Leading for Growth: How Umpqua Bank Got Cool and Created a Culture of Greatness

by Alan Shrader, Raymond P. Davis, Alan R. Shrader

Book Overview

How any business leader can create an atmosphere of competitiveness for exceptional growth

When Ray Davis took over the local 40-person South Umpqua Bank in 1994, many people in the industry poked fun at his insistence that employees answer the phone with a cheery "World's Greatest Bank." Eleven years, $7 billion in assets, and 128 branches (or " bank stores" in Umpqua lingo) later, the moniker seems quite apt. Other banks scratched their heads...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0787986070
• ISBN13: 9780787986070
• Release Date: March 2007
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 2.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.3" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Great Motivation

An outstanding, upbeat read! It was full of ideas for keeping things fresh, stimulating and customer focused emphasizing a teamwork environment but with individual employee responsibility and accountability. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Anyone would benefit from this read

From the front lines to the corner office of virtually any kind of business, this practical and engaging read has something to offer! It is written in an engaging style that pulls the reader through very quickly. The insight is unique and practical -- the bank's success speaks volumes for this "unreasonable" approach to managing and maintaining a thriving business.

A useful take on leadership

Leading for Growth is a quick read that reveals the leadership strategies that Ray Davis used to drive relentless growth at his company. Davis shows why many companies stagnate because they fail to realize what business they are really in! He details specific strategies all companies can use to create a thriving culture of growth in their organizations. And he offers leaders everywhere sage advice on building winning teams, leading change, and other critical requirements for growth. I found it very interesting and motivational. It shows that there are simple strategies every leader can use to propel growth. As Davis says, building a company "ain't rocket science."

Pick this one up

This is a highly recommended read to anyone who is the leader of an organization (not just bankers). Ray's positive enthusiasm really shines through and helps open the reader's eyes to new, innovative ways of growing a business.

A must read for all bankers, but most will miss the point.

This book is a must read for all bankers, but most will miss the point. They will try to copy the tactics, and miss the point that culture is the answer. You could strip all the cute stuff away, and Umpqua would still be great because it is a high performance culture. Ray Davis says it in the book, and I've heard him say it at conferences.