Notes of Growth
June 11, 2025
In these times of challenge and change, resilience has become more than just a buzzword—it’s a necessity. But how do you build resilience? It starts with […]
June 13, 2024
Our community banking clients often discuss strategy, technology and competition, but at the core, it’s all about people. Each person is unique with their own strengths. […]
June 6, 2024
Building a culture of accountability within your organization starts with leadership. As a leader, you must first hold yourself accountable before you can expect it from […]
June 5, 2024
It’s easy to think that being decisive, making good decisions, and being tough is all there is to effective leadership. While those traits are important, being […]
May 29, 2024
One key insight we bring to banks is the power of feedback in boosting productivity. Often, organizations focus on identifying what’s wrong rather than recognizing what’s […]
May 15, 2024
Uncover the importance of a clear, compelling purpose in steering your team toward success, and how leaders can inspire every decision through consistent, passionate communication. Have […]
May 8, 2024
Learn how tapping into the collective wisdom of a team, more than merely gathering smart people, can foster a culture of innovative thinking and meaningful discussions, […]
May 1, 2024
Learn how effective leadership involves more than decision-making. It’s about fostering an inclusive culture that amplifies individual talents for overall team success. The strongest leaders recognize […]
April 24, 2024
Explore how embracing continuous learning and development transcends traditional training in the finance world, emphasizing the importance of curiosity and the ability to learn from mistakes […]
December 20, 2023
Investing in dignity is investing in your people and your workplace. When you know your people well, you will criticize the work instead of the worker […]
December 14, 2023
People can only see what you do and hear what you say. Make sure that those two things are the same and stay consistent. What you […]
December 13, 2023
When you set realistic and clear standards for yourself and for your team, you’ll begin to see your team meet those standards, and possibly even exceed […]
December 6, 2023
Effective delegation isn’t just about assigning tasks. It’s about creating clear agreements. That means setting a shared understanding of the task, the deadline and what support […]
November 30, 2023
Understanding agreements is fundamental for effective leadership. It’s not just a simple promise to do something; it involves clarity on responsibilities, timelines and required resources. It […]
September 28, 2023
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]In today’s world, technology is a game-changer. Whether you’re in construction or finance, being tech-savvy can have many benefits. It’s something that could set you […]
September 21, 2023
Discussing thematic strengths with leaders often reveals a unique challenge when addressing reactive leaders. They may share strengths with creative leaders, but there’s a crucial difference—thematic […]
September 13, 2023
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Success is achieved when everyone understands and embraces the company’s mission. But, when different levels of the organization interpret it differently, it can cause confusion […]
September 7, 2023
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Why plan? It’s all about knowing the outcome. In any organization, principles and practices are the foundation. If your practice involves sharing work, nurturing trust […]
August 29, 2023
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Imagine if we turned the corporate hierarchy on its head. In the world of executives and management, tasks often cascade from the top down. But […]
August 21, 2023
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Success hinges on standards, not just obedience. Standards shape your company’s culture, a guiding light even when the boss isn’t watching. Do you want safe […]
August 14, 2023
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Beyond vocational skills, culture and “real skills” fuel exceptional performance in the workplace. This is possible across all trades and industries. These “real skills” shape […]
August 7, 2023
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Most people in our world have an opinion on how things could be improved. This often includes opinions on the numerous organizations to which they […]
August 2, 2023
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Are you struggling to get genuine feedback from your team? Trust is the key. As an executive, you have to learn how to break the […]
July 26, 2023
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]The world is continuously and rapidly changing. Now, more than ever, it is important to stay relevant—no matter your company. How are you developing your […]
July 20, 2023
With nearly half of today’s executive workforce approaching retirement, the need for proactive succession planning has never been more urgent. When a key bank leader steps […]
July 12, 2023
Promoting solely based on individual job performance without considering leadership skills can lead to challenges. When high performers are moved into leadership roles without adequate training, […]
July 5, 2023
In organizations plagued by the “Tyranny of Nice,” healthy conflict remains unaddressed or ignored. People withhold their thoughts and wait until after meetings or pretend everything […]
June 28, 2023
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Mistakes happen, but is it the mistake of the person or of the situation? It is important to identify the root cause of the mistake […]
June 23, 2023
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]The term balkanization is when everyone on a team is focused on their own tasks and is not concerned about how they can collaborate with […]
June 16, 2023
Generative Tension is the tension within any system or organization when trying to change something. This tension consists of two essential components: awareness and action. By […]
June 6, 2023
Through our extensive surveys, we seek to understand your key leadership aspects and identify areas for improvement. We aim to gain insights into your decision-making processes, […]
May 31, 2023
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Collective leadership development is the key to helping teams collectively become more effective. This often involves developing a better leadership model and establishing performance measurement […]
May 25, 2023
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]The universal model of leadership helps identify the different development stages of leadership: reactive, creative and integral. This model allows leaders to understand their growth […]
May 19, 2023
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Leadership development is more than just outer competencies and training. It’s about working on the inner game and softer areas like self-awareness and meaning-making. Developing […]
May 10, 2023
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]There are personal mistakes and process mistakes in business. A personal mistake might look like someone simply making the wrong decision or even navigating away […]
May 3, 2023
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] One area I find needs a lot of attention in many companies is the idea of succession. They’re not always sure who will take […]
April 11, 2023
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] Choosing the right employees can be difficult, but it becomes easier when you have a set of values your company follows. Some clients talk […]
