The only thing constant is change. So many of us are experiencing things making us feel (at minimum) unsettled or just plain throw our world into chaos. Somehow, we find a way to make it work and keep the train moving. Because that’s what we must do to keep clothes on our backs, rent or mortgages paid, and food on the table. Increasingly we find ourselves focused on keeping “number one” afloat. But is this all there is?
We find ourselves bombarded by messages of practicing self-care and taking care of mental health. And those things are important—so please make sure you do it! But in credit unions we are asked to think/be/act more, so members are engaged, products are sold, and the bottom line met. Many of our fellow credit union professionals are struggling to remain motivated (not quiet quitting) and remember the “why” of these tasks. Perhaps in this race to take care of “number one” we have forgotten something.
Maybe we should go back to basics and explore our why. Our credit union movement began with a simple principle of (you know what I’m getting ready to say . . .) “people helping people.” In 1844, the Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers sought to care for the common good when workers couldn’t afford basic goods at their company stores. These civic leaders sought to care for the common good of a small community in Northern England. Not just themselves, but others in their community. In social media you find stories of do-gooders performing acts of kindness or organizations performing community service. But it takes a unique kind of effort to perform regular consistent actions for the sake of the common good. It’s even more difficult to believe in a movement, when you don’t see the common good being important anymore.
The common good should mean more than just taking care of ourselves or people we know. It should be proactive action to care for all people in communities. It’s “people helping people” regardless of their circumstances. Otherwise, our movement is weakened. I know you might be asking, “Well how do we get back to that if this is where we are?” At the end of the day, it’s about choice. Choosing every day to put community needs first and do what is in the best interest of the community. It won’t be an easy task. We may not all agree on what that is or looks like. But if our movement is to do more than survive, but thrive, then isn’t it worth it
Serving the common good is more than doing a one-off service project. It means using out-of-the-box thinking to develop strategies and acting on them. This also means asking tough questions like have we verified our products or services are meeting existing needs of our current members (not past)? Are our members as engaged as they could be, given our efforts? How are we serving our community? Look at what the data is saying. Listen to what our members are truly saying. If they are silent, then let’s work harder to hear their voices or find others who can help us understand what that silence truly means. As part of this movement, I know I have a lot to learn. I hope you will join me in finding ways to do/be/act better to support the common good in communities—starting today!
