Musings from the CU Suite

Written by Anthony Demangone

My pal John Spence shared a blog post with me yesterday, and I thought it was worth your time. 

Kendall Langston does an annual survey of business leaders in New Zealand, Australia and here in the US. He always asks two simple questions:

1. What were the biggest leadership lessons you learnt in (last year) (and/or leadership observations you have made)?
2. What are the biggest challenges you feel you will face (this year)?

These aren't big companies, so the people he surveyed are a lot like you and me. The results were amazing. They mirror exactly what I hear when I speak with credit union leaders across the country.

Ah, New Zealand. Don't let the picture fool you! They have the same problems that we do...

The biggest lessons from 2015?

1. Company culture is extremely important, and it is VERY difficult to lead change and people. The quality of your people is a huge differentiation in the market.
2. You must focus on establishing accountability within your shop. Take action. Execute. Measure. Have clear goals. 
3. Change quickly, while keeping it simple. Separate important from the urgent. 

The biggest challenges in 2016?

1. Remaining profitable while you grow.
2. Developing your people.
3. Keeping pace with change and adapting to it. 

Wow. Seems my plan of moving to New Zealand to escape the realities of life might fall short of success! The true challenges in any organization seem to be universal. 

If you agree that those challenges and lessons are true, how much effort are you focusing in those areas in 2016? I'm asking myself the same question!

***

So, you've been promoted. You now manage "compliance" at your credit union. Your compliance officer works her tail off, but let's be honest, you're not really sure what she does all day. Well, 2016 is the year when you plan to figure that out. But how?

Attend NAFCU's Regulatory Compliance School! Now, stop laughing. I'm serious. I broke bread with a COO who attended the conference. He said it was a real eye-opener. 

"I can't imagine running a credit union and not coming to this conference at some point." His words, not mine.