Onsite at CO-OP THiNK: Top 10 takeaways from Day 2

Did you know that many years ago the great Steve Wozniak borrowed $500 from a credit union to help replace a stolen TV; he needed to replace it because it wanted to turn that TV into something new which eventually lead to the creation of Apple. Pretty incredible right, you did that, you had a hand in changing the way we function in the world on a daily basis. A lot of people don’t know that story, so what else are we leaving out? Today at CO-OP THiNK we discussed how we can bring innovation into the credit unions, here the top 10 thoughts.

  1. Unite with one voice. Sure every individual credit union is going to have something that makes them unique but our overall purpose is the same. That’s the message we need to focus on.
  2. Never miss an opportunity to share. Social media can be our biggest, most powerful ally if we will only take advantage of it. Share your local story, invest a few dollars in a promoted post. People love to read positive, “feel good” stories and you have just that.
  3. Don’t stereotype millennials. If you are only thinking of a millennial as a recent college grad, living at home with no job and student loans. It’s time to widen your view. Millennials have steady jobs, homes, and kids of their own. By generalizing your message to them you are losing valuable members.
  4. Unlock your creativity. We are all innately creative, it’s just as we get older our definition of what it means to be creative becomes skewed. Take some time to notice when you feel creative and act.
  5. Innovation doesn’t mean an overhaul. Innovation can be the smallest of things that ends up significantly impacting your processes. Don’t be afraid to bring an idea to the table because you feel it isn’t “glamorous” enough.
  6. Create a culture shift. “Because we’ve always done it this way” is a phrase we should never have to hear again. A culture change won’t happen overnight, but start making small changes to work towards a more open and collaborative environment.
  7. Make data visual. Bring your ideas and data to life. Creating a visual impacts people on an emotional level and it will be easier to get others (who may have previously been reluctant) to get on board.
  8. Exercise empathy. With your employees and members. Showing empathy will create brand ambassadors for life.
  9. Stop making excuses. Regulation, limited budgets, etc. etc. Guess what every industry deals with issues. Time to move on, the bottom line is we either embrace innovation or we become irrelevant.
  10. Encourage curiosity. Allow employees to try new things, set aside a percentage of your budget specifically for something new. If it works, run with it, if not move on. Curiosity is what will keep you ahead of the game.
Amanda Reed

Amanda Reed

Amanda Reed joined NACUSO in December of 2021 as the Marketing and Membership Officer. She has a background in education and served as a middle school English teacher before being ... Web: nacuso.org Details