Case Study

Succession Planning with Leadership Development & Culture at the Forefront

Overview

i3 Bank, with over 96 years in business, has been experiencing significant growth and development in the last decade. With a team of fewer than 50 employees, they’ve focused on enhancing their organizational culture, particularly as they prepared for the succession of five key leadership roles. Dawn Beck, VP of Human Resources, and Tim Clark, President, sought a solution to anchor their leadership development and navigate these challenges. They utilized BetterCulture’s MindSet Leadership Program and 20 Tenets of Culture products to support their goals and strengthen their organizational culture.

Challenge

As i3 Bank approached succession planning, they faced the challenge of preparing for the retirement of five key leaders while ensuring continuity in their culture and leadership development. Additionally, the bank needed to address the leadership needs of both new and experienced leaders, who were navigating the complexities of today’s workforce. i3 Bank recognized the need for a robust leadership development plan that could quickly upscale both new leaders and experienced leaders and create a common vision and language of leadership for each of their departments and branches.

Solution

To address these challenges, i3 Bank adopted BetterCulture’s MindSet Leadership Program and 20 Tenets of Culture products, which provided the foundation for their leadership development and cultural alignment. These programs gave the leadership team a common language to communicate and an easy way to engage employees in meaningful conversations about culture. The 20 Tenets were also integrated into their company’s strategic plan, bi-annual performance reviews, team meetings, and onboarding processes, ensuring they became a core part of i3 Bank’s culture and operations.

Process

Initial Exposure: i3 Bank’s VP of Human Resources and President first attended BetterCulture’s 2-day MindSet Leadership Program event, where they learned about BetterCulture’s leadership philosophy and its potential impact.

Leadership Development: Recognizing the need to upskill leaders and reinforce their culture during succession planning, they decided to invest in leadership development for 12-15 top leaders through using BetterCulture’s video-based, On-Demand MindSet Leadership Program. i3 facilitated a series of 8 sessions internally, which included playing videos and using BetterCulture facilitation resources to discuss and apply content to ensure deep understanding and engagement among the participants. The program was so well received that i3 Bank sought further ways to enhance their leadership and culture.

Continual Growth: As a way of expanding their people and culture development efforts, i3 progressed to implementing BetterCulture’s 20 Tenets of Culture program for all i3 team members, opting for a 3-year “all-access” engagement. Their VP of Human Resources became the Driver of this initiative, and has overseen a creative, and multi-pronged implementation. I3 is currently in their second year of utilizing the 20 Tenets program.

Outcomes

Stronger Leadership: Since implementing BetterCulture’s programs, i3 Bank has seen a notable improvement in leadership effectiveness and overall company culture. Leaders and employees alike now have a common language for discussing values, challenges, and successes. New employees consistently provide positive feedback about the welcoming and distinct culture at i3 Bank, with one new hire from a larger bank remarking, “You can just tell the culture is different here.”

Enhanced Culture & Employee Engagement: The bank has also seen increased employee engagement, with regular Tenet meetings promoting connection across departments. Leaders have observed positive shifts in attitudes, with long-time employees noting how much the culture has improved . The Tenets have become part of i3 Bank’s everyday language, making it easier for employees to connect and support one another, both personally and professionally.

Effective Succession Planning: The leadership transition has been smooth, with new and incoming leaders developing and adapting to align with the bank’s values and vision.

Embedded Core Values for Lasting Impact: The impact of i3’s use of the 20 tenets can be measured not only through measurable and anecdotal feedback but also through their integration into performance reviews and strategic planning, ensuring continued alignment with the company’s goals and core values of IMPACT, INTEGRITY, and INNOVATION.

If you’re looking to upscale your leadership team, create a common vision, and strengthen your organizational culture, consider BetterCulture’s proven programs. Learn more about how we can help your organization achieve similar results by contacting us today.

The Mindset Leadership Program and the 20 Tenets of Culture has had a positive impact on our team and organization. The programs are now part of who we are. Dawn Beck, VP of Human Resources drives this program and is always incorporating it into employee communication and what we do as part of our Employee Engagement Committee. I often hear from employees that have experiences in other organizations say “the culture is different here”. We pride ourselves on culture and these programs are a big part of it.

Tim Clark

President, i3 Bank