July 15, 2025
The largest fable about management is that we’re alleged to have all of the solutions.
Written By Nicole A. Elam, Esq.
What I’ve realized — over twenty years in company affairs, authorities relations, and now because the CEO of the Nationwide Bankers Affiliation — is that management isn’t about having an ideal playbook. It’s about being current, particularly when the world feels unsure.
I dwell in Washington, D.C., the place uncertainty at present pulses by means of each hall of energy. Capitol Hill is buzzing with nervousness, regulators are shifting their tone, and my inbox has messages from financial institution leaders throughout the nation on the lookout for stability.
Because the youngest CEO in our Affiliation’s almost 100-year historical past, I’ve been in rooms the place I didn’t have all of the solutions, however I by no means let that cease me from main. I confirmed up anyway — and that made all of the distinction.
After I stepped into this position in 2021, it was throughout a nationwide looking on race, an ongoing world pandemic, and financial turbulence. Individuals weren’t simply on the lookout for coverage — they had been on the lookout for presence and management that steadies the ship.
Since becoming a member of the Nationwide Bankers Affiliation, I’ve led a transformational overhaul. We elevated the visibility and viability of minority banks and introduced in new companions, from Wall Avenue to the White Home, and created seats on the desk for establishments that had lengthy been ignored. We launched the Nationwide Bankers Affiliation Basis, elevated income by 79% and expanded programming by 130%.
Right here’s how I keep grounded — and assist my crew do the identical — when the long run feels unclear.
Right here’s how I lead in actual time:
1. Be Calm: Regulate Your self First
Your vitality is contagious. I begin each morning with instrumental music, prayer, and reflection. Earlier than robust conversations, I take 10 seconds of silence. I communicate slowly, breathe deeply, and hear longer.
I realized this within the trenches — when my cellphone was the emergency line and I used to be navigating calls from CEOs, reporters, and regulators all in the identical hour. Matching the chaos doesn’t calm the room. Presence does.
2. Be Clear: Say What Issues Most
In moments of uncertainty, readability turns into foreign money. I don’t simply set priorities — I additionally set boundaries. My crew is aware of what we’re *not* doing.
We repeat key messages till they stick. We identify the information, even once they’re uncomfortable. Individuals don’t resist change as a lot as they resist confusion.
3. Be Celebratory: Shine a Mild on Progress
Management in chaos means celebrating what’s working. We identify wins in conferences. We ship shoutouts. We thank one another typically.
One in every of my favourite management phrases is: “I see you.” As a result of when folks really feel seen, they present up stronger. That’s how we constructed the NBA Basis from concept to establishment.
4. Be Constant: Lead With Values, Not Simply Technique
Plans shift. Strain mounts. However your values? They anchor every little thing.
Whilst our technique has developed — launching new initiatives, responding to new coverage threats — we’ve remained rooted in a single mission: to strengthen and develop minority banks.
That consistency constructed belief with our member establishments. That belief fueled our progress.
5. Be Communicative: Speak Extra Than You Assume You Want To
In uncertainty, silence appears like abandonment. I examine in with my crew greater than ever. I don’t simply speak enterprise — I ask, “How are you, actually?”
We host All Fingers conferences, go away room for questions, and create house for emotion. As a result of folks carry out higher once they really feel seen, heard, and supported.
Nobody thrives in chaos. However how we lead by means of it — that’s the actual legacy. So I over-communicate with empathy, and observe up with readability.
You don’t have to have all of the solutions. You simply should be somebody your crew can rely on.
Be calm. Be clear. Be celebratory. Be constant. Be communicative.
That’s management.
RELATED CONTENT: Elevating Your Excellence: Derrick Johnson Is A Stalwart Chief Forging New Pathways For NAACP And Racial Fairness
Nicole A. Elam, Esq. is the President and CEO of the Nationwide Bankers Affiliation, the place she led a historic transformation in her first 12 months, together with a 79% enhance in income, 130% progress in programming, and 510% enhance in media attain. She is a seasoned public affairs strategist, former JPMorgan Chase govt, and trusted voice on financial fairness, monetary inclusion, and values-driven management.