Welcome to the Top 5 Percenter™ Blog

A New Seat in the C-Suite: Move over CFOs, this one will REALLY create ROI

by | Employee Motivation, Profitability and Growth, Workplace Culture

The Harvard Business Review suggested that we may soon be seeing the onset of the “Chief Culture Officer.” Brothers and sisters, can I hear you say Hallelujah?

Think about it. Culture is the leading predictor of future growth and profitability. Let me repeat that. Culture is the LEADING predictor of future growth and profitability. Not new customers. Not premium pricing. Not customer service. Not expense cutting. It’s culture.

So I’m glad the Harvard Business Review finally caught up with the obvious driver that has turned struggling companies around and brought the prosperous ones to a higher level.

But most companies will continue to do it all wrong.

They think it’s about the culture survey. It is NOT the survey. It never has been the survey, and never will be. You can’t change the heart of an organization by measuring. You do it by doing it.

You do it by creating a sane workplace where people are good for each other and for the customers. A place where people support each other and stand by each other, where they know how to forgive the mistakes and misconceptions their teammates will inevitably have. It’s about keeping it fun. Celebrating the wins. Defining the wins and making them happen consistently by keeping scoreboards and attaboys happening to make sure people always know they’re winning at the things they’re winning at and adding more things to that list.

And where should the Chief Culture Officer sit in the org chart?  At the right hand of the CEO, of course. What position could possibly matter more?

So, if you’re serious about adding more “wow” to your workplace and removing the “unwows,” then consider putting someone in charge of exactly that. And make sure this person is blessed with enough emotional intelligence to let go and let others take charge as needed to make the magic happen.

For one complimentary ZERORISK Hiring System Profile for your company go to www.zeroriskhr.com/go/banking and fill out the form.  Reminder: Member Banks already have access to this service.

More From The Blog

How Elite CEOs Run Game-Changing Board Meetings

Most board meetings are packed with data—but starved of strategic clarity. Discover how the top 5% of banks engineer boardrooms that drive performance, challenge respectfully, and align with breakthrough plans. This week’s episode reveals what high-performing CEOs do differently—and how you can bring that same power to your board.

Halfway Is No Excuse

Midyear banking strategy not working? Elite banks accelerate, not apologize. Here’s how to finish strong—with accountability, margin, and momentum.

Top Bank Doubled Revenue with 1/3 Fewer Staff—Here’s How

Toxic conflict is quietly draining your profits.
Most banks reach for generic culture fixes and miss the root cause—low emotional intelligence and zero accountability. Discover how the best banks use healthy dissension to crush drama, boost performance, and lead the industry in profitability.

Bank Drama is Draining Your Profits—Here’s the Proven Fix

Toxic conflict is quietly draining your profits.
Most banks reach for generic culture fixes and miss the root cause—low emotional intelligence and zero accountability. Discover how the best banks use healthy dissension to crush drama, boost performance, and lead the industry in profitability.

Your Bank’s Culture Is Quietly Costing You Millions—Here’s How to Fix It.

Most banks try to fix productivity issues by hiring more staff—but that only inflates expenses. This eye-opening video reveals why your culture may be quietly draining millions from your bottom line and how one Top Gun CEO doubled his bank’s size with fewer employees by engineering a culture of clarity, accountability, and high performance.

Your Marketing Isn’t Broken. Your Positioning Is.

Most banks never see it coming—the hidden sales leak that quietly kills momentum and stalls growth. Discover how top-performing banks fix it fast, triple cross-sales, and build teams that drive results without pushing harder.