What are you talking about at your planning sessions?

In a recent Success Magazine article, Robin Sorenson, founder of Firehouse Subs, said, “All conversations were about how we presented the brand. We focused on things we were really passionate about and everything ended up working out.”

Think about that for a minute: every conversation (be it strategic or tactical) went back to the brand. As many experts will tell you, “branding is everything.”

Sorenson elaborated on their brand-centric strategy by saying “It’s really all about our culture and matching our brand.” He noted that in their line of business, competitors can duplicate many things, “but not the Firehouse brand.”

So when it comes to your strategic planning session, what are you talking about at your credit union or bank? Too much time is spent on the financials, past performance, data analysis and tactical plans. While those items certainly have their place if they become the centerpiece or dominant talking points your planning session is not focused on the right thing.

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