Q.INSIGHTs & INTUITION

Deneen K.J. Axtman

SVP Chief Operating Officer Cornerstone Bank Fargo, N.D.

Mentoring has played a significant role in my career and life – both as a mentee and a mentor. When I was new to banking, people took time to advise and train me, providing invaluable experiences and guidance. Because of the impact that it had on me, I feel it’s important that I do the same for others. Mentoring, whether in your company or industry, starts with building a trusted relationship developed by learning about the other’s role, successes, frustrations, and what’s important to them outside of work. Dialogue in the form of questions on situations, learning, challenges, and accomplishments create the opportunity for informal mentoring to take place. As the relationship builds, it becomes easier to reach out to each other for advice or learning.

At Cornerstone, we have a formal mentorship program, which I have participated in; but I also feel that informal mentoring and peer mentoring are just as important. For me, the best way to foster a mentoring relationship is to set aside specific time and be prepared with questions/learning/situations to discuss. Both formal and informal mentoring with those new to the industry or the company create the potential for making better decisions, gaining new perspectives, and growing skills.

Our industry can be complex and learning all the nuances and rules takes time and patience. We have a pretty robust onboarding process where each new staff person spends time with various team members in all aspects of the process.

We utilize several different means to ensure that a new member has the best chance for success. This individualized mentoring can be small groups, individual one on ones, and various huddles or team meetings that are open for discussion and questions as well as supporting new members.

We also have a national peer group made up of seven similar organizations that gather periodically for training and networking. These over 60 people also become a resource for newer team members to reach out for anything that may be needed. Finally, we communicate consistently and regularly, always looking for adjustments or changes to make improvements in the mentoring process.

Steve Dusek President & CEO Dakota Business Lending Fargo, N.D.