CU Wish List

January 1^st marked the creation of everyone’s New Year’s resolutions on something they want to improve on or do different in 2013.  Things like:

I want to exercise more.

I want to eat less.

I want to spend more time with my wife and kids.

I want to spend less time with my laptop.

Okay…..maybe those are just mine.

Our SYLN blogging topic for this month was “CU Wish List”.  At first I had thought about great innovations that are soon coming to Servus Credit Union like email money transfers and our own app.   I detoured to thinking about changes I can implement myself to help make Servus a better place to work.  How could I make an impact with minimal effort and resources as to not affect the capacity issues we continually discuss with our staff?

So with that, here is my CU Wish List for this year:

Be Present.

• My boss says this a lot when our team is out facilitating, and I like to bring it up in my change leadership classes.  Being present is about how we show up every day with our staff, our members, our communities, and even our family.  When we are having a bad day, it’s easy to bring in those emotions into our day to day interactions.  Check those at the door.  Make a choice to be present and make that person your absolute focal point.    

Start saying hello.

• I have previously blogged about a disease I call The Head Down Syndrome .  Even I get the head down syndrome from time to time and cease to say hello to co-workers when passing them in the hallways of the Servus Corporate Centre.   What is stopping me?  It’s because I am choosing not to be present in that moment and that needs to stop.  Say hello, it’s pretty easy to do.

Start asking more thoughtful questions.

• Another gem from one of our leadership development and change leadership programs.  Thoughtful questions are best defined as asking “How was your weekend?” versus “How was your son’s birthday party this weekend?”  By asking a specific, relatable question to someone, it shows them that you are interested in them, and that you care.

Start taking myself less seriously.

• I’ve been chipping my way at this one over the past several years.  When I first started at the credit union 13 years ago, I had the stereotypical thought of how I should act, what I should say, how I should dress as a banker.  I have found that the more that I can be myself, the stronger the relationships I have built with our staff and with our members.  Maybe that means wearing your tie a little less.  Maybe that means growing a moustache for Movember.  Whatever that is, do not be afraid to laugh at yourself.  Be humble.  Be vulnerable.  People will appreciate you for being you.

How about you?

What do you want to do in 2013 to make your credit union a better place to work?

Devin Selte

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