People Leave Great Companies but Leaders Stay in the Heart of their Employees.
I waited abatedly with shallow breath while praying for a miracle. I needed to meet end of month target. Out of five loans, I had only two and it was looking as if the 3rd was a failure too.
He came in about 45 mins later after convincing his secretary to allow me wait. He gave me a nod when he walked in and the secretary asked to wait awhile.
Eventually I was called in and he enquired about what I needed his approval on. Prior to this, 2 other executives had signed the loan request for a client that needed working capital but because he was a new client, a one-up approval was needed but this had been declined by both Credit Unit and another Executive so I needed his to over-ride theirs
He asked me some questions, I was happy that I was giving him all the right answers as he was nodding his head.Then I saw one big “No”. Ha! This people have finished me. How would I face my group head. He explained reasons so I walked out.
The secretary asked me about it and I said he didn’t approve.As I was contemplating what to say to my boss, knowing what I was going to face, I did a u-turn and went back in. He was reading other stuff and looked up to see my humbled face. He told me that the bank couldn’t pick up cash for the company and it was a matter of policy and i should go back to my boss who should have known better. I went out again and honestly i just didn’t want to face the client with a negative response as well. How do I go back to convince the MD now that I have failed twice. His secretary was sympathetic but I didn’t want this as my branch bottom line was going to be adversely affected.
I summoned courage the 3rd time, went back in and dragged a chair to seat infront of him. I was pregnant and the back and forth was already making me pant. “You again, I still wouldn’t sign” those were his words and I had to tell him to give me two minutes to say something.
I told him we learnt about the Five C’s of Credit and I started mentioning them with how it related to the client. How I would work to ensure that this was one of the great accounts in the bank bla bla.
I focused more on Character because I had heard that reasonates with him more than any value. He asked if the loan went bad would I still believe in the customer. I assured him that this wouldn’t happened as the bank also has processs in place to prevent this and that my team would work on this.
Pluto, he cancelled the “No” and signed “Yes” Then he went on to ask for my name, where I worked before and wish me luck, that he loved my courage. I was quite was bold. Keep it up as I see you going places. Got to my boss and oga was asking me how I got this accomplished. Hmm! so he knew.
Learn this as you advance in your career:
1. Be bold 2. Be visible at the right meetings.
My first one-on-one encounter with the late GTBank’ MD-Tayo Aderinokun (RIP), an inspirational leader. He passed on June 14, 2011
Tayo Aderinokun was a phenomenal and visionary leader. They saw ahead of their time. Not like some of the bosses that these 14 Nigerian graduates have worked for.
In this video: the craziest job stories you've never heard, Yemi and 14 other recent Nigerian graduates share their hilarious, thought-provoking experiences applying for jobs, dodging job scams, escaping kidnappers, receiving low-ball offers and managing the insults/frustrations from family members when you're jobless.
Tayo Aderinokun was a phenomenal and visionary leader. They saw ahead of their time. Not like some of the bosses that these 14 Nigerian graduates have worked for.
In this video: the craziest job stories you've never heard, Yemi and 14 other recent Nigerian graduates share their hilarious, thought-provoking experiences applying for jobs, dodging job scams, escaping kidnappers, receiving low-ball offers and managing the insults/frustrations from family members when you're jobless.
