Risk Watch with Alberta QUARCOOPOME: How do you love your job in a difficult environment?  (3)

Dear readers. This is the third in the series. Today I will see if sharing of cases or stories can make you feel better about learning to love your job. No two jobs are the same. Likewise we are all of different personalities and temperaments. Before I continue, lets do a self audit of ourselves.

THE SWOT ANALYSIS

Before we start judging our jobs, can we perform a SWOT analysis of our current jobs? Let us look at the STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, OPPORTUNITIES and THREATS. For a special reason, I will treat the negative issues first (threats and weaknesses).

I have already listed some negatives or stressors that one may find within certain functional roles in a financial institution. However when you take a second look, ask yourself whether there is no job without stress. One person’s stressor may be another person’s motivation to press on. Do you know the purpose of the adrenalin rush in our bodies? I am not a medical person, but sometimes the targets and the seemingly impossible demands on the job have the effect of training us to be stronger, more focused, more strategic and more results-oriented. Sometimes when you sit down and look back at some “mountains of stresses” which you found yourselves confronted with, you now smile, knowing that it was rather a gift to you which prepared you for higher roles in your career path.

• The strengths and opportunities

Can you find some advantages or things about your job that make you smile at least occasionally? At least, you get a stipend on payday to make you also feel like a “somebody”. It’s better than sitting at home. In identifying the opportunities that one may come across on the job, ask yourself these questions:

• What is in it for me?

• Where do I want to be in the next five years?

• Is the job a stepping stone? In what way?

• Are there any lessons to be got from my present job which I can use in future? Is this position going to have an impact on my future plans?

• Whom am I working with? What are they like? Can they partner me in my career path?

• What is my boss like?

• Is he a leader or a just a boss?

• What can I do to get a good appraisal?

• Am I ready to assist others?

Key ways bankers can enjoy their careers

. Work-life balance

• Set boundaries on working hours: Banking often demands long shifts, but prioritizing rest and personal time prevents burnout. But, how do you do this if you are an employee, with no room to decide? Customers sometimes come in after closing hours and yet expect you to embrace them with open arms! Once a while this is allowed in branch banking but Managers should find a professional way of working this out with recalcitrant customers.

• Use technology to work smarter: Automating routine tasks and leveraging digital tools reduces repetitive stress. Managers and top leadership should make this a priority. After covid, many employees still prefer a hybrid, to enable them enjoy a more fulfilling career. In some departments it is possible due to technology.

• Prioritize health: Regular exercise, mindfulness, and adequate sleep improve resilience in high-pressure environments. Quite a number of banks have gymns and recreational zones for staff to utilize.

Career growth and development

• Clear promotion paths: Many bankers enjoy their jobs when they see opportunities for advancement. Promotions often come quickly for high performers.

• Continuous learning: These days, there should be lifelong learning. Certifications, training programs, and exposure to diverse financial products keep the work intellectually stimulating. Online courses can be done at one’s convenience.

• Mentorship and networking: Building relationships with senior colleagues and peers fosters support and motivation.

From Toxic to Positive Culture

• Strong team dynamics: A supportive manager and collaborative colleagues make daily challenges more enjoyable.

• Recognition and rewards: Celebrating achievements, even small wins, boosts morale.

• Flexibility: Banks increasingly offer hybrid work models, allowing employees to tailor their schedules. Check and take advantage of such departments to see if you fit in.

What makes banking enjoyable

Dear readers, to be honest, banking is a very enjoyable job. When we make up our mind about enjoying the job, we will. Let us look at some of the enjoyable aspects:

• Assisting clients with services to achieve their financial goals.

• Intellectual stimulation from complex deals and transactions.

• Strong team culture and bonding at work

• Meeting new clients and learning new businesses and their operations

• Networking opportunities

If you look at the stressful conditions including long working hours, burnout, high-pressure sales targets, and regulatory and compliance burdens, one should be able to strike a balance and enjoy it. Since banking is made up of a complex network of interactions, one should be able to work with the different personalities at work: colleagues, supervisors and subordinates.