March 29, 2023
Promoting team members from production positions to managerial positions can come with some unexpected challenges. In some instances, the promoted team member can struggle to switch […]
March 22, 2023
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] Having values as a company and as individuals is important for overall growth; however, if you and your employees aren’t on the same page, […]
March 13, 2023
Our team at Hopkins Leadership often sees executive banking teams fall into what we call a “culture of nice.” It’s an environment where leaders avoid raising […]
March 8, 2023
Whether your team is meeting weekly or bi-weekly to review your team’s operating plan, it’s important to ask a few questions: Are they on or off […]
February 3, 2023
Mental burnout and the toll it takes on an individual and their mind can be daunting. Here, I give you some tips and tricks to prevent […]
January 27, 2023
Be careful about accidentally disempowering your people. You don’t usually empower them by directing them on every daily task. You empower them by discussing the goals […]
January 16, 2023
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] Thinking out loud is a critical component of being a purpose-driven organization. It allows your employees to truly reach their full potential. This, in […]
January 12, 2023
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] When you listen and seek to truly understand, then there is an opportunity for change to happen. The key to this is to pause, […]
December 29, 2022
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] Do you want to know how to lead your team better? Lead people from their hearts, not their heads. This means truly connecting and […]
December 7, 2022
Your ability to pay attention to the emotions of others in your organization, and around you in general, plays a significant role in your ability to […]
December 2, 2022
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] Things hardly turn out as planned in life, and the same goes for businesses. Though our plans may change over time, business leaders still […]
November 22, 2022
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] The work habits your team brings with them don’t stay isolated at the individual level, but quietly shape how the entire organization operates day […]
November 17, 2022
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] There needs to be more clarity with the idea of being pragmatic. People often think it means being realistic, but it is more accurately […]
November 11, 2022
Some leaders hesitate to set fixed goals, fearing they’ll limit creativity or encourage minimum-effort mindsets. But the truth is, clear, measurable goals don’t stifle performance—they can […]
November 3, 2022
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] In every organization, leaders encounter a range of performers. Some individuals arrive with strong technical skills or natural aptitude, yet struggle with accountability or […]
October 27, 2022
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] Though the importance of courage is well known, many have a misconception about what it truly means. Being courageous does not always mean standing […]
October 20, 2022
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] Many business leaders don’t understand the difference between providing feedback and giving attention. Most of the time, employees do not want feedback. Instead, they […]
October 7, 2022
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] Pointless tasks are a major factor that can fuel an employee’s feelings of resignation. When an employee feels that what they are doing is […]
September 30, 2022
There are so many different training and development tools out there today for employers to offer their teams and departments, but it’s important to know how […]
September 23, 2022
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] When you simplify it, there are two parts to every person: what they believe and what they do. The first part is the inner […]
September 14, 2022
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] Success and good ideas almost always move at a human pace, not an instant one. What we often call “overnight success” is usually the […]
September 8, 2022
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] The higher the leadership role, the less feedback a leader receives. With that said, it is the responsibility of a leader to ask for […]
August 29, 2022
For many business leaders, thinking of good ideas can seem impossible at times. That’s because thinking of good ideas can cause us to over-filter our brains […]
August 23, 2022
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] How you act and who you are, are two different parts of each person. When your inner self, your character, is out of sync […]
August 19, 2022
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] Should your team guide the path, or should you? Every situation and every business is different. For some, it’s best to engage your team […]
August 11, 2022
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] Though you can achieve great things, ordering others to achieve greatness can be difficult. The key is changing their mindset through inspiration. As a […]
July 27, 2022
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] Leaders show integrity the most when their behavior aligns with their values. See how a high-value leader can lead a high-integrity organization by implementing […]
July 20, 2022
Embracing and implementing change in the present moment is the key to moving forward. As a high-value leader, don’t let tomorrow be too late. Get in […]
July 13, 2022
Both fear and anxiety are threats to successful high-value leadership, but they are not the same. Learn about the difference between fear and anxiety and how […]
July 7, 2022
How can you determine whether or not you are a high-value leader? Look at your followers. Get in touch with me and be on the lookout for […]
June 30, 2022
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] Employees decide who to follow, like how most people make any decision. They gather bits and pieces of information about your character from interactions […]
June 22, 2022
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] How do your employees view you? Every interaction you have with your employees impacts your reputation as a leader. Do you want those interactions […]
June 15, 2022
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] When your employees get to do what they’re good at, they are eager to work. That’s why it’s crucial for high-value leaders to truly […]
June 9, 2022
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] Stop getting stuck in the endless loop of going back to something you’ve already completed. Once it’s done, cross it off your list and […]
June 1, 2022
Work is more than “finding your purpose.” It’s about finding something you love to do and committing to it. If you’re not doing what you love, […]
May 25, 2022
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] For many community bank leaders, courage is key to keeping true to their overall vision. It takes courage to lead your team in the […]
May 11, 2022
For my very first Notes for Growth, let’s talk about courage. Regardless of a person’s position of power, it is vital for them to always move […]
Build an Institution Worth Keeping
Growth matters. Independence matters.But both require leaders who can see clearly, act deliberately and build institutions capable of enduring.