Posts by Richard Jones
The “B” in DEIB – Strategies for Fostering Belonging
The importance of an employee feeling like they belong cannot be overstated, as it directly impacts individual and organizational outcomes. An employee’s race, religion, sexual identity, gender, and age must be taken into consideration if a credit union seeks to create a culture of belonging. This strong sense of belonging contributes significantly to employee well-being,…
Read MoreFrom “I’m Not Racist” to Becoming an Ally: A Journey of Personal Growth
“I’m not a Racist!” Anger or tears often accompany this proclamation and may be proof that, yes, you are a racist. But take a breath and pay attention. You can become an ally and also lead your credit union into a diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) reality. In today’s world, acknowledging and addressing racism-related…
Read MoreDo Bots and Keywords Limit Access to Qualified and Diverse Candidates?
Recently, I’ve had the honor of coaching and mentoring some competent professionals as they sought career changes. The common denominator with these high-potential applicants is that their opportunities have been limited because of the arbitrary algorithms found in bots and the way keywords are highlighted. Bots and keywords have become the primary selection tool in…
Read MoreFragility and Resiliency – Vital Attributes of Leadership
Often, leaders see decisiveness and strength as the primary characteristics of leadership. The reality is that leadership is more complicated and nuanced than these two attributes. Among the many qualities leaders need, fragility and resilience emerge as essential and distinct yet interconnected. In today’s ever-evolving, ever-disrupting landscape of challenges, a leader must navigate uncertainty, adapt…
Read MoreA Primer – Choosing the Next CEO
Every credit union will have to survive the succession of the CEO. The reasons for this succession can be planned or unplanned. If the succession turns out to be unplanned, there has been a vital miss in the Board’s responsibilities. This article will address what needs to be done for the Board to realize a…
Read MoreRemote Backup System – A Way to Thwart a Ransomware Attack
Over 60 credit unions have suffered ransomware attacks in the past few months. Having a remote backup system plays a significant role in thwarting your credit union from becoming a ransomware attack victim. What is Ransomware? Ransomware is malware that encrypts files on a victim’s system, rendering them inaccessible until a ransom is paid. With…
Read MoreCredit Unions Embracing the Future
The Transition to Web3 and Distributed Ledger Technology A new technology solution no only holds the potential for all credit unions but promises to level the playing field for smaller credit unions. This disruptive technology affordably transforms a credit union, allowing it to offer decentralized and transparent systems that promise to democratize financial services. Web3…
Read MoreHow Small Credit Unions Can Become Vital
For the past 20+ years, credit unions seeking to grow, have made charter changes to community charters, often from multi-common bond or sole sponsorship charters. The goal was to minimize the perceived barriers to membership. The belief was that if anyone could join my credit union, growth would be unconstrained. In some cases, this was…
Read MoreUnraveling the Differences Between Leadership and Management
As I crisscrossed the nation, meeting hundreds of credit union managers and executives, I learned that leadership and management are often used interchangeably and are “ordained” by the org chart. Let’s erase this mistaken notion that an individual is one or the other and discuss how these roles fit together. Leadership and Management are two…
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