Fix Performance, Fix Everything—Why Great Banks Don’t Leave Results to Chance
Hope doesn’t scale. Systems do. Find out how elite banks drive results with engineered behaviors and real-time accountability.
Welcome to the Top 5 Percenter™ Blog
You Said WHAT?
“Did you hear what Joe said?” And so it circles around the office.
Substitute “Joe,” and this phrase is uttered every day in workplaces across the country. Joe said, or did something unimaginable, right? And so did Sue yesterday, and John the day before.
Often, the gossip about what was “said” sparks because of communication styles. One person’s style is opposite to another’s, which causes a communication breakdown. By recognizing the different styles, you can hold each other accountable for the healthiest forms of communication.
One way to bypass the initial breakdown is to understand the different styles. There are four basic communication styles: assertive, aggressive, passive, and passive-aggressive.
ASSERTIVE: Although many people associate assertiveness with negative connotations, this is actually the healthiest style within the workplace. It’s how we naturally express ourselves when our self-esteem is intact, giving us the confidence to communicate without games and manipulation.
Through honest communication, people work to create solutions. We communicate our needs clearly. We care about the relationship.
AGGRESSIVE: This style involves manipulation. We attempt to make people do what we want by using control tactics. We want our needs met – and now! This is an unhealthy approach to take.
PASSIVE: This style is based on avoiding confrontation at all costs. We don’t talk much, question even less, and DO very little. It’s all about not rocking the boat. The problem is if you put all of your energy into not rocking the boat, how are you going to go anywhere?
PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVE: The most deadly style in the workplace! This style tries to win by avoiding direct confrontation but attempting to get even through manipulation. This style breeds sneaky behavior.
What style do you tend to use? The only one that truly works is assertiveness. Although we know this, the other styles are tempting – especially since many of us have been practicing them for most of our lives. They are practiced to the point of becoming habits.
How do you un-do a habit? By making a habit out of NOT doing it. Consciously choosing your communication style is the only way to stay “clean” with minimum craziness.
“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.”
— George Bernard Shaw
More From The Blog
Community Banks Doing It Right – What the Top 5% Know and Do
Roxanne Emmerich reveals how top 5% banks grow $100M+ in core deposits and triple cross-sales—without matching rates or chasing gimmicks.
Why Most Banks Fail at Cross-Selling—And How the Best Banks Are Tripling Results
Cross-selling isn’t a script—it’s a system. Discover how top-performing banks engineer daily discipline that triples products per customer and locks in loyalty.
Your “Nice” Culture Is a Lie. And It’s Costing You Millions.
One bank ditched fake smiles and vague reviews—and doubled profits in 12 months. Here’s how they built a culture that actually works.
Straight Talk from the C-Suite: What High-Performing Bank Execs Are Doing Differently
Top execs are done with old sales playbooks. Discover what’s replacing them—and why one COO hasn’t missed a quarter in six years.
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.
What the Best Banks Know—and the Rest Still Don’t Get
Top banks play to win. Discover what they do differently—and why it starts with culture and strategy.
What the Best Banks Measure (and the Rest Miss): The Hidden Levers of Top Gun Leaders
Most banks track performance after it’s too late. In this week’s video, Roxanne reveals the exact metrics Top Gun CEOs use to fix results before they lag.
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.