? Don’t under-rate the skills and benefits attached that come into play as you work – communication skills, inter-personal relationship, organizational skills, tolerance for demanding customers, problem-solving skills, genuine  friendship with some customers, networking and even referrals for better jobs elsewhere!

National Service Person:  Don’t over-hype yourself. You are straight from school with a lot of vim and vigour and plenty of theoretical knowledge. Come down and learn the basics of the job. Your communication and interpersonal skills are the “litmus test” of your attitude. Don’t look down on photocopying and filing of documents. Read the correspondence and documents being filed, and learn how reports are written. After all you need to communicate your reports in the Queen’s language and not your “pidgin English”.

Client Service/Personal Banker:

You are the face of the bank. Your countenance can make a customer come into your bank and decide to stay, or go back and never return.  Despite the sedentary nature of the job and the long hours with customers, do you enjoy meeting new people? Are you pleasant? What is your human relations like? Are you customer-oriented? Don’t forget the customers can be your referrals. It is a small world. You will meet them one day in unimaginable places. When the scales turn, how will you feel? Embarrassed or proud?

The Supervisor and Branch Manager

Are you a leader or a boss? Do you have the requisite people skills? Learn the art of combining all the HR skills of a leader. Being a leader involves time management, counselling, coaching, mentoring, prayer leader, listening and communication skills.

Let me pause here.

I have attempted to look at both sides of the coin for bankers – the good sides, the stresses, opportunities and areas requiring improvement. Next week I will attempt some recommendations of trying to like or love your job. It will definitely be a palliative in risk management. Don’t regret your choice of jobs.

Don’t forget to call 0244333051 for a copy of my third book, THE MODERN BRANCH MANAGER’S COMPANION.

To be Continued

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alberta Quarcoopome is a Fellow of the Institute of Bankers, and CEO of ALKAN Business Consult Ltd. She is the Author of two books: “The 21^st Century Bank Teller: A Strategic Partner” and “My Front Desk Experience: A Young Banker’s Story”. She uses her experience and practical case studies, training young bankers in operational risk management, sales, customer service, banking operations and fraud.

CONTACT

Website www.alkanbiz.com

Email:alberta@alkanbiz.com  or [email protected]

The post Risk WATCH with Alberta Quarcoopome: The only way to do great work is to love what you do”-  Steve Jobs (2) appeared first on The Business & Financial Times.

Read Full Story