How being curious can be an asset for a Utah business leader

Some people believe that the person at the top has all the answers. After all, that is probably a pretty good reason why they are in a leadership position in the first place.

Of course, reality is a whole other matter, as many of you may know. Being a leader also means finding the way around roadblocks, including some you might have never faced before.

We found a couple of interesting articles about leadership and its relationship to perpetual curiosity. Although it may buck against convention, the two subject- matter experts in the article agree that asking questions and wanting answers is a better pathway to leadership than just accepting the status quo.

That also applies to changes in your business if you need to do things a little differently. First Utah Bank has several different ways to bolster your own financial health in order to take advantages of opportunities, including options for savings accounts.

Finding the answers for yourself

In Real Leaders magazine, Bertrand Piccard, the founder and chairman of the Solar Impulse Foundation, talks about what leaders should be thinking about as they navigate the current business climate. One of his approaches is to “stay curious.”

“Don’t be happy with what you already know,” Piccard says in the article. “Always try to find out for yourself if something is possible.”

This is especially true when it comes to innovation. Piccard suggest that leaders break out of their comfort zone and explore answers to questions they may have about work situations. He adds that developing a sense of adventure leads to necessary reinventions in not only the organization, but your own leadership.

“A real leader never believes they are more clever than another,” Piccard says. “A leader should doubt – not hesitate — by asking questions of those around them. Be open to all possible directions.”

Bringing teams together through curiosity

This departure from the obvious is also something Keith Tanaka advocates. The Senior Vice President of Sales for Lucid in Salt Lake City, Tanaka writes in Utah Business about the greatest lesson he’s learned in his career, which is to be thankful for the negative things that happen instead of dreading them.

From there, it led Tanaka to think about more curiosity, analysis and asking more questions when it came to his professional life. At a particular career low, a mentor of Tanaka’s told him these challenges were a time to discover things and to be better prepared when issues arise.

“The perspective and curiosity my mentor encouraged me to embrace in light of my situation replaced my pain with gratitude and respect for the journey,” Tanaka writes.

To that end, Tanaka resolved to meet personally with every sales rep that was a part of his team before year’s end, all to find out how they’ve met challenges and to build a stronger bond. He also started a virtual “snack break” at work where randomly selected sales reps could talk to each other informally on Zoom.

Having a curiosity about the strengths and challenges of others, and making those connections, are what Tanaka considers the “secret weapons” for progress in business.

“It’s the starting point for personal and professional growth, and even for growth and strength as an organization,” he writes. “I believe to my bones that it’s the secret to greatness. The rest? As in, the job titles, the recognition, the money―whatever your goals may be―they will follow.”

Think about the best approach to savings for your Utah business

Finding your way in business sometimes takes risks as well, especially after taking some time to research and reflect as Tanaka did. As your hometown financial expert, First Utah Bank can be a trusted advisor for those kinds of changes to your financial future, especially when it comes to business savings.

There are two options that businesses have when it comes to savings accounts through First Utah Bank. The first is the standard savings account, which keeps your money safe while also giving you the convenient opportunity to watch it grow. There are no monthly service fees and no minimum balance that you need. This way, you can have the funds needed for unexpected expenses as your business grows and expands.

Then, there is the High Yield Money Market account for businesses. With this option, you can still get access to your funds easily, but it also allows you to earn a higher rate on larger balances. This competitive rate helps grow your money fast, as interest is compounded and credited monthly. It’s also insured to the legal maximum by the FDIC. Note that you need to have $25,000 in your account to avoid a monthly service fee.

As your Utah continues to flourish, also know that you have First Utah Bank on your side to help along the way, whether it’s for savings or any other banking need. Find out more about at our website, or call us at 801-308-2265.