Thoughts
From Kind to Cutting-Edge: Reinventing Service for the Data-Driven Credit Union
Credit unions have long positioned themselves as the friendlier financial option. Personalized service, warm welcomes, and community connections remain hallmarks of the movement. But kindness
The KPIs of Relevance: Key Performance Indicators
Too many strategic plans lead with Key Performance Indicators. That’s a mistake. When financial ratios, activity metrics, and dashboard data dominate the opening conversation, it
Grow Anyway
Let’s get one thing straight: the value credit unions deliver is not up for debate. While bankers groan about competition and regulators issue cautious forecasts,
The 5 Rs of Strategic Progress
In the changing environment of financial services, strategic planning is a cornerstone for credit unions aiming to thrive amid competition, technology shifts, and member expectations.
AI Isn’t Optional Anymore—It’s a Strategic Imperative
Artificial intelligence isn’t lurking on the edge of the credit union world; it’s already shaping how we engage members, run operations, and think about the
The KPIs of Relevance: Key Predictive Insights
Strategic planning often leans too heavily on rearview metrics — measuring what’s already happened and assuming the past will predict the future. But the velocity
The KPIs of Relevance: Key People and Infrastructure
Big ideas. Big bets. Big projects. None of it matters without the right people and the right infrastructure to make it happen. Key People and
The KPIs of Relevance: Key Projects and Initiatives
Strategic planning isn’t just a ritual. It’s a reckoning. If Key Possibilities and Ideas give you vision…And Key Priorities and Investments give you focus…Then Key
The KPIs of Relevance: Key Priorities and Investments
If the first step in future-focused strategy is to imagine what’s possible, the next step is to decide what matters most. That’s where Key Priorities
The KPIs of Relevance: Key Possibilities and Ideas
In most strategic planning conversations, “KPI” is shorthand for Key Performance Indicators — measurements that show where you’ve been, how you’re doing, and where you’re
How Credit Unions Can Grow Without Losing Their Soul
Growth is the golden goal; but for credit unions, it’s not just about adding members or entering new markets. It’s about expanding while staying true
Members Over Metrics
Somewhere along the way, strategy got complicated. Charts replaced conversations. Growth targets overshadowed service improvements. And, too often, members — the people who own the
Lean Strategy, Bold Growth
In credit unions, strategy can feel like art—different each year, built from intuition, colored by market guesswork, and driven by a committee of well-meaning collaborators.
Sustainable Growth: How Credit Unions Can Expand Without Losing Their Identity
Growth is exciting: it’s the mark of a thriving credit union. But let’s be real: growing the wrong way can be just as dangerous as
AI Won’t Take Your Job, But It Will Take Your Excuses
By now, you’ve heard the hype. You’ve probably even experimented with ChatGPT or explored how AI can automate some back-office workflows. But let me be
Strategic Blind Spots: What You Don’t See Can Stall Your Growth
Most credit unions don’t suffer from lack of effort. They stumble from well-intentioned tunnel vision. Strategy is often assumed to be handled: a few planning
Leadership Blind Spots: The Growth Risk You Don’t See Coming
In an industry built on trust, transformation, and service, the greatest threat to progress may be hiding in plain sight—inside the executive suite. While financial
Service Blind Spots: The Silent Killer of Future Business
It’s easy for leadership teams to assume service is strong—until they dig deeper and realize the member experience isn’t keeping pace with expectations or competition.