id33b1: Up Market

sâmbătă, 31 martie 2012

Up Market

Up Market

Texas Trailblazer

Posted: 31 Mar 2012 09:00 AM PDT

Trademarked banking system leads to customer satisfaction and new consulting revenue.

Mavericks by definition don't take the road less traveled – they cut their own trail. That's exactly what James Geeslin of Extraco Banks of Central Texas has done. His creative spin on banking services has transformed his branches, changed hiring practices, and resulted in an innovative trademarked banking system.

"It's more efficient. Time is money," Geeslin say of his Swarm BankingTM system. The concept is indeed modeled on its namesake – swarms of bees. Rather than have customers wait in line for help, staff "swarm" to them and greet them within 10 seconds of their arrival.

Starting with revamped floor plans, Geeslin, vice chairman and chief sales officer, changed the nature of the way they provide service. The biggest change is hiring and training employees. "We needed people who could do more than one thing, who were mobile, and could communicate well," he explains. "We found that the bulk of turnover in the bank is in the retail positions where there are lots of part-time workers." Training was diluted and inconsistent because one teller trained another. Now, training is more formal, following an airline flight attendant training model, allowing staff to serve more job functions.

Extraco's staff now have combined job functions and are more sales-oriented, full-service staffers. In fact with their ear pieces for communication, they look more like secret service agents than tellers, Geeslin says.

A wide range of improved services and procedures set the new banking concept apart:

  • Cash Recycling Kiosks – These automated kiosks allow staff to feed checks and deposits in, and the cash and change come out.  No need for time-consuming balancing of drawers at the end of the day.
  • Deposit Automation – Customers can make a deposit 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They feed the check into the machine, which deposits the money and returns a receipt with copy of check on the back side.
  • Instant ATM cards – "We survey our customers a lot," Geeslin says. Extraco found that customers were displeased with the turnaround on debit cards – sometimes up to 10 days wait to receive a new card. Through the Innovation Committee, we developed a system to print the cards in the lobby and customers get a new card in four minutes.
  • Innovation Committee – "I hand pick the members who come from all walks of the business," Geeslin says. The committee meets religiously for lunch every two weeks. "We throw ideas around and see what sticks…If we want to move forward with an idea we have a task force pull in fellow workers," he explains.
  • Consulting Revenue – Extraco's system has been so popular, many businesses were asking to come see how it works. "So we started charging for our expertise and are helping other banks reduce their staffing and turnover, and increase their customer satisfaction," Geeslin says.  "By the fourth quarter of 2011, we developed a nice pipeline of business."

Not surprisingly, Extraco's creativity earned Geeslin "Maverick Banker of the Year" in 2011 from the Bank Administration Institute. Extraco was also named a 2011 Celent Model Bank.

Photo Credit: Alco Pest Control of New Jersey

How To Start a Startup

Posted: 31 Mar 2012 06:00 AM PDT

Advice from someone who is going through the process of starting a business.

Are You Afraid? Terrific — Then You Really are a Pioneering Leader…

Posted: 30 Mar 2012 02:00 PM PDT

It's hard to know whether or not you are running your business "right" if there is even is such a thing. If you ever lie awake at night wondering if you can make your business grow more, faster, better. Do you think about whether you've made the right choices that day and whether or not you "should" (not a fan of the should word in life, however reality is we all use it right?) really make that next leap/move? Well then, chances are that you are running your business the right way! Meaning that uncertainty and fear is where Pioneers and Leaders exist – so you're right where you need to be — on the edge of the edge and able to tolerate the discomfort for a higher purpose and to reach your goals, to create, and to serve on a much bigger and/or deeper level.

The truth of the matter is that being afraid of making mistakes and doing the "right" thing is one of the telltale signs that you and your business are on the move and going places. Here are the Top 6 Signs that indicate whether or not you're on a “pioneering success path”:

  1. You know that you "should" take that next leap, but you are incredibly afraid of that very same next leap. Just a reminder for your desk-write it somewhere BIG & BOLD: Fear breeds success!!! Truly it does… so push yourself every day to do something that frightens you, seems like a big reach, and means taking a huge risk but the rewards are tremendous.
  2. Going off of that beaten path. So, nobody else in your industry does it quite like you – perfect! Being original, offering something that nobody else does, and going that extra mile are the things that will make you stand out from the crowd. Who wants to "fit in" anyway? Plus it will also keep you feeling fulfilled and energized to keep going through the ups and downs!
  3. Staying in control of your business. Having the nerve to say "no" to things that just don't feel right is something that more business owners should do. It's okay to say no – in fact, it's more than necessary for success sometimes!
  4. Weaving your work into your life. If you love what you do, go ahead and speak about your topic with authority. If you find that your work collides with your life, that's because work (when you truly love it!) and life aren't two different things. Is your work a constant part of your life? Excellent!
  5. Referrals are rolling in. If you find that a large percentage of your clients come from referrals, you are definitely doing something right! People wouldn't keep referring you if you didn't rock at what you do!
  6. You're actually happy to work every day and on the weekends! Never thought you'd enjoy getting up early on a Saturday morning to do some work? If you find yourself loving those early morning hours and enjoying your work day in and day out, you are right where you should be – Congratulations you're a pioneering entrepreneur and leader!!!!

The New Press Release 2012

Posted: 30 Mar 2012 10:00 AM PDT

Learn how to manipulate a press release so it will be viewed by the most people possible.
Publicat de la 09:24

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