By Barb Kachelski, CAE
I've come to the conclusion that inspiration is the single most important characteristic of a leader.
Last week I attended the MetroEast Chapter of Credit Unions' ninth Annual Golf Outing to present the CUES Future Leader award posthumously to Michele Myrick, CCE, who was executive vice president of $230 million E&A Credit Union in Port Huron, Mich. It was a pleasure to be with people who loved and respected Michele. And it's evident that she's inspired her family, her co-workers, and the people she met through her involvement in her credit union, her chapter, her league and CUES.
It was important to me that people attending the dinner who did not know Michele could clearly see she received the award because of her life, not because of her death. Her contributions to her employing credit union, to the credit union movement and to the community as a whole were amazing. Her dedication to professional development was impressive.
But what struck me most was how much the people whose lives Michele touched were inspired to do more because of her. In fact, the tenth hole of the tournament was the Michele Myrick Charitable hole, with the total proceeds of $2,000 contributed by the golfers and matched by Michigan Business Connection being sent to Michele's beloved Humane Society.
When I spoke before presenting the trophy to Michele's husband, Scott, and her father Roger Quitter, retired president/CEO of Christian Financial Credit Union, who are pictured above, I quoted Emily Houk who submitted a letter supporting Michele's nomination:
"While I think Michele would understand our grief, she'd be disappointed if we were unable to see beyond it and carry on her work. She was passionate, but not preachy and confident but not cocky."
Emily suggested we all have an opportunity to share Michele's approach three ways:
- in promoting the credit union difference;
- in seeking opportunities to make a difference in our members' lives, and;
- by investing in the longevity of the industry by developing the people who give their time as employees and volunteers.
Why do I rank inspiration as the most important characteristic of a leader? Because it's the characteristic that lives on long after the leader, herself, is gone. By sharing a little of Michele with you, I'm hoping the 2010 CUES Future Leader will live on in you, too.
Barb Kachelski, CAE, is SVP/chief operating officer for CUES.
