The issue we don&8217;t see coming may well be the one that wreaks the most havoc. That enemy exists in every institution. Its name is Status Quo. Actually, Status Quo is a bit of a paradox. Great companies all cherish tradition and strive to build culture.

While tradition and culture are important to an organization, they can be &8220;the straw that breaks …&8221; if they inhibit the natural growth and learning that must happen in today&8217;s environment.

Long-standing cultures tend to make people feel comfortable. When people are ensconced in a comfort zone they cease to grow, they stop extending themselves and they quit learning. Such an organization has ceased to be competitive and is most certainly dying.

How does a company compete with and defeat the unseen enemy, Status Quo?

u Accept the fact that human beings do not like change. Left to their own desires, they will resist. This is normal and must not be the reason for giving-up.

u While tradition is good, we must realize that positive enduring tradition must have qualities and characteristics that are timeless. Timeless tradition consists of values, which will sustain initiative and growth regardless of the business environment.

u There is much written and discussed concerning the issue of culture. Most questions involve changing or creating a culture. There are two musts with respect to changing culture. First, cultural change can only begin if there is a passionate core of leaders who are able to influence others. Remembering that people do not like to change, the leader of cultural change must understand that it cannot be forced where there is not some inclination of acceptance. Second, the best way to create cultural change is to hire it.

Today, many companies seek to create new cultures in an effort to differentiate themselves and hold market share against the super regional and national banks.

Problems arise when long-term employees balk against the &8220;product-pushing&8221; initiatives. Success can only be found, in such endeavors, if the leaders keep the above mentioned thoughts in mind and re-think the idea of what successful business cultures are truly about.