How to enjoy being a relationship manager

•  Build long-term client relationships, helping businesses grow, and having access to cutting-edge financial tools.

• Be known for strong teamwork and career mobility across divisions.

In smaller banks, Relationship Managers have closer ties to local communities, more manageable hours, and direct impact on small businesses and families. There is less stringent profit driven targets, than big time bankers,  with emphasis on service and trust.

Private banking / wealth management roles

Officers handling Personalized client work, autonomy, enjoy the ability to see tangible results in clients’ lives. They also have perks, and often better work-life balance compared to investment banking. What Makes These Roles Fulfilling are the Client impact: Helping people achieve financial security or business growth. Sometimes, there is Prestige & learning in their exposure to high-profile deals and financial innovation. Working in sustainable finance or community banking adds meaning beyond profit.

Bankers tend to love their jobs most when they’re in roles that balance challenge with purpose—whether that’s high-stakes deal-making, relationship-driven client work, or mission-oriented sustainable finance.

The case of female bankers

Female bankers can love their jobs when certain factors align to make their work both fulfilling and manageable. Research across different countries highlights several key drivers of job satisfaction for women in banking:

 Factors that help female bankers enjoy their work

• Work-life balance: Flexible schedules, supportive policies for maternity and childcare, and manageable workloads are crucial. Studies show that women in banking feel more satisfied when they can balance professional and personal responsibilities effectively.

• Career growth opportunities: Access to promotions, training, and leadership roles increases motivation and engagement. When women see clear pathways for advancement, they tend to feel more invested in their careers

• Supportive workplace culture: Respectful colleagues, gender-inclusive policies, and mentorship programs foster a sense of belonging. Positive relationships at work often translate into higher job satisfaction.

• Financial rewards & recognition: Competitive salaries, performance bonuses, and acknowledgment of achievements contribute to a sense of value and appreciation.

• Challenging & meaningful work: Many bankers enjoy problem-solving, client interactions, and contributing to financial growth. Intellectual stimulation and meaningful tasks make the job rewarding.

Are you a strategic thinker?

If you have Traits: Analytical, detail-oriented, enjoys solving complex problems, then the best fit are: Private Equity / Hedge Funds which deep dives into company performance and investment strategy. Or you can go into Corporate Banking, Structuring loans, analyzing risk, advising businesses.

You will love it and  get satisfaction from cracking puzzles and shaping long-term financial outcomes.

Are you a purpose-driven professional?

If you have Traits: Values ethics, sustainability, and meaningful impact, then your Best Fit: Sustainable Finance / ESG Roles → Green bonds, renewable energy projects, ethical investments. Or, Community Banking → Supporting local businesses and individuals. Such work aligns with your personal values, creating fulfillment beyond profit.

Do you prefer stability?

If you have Traits that prefers predictability, balanced lifestyle, steady growth, then your best fit is into Corporate Banking → Reliable hours, structured career path. You will  enjoy security, balance, and a clear trajectory.

How to cultivate love for your job

• Seek mentorship and networking opportunities to build confidence and career resilience.

• Advocate for flexible policies and inclusive practices within their institutions.

• Focus on continuous learning to stay engaged and competitive.

• Celebrate small wins and recognize personal contributions to the organization’s success.

My final remarks

Again, bankers can love their jobs when their role matches their personality type. The mismatch (e.g., a stability seeker in negotiations and trading) often leads to burnout, while alignment creates lasting satisfaction. Have a fruitful banking career.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alberta Quarcoopome, (FCIB) is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, Ghana, and CEO of ALKAN Business Consult Ltd. She is the Author of Three books: “The 21^st Century Bank Teller: A Strategic Partner” and “My Front Desk Experience: A Young Banker’s Story” and “The Modern Branch Manager’s Companion”. She uses her experience and practical case studies, training young bankers in operational risk management,relationship management, customer experience excellence, banking operations, ethics and fraud.

CONTACT

Telephone:0244333051

Website www.alkanbiz.com

Email:alberta@alkanbiz.com  or [email protected]

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