Managers: The Vital Heartbeat in Credit Unions

In the intricate ecosystem of a credit union, the manager’s role is indispensable and multifaceted. While their primary duty may seem to be ensuring tasks are completed efficiently, the truth is far more complex. Managers are the linchpins of organizational success, balancing operational excellence with people-centric leadership. Their impact extends beyond task management to shaping…

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What’s Next for DEI?

You feel Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) are essential to your credit union’s mission and values, but with the political and societal anti-DEI feelings, you may be getting pushback. Some of the population have even demonized the acronym “DEI.” But we are in the “People Helping People” business, and inclusivity is vital to that purpose.…

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An Engaged Team is Vital to Member Engagement

An Engaged Team = An Engaged Member In today’s competitive financial landscape, credit unions continuously seek ways to differentiate themselves from traditional banks. One of the most compelling differentiators is the relationship credit unions foster with their members. Member engagement, which goes beyond conventional customer service, is at the heart of this, and its success…

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Serving Members as an Act of Stewardship

Several years ago, I worked with Dale Turner, now CEO at TruStone Financial Credit Union. As the VP of Lending, he stood at the podium of an all-staff meeting and challenged the entire credit union to “think for the member, don’t just respond to the member.” Dale had the wisdom to know the difference between…

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Facing Career Disruption?

Career disruption creates anxiety. It presents itself in many forms: you feel your influence is waning, there is a potential for layoffs, the company’s performance is missing targets, or layoffs have been announced. These palatable disruptions often cause you to become fearful, more risk-averse, or even to try to become invisible. You should do the…

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The Seven Pitfalls of Arrogance in Leadership

If you haven’t already, you will likely experience an arrogant leader. Arrogance is a treacherous leadership failure, often leading to disastrous consequences for the leader and their team. While confidence and assertiveness can be valuable traits for a leader, there’s a fine line between self-assuredness and arrogance. When arrogance shows up in a leader, it…

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Five Lessons in Resilience 9/11 Taught Us

Most of us remember the horror of watching two planes fly into the World Trade Center towers. I remember watching the second plane fly into the south tower. It was like watching a movie, but it was real and terrifying. Even after 20 years, I still feel a deep sorrow when I reflect on this…

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You Got that Job. Now Stay Humble!

Maybe you’ve observed this situation. Someone gets promoted to a role they have aspired to attain for years. Almost instantly, their communication takes on a new tone, and maybe arrogance creeps into their behaviors. Several years ago, I read an article about someone who had taken over my previous job. In the article, my successor…

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