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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Leaders, Avoid “Bobbleheads”

In leadership, the tendency to surround oneself with individuals who constantly nod in agreement—often called ‘bobbleheads’ due to their constant nodding—can be detrimental to effective decision-making, innovation, and overall credit union success. This behavior can lead to a lack of critical evaluation of ideas, as everyone agrees without questioning or offering alternative viewpoints. While it…

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Leadership Brand – Supercharge Your Career

Have you ever defined your leadership brand? If you haven’t, now is the time. The process is simple but deliberate and does not happen overnight. It is a hero’s journey, so expect multiple opportunities to learn from your mistakes and to rely heavily on allies. Why is Your Brand Journey Important? It Enhances Your Credibility…

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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 Empathic Leader: Investing in People Through Active Listening

Investing in people has taken center stage in the ever-evolving business and leadership landscape. As organizations recognize the importance of their most valuable and expensive asset – their employees – the focus has shifted towards fostering a workplace culture prioritizing empathy and active listening. Leaders who prioritize their teams foster a culture of belonging where…

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You Are a New Executive in a Credit Union, Onboard Yourself First!

Joining a credit union as a CEO, EVP, SVP, or VP is exciting yet challenging. As an executive leader, your role is pivotal in driving the credit union’s strategies, mission, vision, values, growth, and member satisfaction. It is rare to find a credit union with a disciplined process to onboard executives, which, by the nature…

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Feeling Pressure for a Hasty Executive Hiring Decision?

Recently, I have observed several credit unions make hiring mistakes for key executives, including CEOs. The disruption these “hasty hires” cause is palatable. In one situation, a CEO who lacked the strategic mindset the credit union needed was hired. In another, there was a significant skill gap; they hired a “finance person” when they needed…

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Striking the Right Balance Between Staffing Needs and Wants

In the not-too-distant past, we saw quiet quitting, and it appears in 2024 that we are seeing a return to layoffs. For example, Kinecta Credit Union, with 806 full-time equivalent employees, recently laid off 84 employees due to a fall in earnings. And, Kinecta is not alone in this trend. The workplace looks and feels…

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