Shelly Addington

Making Others Feel Heard, Valued

On my desk there is a quote from Maya Angelou that reads, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” In my experience, I’ve learned relationships will take you further than you ever thought and you must always be mindful of how you make people feel when supporting their business and careers.

As a leader, it is important for me to listen and connect with my team members and my clients. It’s critical to sit face-to-face with people and have a real conversation to establish trust. From there, you will have an understanding of their goals, motivations and priorities. This knowledge allows me to add value and assist my clients in achieving their goals for themselves, their family and their community.

In my career, I strive to surround myself with a diverse group of people. This allows me to listen and learn from others who think differently from me and who can attack an obstacle or opportunity with a different solution. As a leader, you get to pick who you surround yourself with and in my experience, it is best to find as many different viewpoints and personalities as possible.
As I build a relationship with my clients and my colleagues, I want every interaction to leave them feeling heard and valued. As a leader, those are two of the most important things I can do.

Shelly Addington

Vice President, Private Banking Client Manager

UMB Financial Corporation

UMB.com