Blog
The Seven Steps to Becoming an Innovative Credit Union
As the financial landscape evolves and becomes disrupted, credit unions face the challenge of staying relevant. To maintain relevancy, innovation becomes a must-have if the organization is to meet the changing needs of its members. Embracing innovation is vital for credit unions to thrive. But innovation, for innovation’s sake, is not helpful. All innovation must…
Credit Unions, Innovate or Die…
Credit unions have been around for over a century and have played a vital role in providing financial services to consumers. However, the financial services industry has undergone a significant transformation in recent years, and credit unions need to innovate to remain relevant in today’s market. In the late 90s, online banking was an innovation…
SECU and OpenAI, What Went Wrong!
An Unbalance Between Board Involvement and Leadership Autonomy Before I discuss this dysfunction between the board of directors and leadership at OpenAI and SECU, we must understand that today, a credit union is a technology company, not just a place to make deposits and take out loans. Almost everything in a credit union is built…
Learn to Lead with Gratitude
It is a Transformative Power of Leadership In our fast-paced and demanding role as a leader, where decisions are made, strategies formulated, and teams directed, expressing gratitude is vital. Leading with gratitude goes beyond politeness; it is a strategic approach that fosters positive relationships, builds trust, and enhances team dynamics. In this article, I will…
Leadership: Navigating Challenges with Courage and Compassion
Leadership is often glamorized as a position of power and influence, but the reality is that it is not for the faint of heart. Authentic leaders are not defined solely by their titles or authority; their hearts’ size distinguishes them. Leading with empathy, courage, and compassion is the hallmark of great leadership, as it involves…
Best Practices for Achieving Strategic Alignment
A C-suite executive recently asked me, “One area where we have always struggled is with executives building their comprehensive plans. Have you seen that as a struggle elsewhere, and do you have any suggestions on addressing this? Strategic alignment and coordination are vital in attaining strategic success. Strategic alignment ensures that all aspects of a…
A Job Candidate’s Guide to Finding a Cultural Fit
Selecting the right company to work for involves more than just matching your skills to the job description. Understanding the culture is vital, directly impacting job satisfaction, professional growth, and overall well-being. Here are the steps you take before the interview or before you apply: Research the Company The internet is a treasure trove of…
Do You Want to “Power Up” Your Auto Loans?
Capture the Electric Vehicle Auto Loan Market. The electric vehicle (EV) market is booming, with a surge in consumer interest in sustainable transportation options. Over 2.3 million electric cars were sold in the first quarter, about 25% more than in the same period last year. We expect to see 14 million in sales by the end of…
Applying the McKinsey 7S Model to Enhance Credit Union Success
The McKinsey 7S was introduced in Tom Peters and Robert Waterman’s book, In Search of Excellence, in the late 70s. The 7S framework changed how leaders viewed organizational effectiveness. Before 7S, executives focused on organization structure, who does what, who reports to whom, and the relative authorities of each tier on the org chart. As organizations…
Adapting “Management by Walking Around” for the Hybrid Credit Union
“Management by walking around” (MBWA) has been a management staple for decades. The phrase was popularized in the 1980s. Consultants Tom Peters and Robert Waterman explored the idea in their 1982 book, In Search of Excellence: Lessons from America’s Best-Run Companies. It involves leaders physically visiting their staff to observe their engagement and effort to understand…
Need help?
If you seek to align your culture to your mission, purpose, promise, and values, contact Rich at 720.256.4936 or Rich@l2ldev.flywheelsites.com.