ELS Spotlight With NAME
Megan Woodruff is a Training Specialist for Arvest Bank in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
My job responsibilities: The Training Specialist position is responsible for design and delivery of many frontline training programs designed to support the Arvest Mission of People Helping People Find Financial Solutions for Life. The position includes delivery of training via classroom style instruction, webinar style instruction, videoconference style instruction and one on one instruction. Additionally, the Training Specialist is responsible for managing a continuous feedback loop with local bank and department management teams designed to continuously improve training content.
What is the most important leadership lesson that you’ve learned?
Building relationships with your team make the ultimate difference in achieving success. It’s about how you start your day with your team and greet them in the morning, how you make them a priority and choose to completely listen to them and foster a positive working environment of open communication.
What’s your biggest leadership struggle?
I struggle the most when I see associates failing and I desperately want to swoop in and save them. You can’t want success more for others than they want it for themselves.
What is the most effective daily habit you possess?
Self-care! This is something I preach to everyone – if you do not take care of yourself, then who will? Do something each day that brings you joy because you can’t pour from an empty cup.
What is the greatest advice you have ever been given?
Never stop learning because life never stops teaching and always fail forward (learning for what went wrong).
What does effective leadership look like to you?
Effective leadership communicates and encourages constantly. Good leaders will work alongside their teams to cheer them on while seeking out challenges and removing obstacles.
How has leadership changed in 2021?
Digital – everything is digital. Teams work from home and meet virtually. Time management, burnout, and associate wellbeing are bigger priorities for leaders to manage than ever before.