Thoughts
Why the Best Don’t Blink: The Strength of Strategic Commitment
Agility. Pivoting. Disruption. These buzzwords make headlines—but they don’t build sustainable growth. While everyone else chases the next shiny object, smart leaders ask a better
Built to Evolve: Six Moves That Make Transformation Stick
Transformation isn’t a side project; it’s survival strategy. Credit unions that want to stay relevant, resilient, and ridiculously valuable have to move beyond the status
Break the Routine, Build the Future: How Credit Unions Make Innovation Stick
Innovation doesn’t happen by accident—or in between back-to-back Zoom calls and inbox cleanouts. If credit unions want to stay competitive, relevant, and member-obsessed, they need
The Four Power Plays of Strategy: Future-Proofing Your Credit Union
Strategic planning isn’t just about playing defense; it’s about making bold, calculated moves that secure your credit union’s relevance, resilience, and growth. The financial services
Strategy is Not Science
In the world of strategic planning, there’s often a strong pull toward precision — toward forecasting models, data points, and algorithms that promise to predict
Money Smarts: A 20-Year-Old’s Guide to Financial Reality
Alright, folks—normally, you’d hear from me, talking about high-performance results, strategy, and leadership in financial services. But let’s switch things up. Instead of another deep
So, Now You’re CEO: Building Confidence in Your Leadership
As a first-time credit union CEO, you are now responsible for leading your organization, inspiring your team, and creating value for your members. While excitement
Finish. Start. Research: A Framework for 90-Day Strategic Sprints
A disciplined approach to strategic execution can make the difference between thriving and merely surviving. The 90-day strategic sprint, guided by the cycle of “Finish.
Pre-Planning Questions for Credit Union CEOs
Regardless of your season for annual strategic planning, there is a new perspective that can transform this annual exercise from a recharge of last year’s
Strategic Measures of Success
Strategic planning is such an informative, worthwhile, and significant process. It allows a credit union to consider long term objectives, discuss the most pertinent trends,
AI and the Credit Union Edge: Transforming Member Engagement and Growth
In the rapidly evolving landscape of retail and financial services, artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer just a buzzword; it is a transformative tool shaping
The Heckler’s Veto: Navigating Dissent Among Board Members
In the world of credit union governance, the importance of open dialogue, spirited debate, and even dissent cannot be overstated. A Board of Directors that
Elevating Productivity: Building and Sustaining High Performance Teams
Elevating Productivity: Building and Sustaining High-Performance Teams For credit union executives, optimizing productivity is often at the heart of achieving growth, efficiency, and member satisfaction.
Perform or Transform: A Strategic Discussion
“Perform or Transform: A Strategic Discussion” by Jeff Rendel, Certified Speaking Professional The title says it all, and it’s a question posed to executives and
Strategic Communication Simplified
“Strategic Communication Simplified: Include, Connect, and Explain” by Jeff Rendel, Certified Speaking Professional “When our entire organization, from the front line to the boardroom, understands
10X Credit Unions: Success for the Long Haul
“10X Credit Unions: Success for the Long Haul” by Jeff Rendel, Certified Speaking Professional In 2013, management consultant Jim Collins released Great by Choice, a
Stakeholder Capitalism and Strategy
“Stakeholder Capitalism and Credit Union Strategy” by Jeff Rendel, Certified Speaking Professional Stakeholder capitalism (and strategy) has come up a lot in recent credit union
Only the Paranoid CEOs Survive
“Only the Paranoid CEOs Survive,” by Jeff Rendel, Certified Speaking Professional So said the CEO of one of the nation’s most prosperous credit unions when