Call Centers
The Friction Paradox – Compliance vs User Experience
Friction /?frikSH?n/ noun – Any unnecessary obstacles users encounter while interacting with banking products or services. These manifest in various forms, including cumbersome account opening procedures, complex loan applications, processes that are not aligned or consistent from channel to channel, or outdated digital interfaces. While some friction is essential for security and regulatory compliance, excessive…
Read MoreAdapting “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…
Read MoreLeadership Requires INTENTIONAL Active Listening
Good News: Active Listening is a Learned Skill In a fast-paced and increasingly remote and digital world, communication has taken various forms, from texting and email to video calls and social media. With the rapid evolution of our work environment, communication needs to be seen in the prism of the art of active listening. We…
Read MoreTwelve Steps to Bonding with Your Members
Unlike traditional banks, credit unions have a mission to serve their members, not shareholders. This fundamental difference makes building solid and lasting relationships with their members possible. To make members love their credit union, focusing on delivering exceptional service, fostering trust, and offering financial products that meet their needs is essential. Below, I will explore…
Read MoreJunk Fees- Credit Unions have options
Junk Fees are making the headlines. Many of these “junk fees” are designed to punish a member for bad behavior. Is this what the mission, “People helping People,” means? Using fees to punish members who have made mistakes, are financially stressed, or are struggling doesn’t fit this mission. This article will clarify what they are…
Read MoreThe Micromanager’s Guide to Being Everywhere and Nowhere at Once
Welcome to the hilariously frustrating world of micromanagement, where the boss’s watchful eye never blinks, and your every move is scrutinized to the point of absurdity. Working for a micromanager is like being trapped in a never-ending episode of “The Truman Show,” where your entire existence is monitored and controlled for the entertainment of your…
Read MoreSurviving the Bad Boss
A Comedic Guide to Working in a Cubical/Zoom Wilderness Ah, the workplace—the den of dreams, the source of livelihood, and occasionally, the battleground where bad bosses roam like free-range chickens creating chaos, confusion, and much clucking and pooping on everything. If you’ve ever found yourself trapped under the reign of a terrible boss, fear not!…
Read More8 Steps to a Successful Digital Transformation at a Credit Union
Digital transformation is necessary for credit unions to remain competitive in today’s rapidly evolving financial landscape. Embracing digital technologies can enhance member experiences, improve operational efficiency, and enable credit unions to meet their members’ evolving needs and expectations. All too often, we see credit unions doing much work to become digital or mobile-first, but often…
Read MoreA Case Study of Bold, Transformational Change
This article is for the CEOs and Chief Strategic Officers thinking BOLDLY and going where other organizations have not gone before. Recently I’ve observed and had the joy of working with a couple of credit unions making significant transformations and reinventing their business and service models. If you look at what these credit unions are…
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