banks

Organizations are comprised of people, processes and technology. Finding the right mix for operational excellence is similar to what any good chef must do to produce an exquisite culinary dish. Managers must understand that communication is more than sharing a thought, idea or opinion. It is the art of interpretation and inspiration. It provides direction for goal attainment or business achievement. It is important enough to demand its place as a core competency necessary for effective organizational management.

There are plenty of books, experts and opinions on leaders today. I'm not going to attempt to join the fray. I would prefer to challenge your ideas and definitions of what constitutes a good leader. Will you follow along for a minute?

Most companies develop tag lines to differentiate themselves from the competition with a catchy phrase or word. Everyone recalls Nike's Just Do It. But I would be willing to bet that most consumers take a cynical view of tag line promises based upon the common service experience that rarely delivers on the promise.

I've said all along that debit card cash rebate programs are the way to go. During my tenure as a regional market manager for Teachers Credit Union I was part of the creative team behind its Debit Card Rebate program. Now at seven years old, the program has continued to grow in popularity.

As banks and credit unions seek alternative income sources, their focus shifts significantly to business services. Fee income sources from consumer banking appear to be limited to courtesy pay privilege or overdraft privilege fees, ATM charges and NSF charges (others may deserve mention but let's simplify for now).

Financial industry leaders talk about competition with an emphasis on differentiation. Add to the conversation the many threats to survival of small financial institutions, and in that context we hear rhetoric that has bombarded the industry since the mid-1990s merger boom and upsurge in start-up community banks.