Financial Literacy vs Financial Wellness – a Consumer’s View

Credit unions and banks across the country have financial literacy on their to-do list, but what consumers need/want is a roadmap to financial wellness, not just financial literacy. Well, what’s the difference? Financial literacy is about understanding money basics. Typically the curriculum includes topics like “how to balance your checkbook,” “what is a savings account,”…

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To Lay Off or Not to Lay Off – the big question

The decision to lay off employees is one of the most challenging decisions a company can make. It is often a last resort in response to changing market conditions, financial difficulties, or shifts in the company’s strategic direction. However, while layoffs can be necessary for a company to survive, it is essential to approach the…

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Make your Strategic Plan a Hero’s Story

When doing a strategic plan, most organizations really are good at thinking with aspiration, hope, and promise. Where the “failure” happens is on the execution of the plan. If you think about engaging movies, they all seem to be stories that include a variation of the hero’s journey. “Lord of the Rings”, “Star Wars”, and…

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Three Steps to Team Alignment

How often have you worked with a team that isn’t on the same page? This common work situation of being misaligned is not the team’s fault but the responsibility of the leader/manager. What Elements Make up Team Alignment? 1. Purpose 2. Culture 3. Values When any of these three elements are out of alignment, the…

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Do your Data “Bytes” Have a Bad Aftertaste?

We all know how important data is to our credit union. Let’s face it; we are addicted to reports. We love our reports. We compare day to day, month to month, year to year, and peer to peer. But, let’s get real; we run two reports side by side, and, oh the horrors, the numbers…

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What’s Dog Poop Got to Do with Leadership?

We’ve all observed the behaviors of dog owners. If you live in an urban or suburban area, you know the rules; if you walk your dog, you are expected to pick up your dog’s poop. From my home, I have a great view of a stretch of grass that is a favored peeing and pooping…

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Report Inconsistencies are Frustrating

One of the biggest frustrations found in most credit unions is the numbers between two or more departments don’t jive. The conversation almost always leans toward trying to figure out which data set is correct, which one to believe. The ultimate goal for these organizations is to find that elusive “one source of truth.” So,…

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Three Things Every Leader Must Know

Leadership is not for sissies. Leadership is not about you. Leadership has a price. Let’s diagnose each of these requirements. Leadership is not for sissies – To be an authentic leader takes courage. This courage is realized in many ways. Sometimes it is the courage to do what you don’t want to do, to do…

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