ELS Spotlight With Ashley Hambelton
Ashley Hambelton is a Branch Sales Manager at Arvest Bank in Mountain Home, Arkansas.
What is the most important leadership lesson that you’ve learned?
The most important leadership lesson I have learned, is that creating a positive atmosphere affects everything. It affects our leadership, how other associates perform, and even our customers. No matter how difficult or stressful our job gets, as a leader we need to be able to control what kind of environment we are creating.
What is the greatest advice you have ever been given?
The greatest advice I have ever been given is “to never be satisfied”. Don’t get me wrong, I am definitely grateful and blessed for everything, every opportunity and experience I have, but this advice purely means to always strive for more. When you achieve a goal, make another one. Strive to be a better you and even better leader.
What does effective leadership look like to you?
Effective leadership to me requires 3 things: To be righteous, have respect and to resist. Being righteous in everything you do means doing what is ethically right for your employees, customers and employer. Respect, for me, is listening and making everyone feel like they are important, no matter what my personal opinions are. Last, but not least, is resist. As a leader we must resist allowing our pride and ego as leaders to takeover. To sum this up, I remind myself daily that “Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom."