As we are settling into the new year, now is the perfect time for self-reflection and planning for everything that you hope to accomplish this year. We often make resolutions—whether they are business or personal goals—without really taking the time to look at how we got to where we are. Then, unfortunately, those resolutions fall by the wayside. The first step to making 2017 a success is devoting time to reflect upon and appreciate everything you have accomplished—what has worked and what needs improvement—even if only incrementally.

The old saying, “Success breeds success,” is the notion that when you are successful it paves the road to even further success. To start off on the right foot, it is important to list your top accomplishments. What did you do personally last year that was a success? What did you do that made your credit union more successful and a better place for its associates and members? It may seem like a daunting task, but upon reflection everyone should be able to name quite a few accomplishments.

Now, why is this exercise important for your success as a leader within your credit union? A friend of mine who works for a credit union in North Carolina told me her direct supervisor indicated that she did not have the experience to remove barriers, to get everyone on the same page during projects and to adapt to new processes. She was completely caught off guard by this feedback, telling me that every day she was doing these things with her associates, mentoring them and leading them through whatever challenges they may have. She simply could not understand how her supervisor did not see these were (as she perceived them) some of her greatest strengths.

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