Halfway Is No Excuse: The Midyear Execution Test Every Bank Must Pass
Midyear is not the time for excuses. It is the diagnostic checkpoint where elite community banks assess what’s working, fix what’s not, and accelerate execution before year-end.
The last time we met, I told you we’d be coming back this time to discuss: how do you boost those cross-sales and how to do it by having a cultural transformation within your organization.
Because that change in your culture and improvement in your bank’s culture is key to transforming results by making sure that your customer feels heard and moved along.
Outdated Sales Systems & A Better, Proven Process
Most people have the wrong system of sales. We’ve been applying the same system for many, many years with our banks. And it is unheard of for one of our banks to not accomplish a doubling or even a tripling of their cross-sales within the first year or two that we work with them. These are the same banks that, many of them, have gone through many sales training firms to no avail. They didn’t move the needle at all. And yet given the right sales system suddenly, miraculously a change. But it isn’t just the sales system and the steps to the sales process. It’s also the steps in the sales management process. People who are not understanding how to do what they’re going to do can’t win at their jobs. But also, we have to understand stage-appropriate accountability.
When people don’t yet know what to do, you can’t hold them accountable for the results.
When they’re not good at being able to ask the right questions of people to say, “Okay, Julia, based upon what you’re telling me, I’m hearing that you have a need for this. And so, therefore, I’m going to recommend this. I also heard this, I’m going to recommend this. And you said this, I’m going to recommend this. And also you said this one recommends this. Do I have everything correct? Great. Do you have any questions? Or would you like to move ahead?”
Building the Right Skill Sets For Your Team Members
Most team members don’t have the skill sets yet to ask the right questions. Nor do they have the business savvy to listen to the answers. That development of your team members to be true trusted advisors so that they can own the entire relationship––not just at the inception of the relationship, but throughout the relationship––is going to be more and more important as more desperate competitors have never been after your customers more than they are now.
This is the time to get busy and transform. When we come back next time, I’ll give you a few more ideas about how to continue to build your cross-sales. Because it’s time for the cultural transformation within your organization to begin now.
Get the playbook to win the premium pricing war and help your executives build trust with your clients! Register now for The ALL-NEW Elite Breakthrough Banking: Revenue Revolution 2022 here.
Want to read more stories like this? Click here to subscribe to Extraordinary Banker®️️️ magazine and get your digital copy free.
Midyear is not the time for excuses. It is the diagnostic checkpoint where elite community banks assess what’s working, fix what’s not, and accelerate execution before year-end.
Most banks are not suffering from a technology problem. They are suffering from a thinking problem. Roxanne Emmerich explains why second-order thinking is now essential for community bank executives preparing their teams for AI, change, and the next wave of performance pressure.
A Banky Award is more than recognition. Used correctly, it becomes third-party proof that helps your bank stand out, build trust, and become the obvious choice in your market.
Most banks don’t need another branding exercise. They need a USP that prospects believe. Roxanne Emmerich explains how credibility, systems, awards, and proof points turn differentiation into a revenue-driving advantage.
Most banks claim to be different. The best banks prove it. Discover how credibility-based positioning drives growth, trust, and profitability.
Most banks don’t have a performance problem—they have an accountability gap. Discover the system top banks use to drive execution.
Most bank marketing does not fail because the message is weak. It fails because the bank has no compelling position in the market. In this video, Roxanne reveals how community banks can sharpen their USP, strengthen credibility, and win more business without racing to the bottom on rate.
Most banks rely on effort. Top banks rely on systems. Discover what separates the 1% from everyone else.
Most banks don’t lack accountability—they tolerate avoidance. Discover how to build a culture that drives real performance.
Toxic disagreement is silently eroding your culture. Discover how top bank leaders turn conflict into performance—without the damage.