Blogs

January 14, 2026

Unlearning as a Leadership Strategy

In leadership, the hardest part isn’t just learning new skills; it’s letting go of the old ones. Unlearning is an underrated but crucial part of growth—shedding […]
January 7, 2026

Understanding Team vs. Working Group Structures

Knowing whether you need a team or a working group can be game-changing in community banking. Teams are built for collaboration, where everyone is rowing in […]
December 24, 2025

The Power of Long-Term Thinking

The most successful community banks understand that real strength is built over years, not reporting periods. While quarterly results matter, they are outcomes, not the strategy […]
December 17, 2025

The Nature of Traps in Community Banking

Community banks face traps in the form of flashy vendor pitches, regulatory shortcuts or “silver bullet” strategies. These traps are tempting and seem like quick fixes, […]
November 30, 2025

Strengths-Based Leadership

Let’s be honest—one-size-fits-all leadership just doesn’t cut it anymore. Real leadership means knowing your strengths and staying true to them. When you embrace what makes you […]
April 23, 2025

In or Out: Succession Planning for Community Bank CEOs

As community bank CEOs, your commitment to excellence is paramount. Yet, we’ve all seen what happens when an organization loses its drive. There’s a nearby bank […]
April 9, 2025

The Power of LCP 360 Assessment in Community Banking

In the dynamic landscape of community banking, continuous improvement and exceptional customer service are paramount. The LCP 360 assessment offers a valuable tool to enhance personal […]
March 5, 2025

Overcoming Resistance

In the world of community banking, leadership isn’t just about making strategic decisions or managing operations. It’s about confronting and overcoming a pervasive and often invisible […]
February 5, 2025

Redefining Work for a Human-Centered Future

The importance of leadership becomes especially pronounced during times of significant change. As we recognize inherent flaws in our current understanding and implementation of work—highlighted by […]
January 29, 2025

Rethinking Options: The Power of “None of the Above”

As community bank CEOs, you’re often presented with multiple-choice decisions, whether it’s about product offerings, strategic initiatives or vendor selections. The options seem straightforward, and someone […]
January 22, 2025

Behind the Numbers: The Energy of Community Banking

Community banking is about more than numbers on a balance sheet. It’s about the embodied energy—the trust, relationships and local expertise—that fuels every decision and action […]
January 8, 2025

Staying Focused on What Truly Matters: A Lesson for Community Bank CEOs

In the ever-evolving world of community banking, distractions often pull your focus toward things that seem important but don’t truly make an impact. Picture yourself browsing […]
December 4, 2024

The Best Available Option

In the fast-paced community banking world, the principle espoused by Seth Godin: “the best available option is always available,” holds profound significance. For CEOs, Seth’s mindset […]
November 27, 2024

The Conflict is Real: Navigating Leadership in Community Banking

“Jean-Michel Basquiat was afraid he’d be a flash in the pan, worried about paying rent, even as Andy Warhol reassured him otherwise.” This story isn’t just […]
November 13, 2024

The Difference Between a Team and a Working Group

In the dynamic world of community banking, understanding the distinction between a team and a working group is crucial for fostering a productive and collaborative environment. […]
April 24, 2024

Embracing Continuous Learning and Development

Explore how embracing continuous learning and development transcends traditional training in the finance world, emphasizing the importance of curiosity and the ability to learn from mistakes […]
March 13, 2024

Aligning Your Executive Team for Sustainable Growth

In the banking industry, sustainable growth isn’t just a goal; it’s essential. Community banks, in particular, face unique challenges and opportunities in fostering growth while maintaining […]
March 13, 2024

Empowering Women in Community Banking

Breaking Barriers. Building Success. In our journey toward excellence in community banking, leadership transcends the mere management of operations; it embodies the essence of fostering an […]
December 22, 2023

Come Together This Holiday Season

As we enter this Christmas season, it’s important to embrace the values that have stood the test of time. First and foremost, let’s remember the importance […]
July 26, 2021

Are You Keeping Your Team Engaged?

Investing in employee engagement is beneficial to a company’s productivity, work quality and work environment. A company’s high-performing employees are typically genuinely engaged, while low-performing employees […]
June 30, 2021

Which Employees Do You Give Your Time and Attention To?

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqHqiq9KCKE”][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]If you look around your office, you will most likely be able to categorize each of your employees into one of three types of performers: […]
February 3, 2021

Drivers of Performance

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Conventional wisdom describes self-awareness as a positive attribute. An attribute that allows an individual to perform better because they have an accurate assessment of their genius […]
January 14, 2021

Connecting Across An Organization | Heritage Ranch

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]I often hear that businesses want clarity, productivity and an aligned mission among their team. The reality is that it’s difficult to achieve those things […]
October 13, 2020

Primed for The Future | Working with Dixon Smith Interiors

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Business owners often feel as though they don’t have anyone to turn toward. They have might have ideas and visions for a better future, but […]
June 22, 2020

Your Business Can Emerge From COVID-19 Stronger Than Ever

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As businesses start to reopen, they’re faced with obstacles and opportunities. For the companies that want to emerge stronger than ever from this pandemic, it comes […]
March 28, 2017

What Do You Believe

Your philosophy, your manifesto, when well thought out, becomes the basis for your, “why I’m different” conversation with your prospects and clients. You use it in your marketing materials, a welcome video on your website, in social media, and even on the walls in your office as artwork.
January 5, 2016

Turning Off Work

“Working hard for something we don’t care about is called stress: Working hard for something we love is called passion.” ―Simon Sinek It doesn’t come as […]
January 14, 2026

Unlearning as a Leadership Strategy

In leadership, the hardest part isn’t just learning new skills; it’s letting go of the old ones. Unlearning is an underrated but crucial part of growth—shedding […]
January 7, 2026

Understanding Team vs. Working Group Structures

Knowing whether you need a team or a working group can be game-changing in community banking. Teams are built for collaboration, where everyone is rowing in […]
December 24, 2025

The Power of Long-Term Thinking

The most successful community banks understand that real strength is built over years, not reporting periods. While quarterly results matter, they are outcomes, not the strategy […]
December 17, 2025

The Nature of Traps in Community Banking

Community banks face traps in the form of flashy vendor pitches, regulatory shortcuts or “silver bullet” strategies. These traps are tempting and seem like quick fixes, […]
November 30, 2025

Strengths-Based Leadership

Let’s be honest—one-size-fits-all leadership just doesn’t cut it anymore. Real leadership means knowing your strengths and staying true to them. When you embrace what makes you […]
April 23, 2025

In or Out: Succession Planning for Community Bank CEOs

As community bank CEOs, your commitment to excellence is paramount. Yet, we’ve all seen what happens when an organization loses its drive. There’s a nearby bank […]
April 9, 2025

The Power of LCP 360 Assessment in Community Banking

In the dynamic landscape of community banking, continuous improvement and exceptional customer service are paramount. The LCP 360 assessment offers a valuable tool to enhance personal […]
March 5, 2025

Overcoming Resistance

In the world of community banking, leadership isn’t just about making strategic decisions or managing operations. It’s about confronting and overcoming a pervasive and often invisible […]
February 5, 2025

Redefining Work for a Human-Centered Future

The importance of leadership becomes especially pronounced during times of significant change. As we recognize inherent flaws in our current understanding and implementation of work—highlighted by […]
January 29, 2025

Rethinking Options: The Power of “None of the Above”

As community bank CEOs, you’re often presented with multiple-choice decisions, whether it’s about product offerings, strategic initiatives or vendor selections. The options seem straightforward, and someone […]
January 22, 2025

Behind the Numbers: The Energy of Community Banking

Community banking is about more than numbers on a balance sheet. It’s about the embodied energy—the trust, relationships and local expertise—that fuels every decision and action […]
January 8, 2025

Staying Focused on What Truly Matters: A Lesson for Community Bank CEOs

In the ever-evolving world of community banking, distractions often pull your focus toward things that seem important but don’t truly make an impact. Picture yourself browsing […]
December 4, 2024

The Best Available Option

In the fast-paced community banking world, the principle espoused by Seth Godin: “the best available option is always available,” holds profound significance. For CEOs, Seth’s mindset […]
November 27, 2024

The Conflict is Real: Navigating Leadership in Community Banking

“Jean-Michel Basquiat was afraid he’d be a flash in the pan, worried about paying rent, even as Andy Warhol reassured him otherwise.” This story isn’t just […]
November 13, 2024

The Difference Between a Team and a Working Group

In the dynamic world of community banking, understanding the distinction between a team and a working group is crucial for fostering a productive and collaborative environment. […]
April 24, 2024

Embracing Continuous Learning and Development

Explore how embracing continuous learning and development transcends traditional training in the finance world, emphasizing the importance of curiosity and the ability to learn from mistakes […]
March 13, 2024

Aligning Your Executive Team for Sustainable Growth

In the banking industry, sustainable growth isn’t just a goal; it’s essential. Community banks, in particular, face unique challenges and opportunities in fostering growth while maintaining […]
March 13, 2024

Empowering Women in Community Banking

Breaking Barriers. Building Success. In our journey toward excellence in community banking, leadership transcends the mere management of operations; it embodies the essence of fostering an […]
December 22, 2023

Come Together This Holiday Season

As we enter this Christmas season, it’s important to embrace the values that have stood the test of time. First and foremost, let’s remember the importance […]
July 26, 2021

Are You Keeping Your Team Engaged?

Investing in employee engagement is beneficial to a company’s productivity, work quality and work environment. A company’s high-performing employees are typically genuinely engaged, while low-performing employees […]
June 30, 2021

Which Employees Do You Give Your Time and Attention To?

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqHqiq9KCKE”][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]If you look around your office, you will most likely be able to categorize each of your employees into one of three types of performers: […]
February 3, 2021

Drivers of Performance

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Conventional wisdom describes self-awareness as a positive attribute. An attribute that allows an individual to perform better because they have an accurate assessment of their genius […]
January 14, 2021

Connecting Across An Organization | Heritage Ranch

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]I often hear that businesses want clarity, productivity and an aligned mission among their team. The reality is that it’s difficult to achieve those things […]
October 13, 2020

Primed for The Future | Working with Dixon Smith Interiors

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Business owners often feel as though they don’t have anyone to turn toward. They have might have ideas and visions for a better future, but […]
June 22, 2020

Your Business Can Emerge From COVID-19 Stronger Than Ever

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As businesses start to reopen, they’re faced with obstacles and opportunities. For the companies that want to emerge stronger than ever from this pandemic, it comes […]
March 28, 2017

What Do You Believe

Your philosophy, your manifesto, when well thought out, becomes the basis for your, “why I’m different” conversation with your prospects and clients. You use it in your marketing materials, a welcome video on your website, in social media, and even on the walls in your office as artwork.
January 5, 2016

Turning Off Work

“Working hard for something we don’t care about is called stress: Working hard for something we love is called passion.” ―Simon Sinek It doesn’t come as […]