By Ronaldo Hardy
Editor's note: Ronaldo was the first runner-up in last year's Next Top Credit Union Exec challenge, with its prize of professional development credits. Top winner Tina K. Hall shared her prize with Ronaldo. And the idea grew. Ultimately, CU leaders and organizations donated so much support that four finalists attended CEO Institute I in Philadelphia this spring. We're pleased to bring you a post from each of them about their experience at this acclaimed learning program. (Read Tina's post here!)
CUES' CEO Institute I offered a plethora of experiences, as well as educational instructions to better equip today’s credit union executives for a successful, viable future. It was an experience that many will never forget. We were challenged to become stronger, wiser, better and more strategic.
A strategy is simply an executable plan to achieve desired results. We all know that having a plan puts us in a much better position to be successful. There were so many great takeaways from this experience, but here are the things that stood out the most for me.
1) Plan for multiple scenarios.
Since the future is unpredictable, it is important to plan for more than one possibility. This will cause your credit union to be better prepared for whatever may come your way.
2) Know your core competencies.
What do you do well? What makes you who you are?
3) Lead with a vision.
A powerful vision should set direction and create emotional engagement. It also rests on the integrity of the speaker. People are willing to follow those they trust.
4) Be a person of good character and integrity.
Often in the business sector, people are tempted to compromise their value system to achieve greater profits or to reach their goals. Reaching the top is not considered true success if you had to compromise your values along the way. Our industry’s mantra is people helping people, and it’s that philosophy that should be the driving force of the decisions we make.
5) Possess peripheral vision.
Be sure to scan what’s going on around you, and use that when developing your strategic plan.
6) Take a risk.
Risks are not always easy to take. After all, that’s why we call them risk. We have no guarantee of the end result, but most people who enjoy good success have one thing in common: They were willing to take a risk. Don’t let the fear of failure stop you from discovering your true potential.
7) Look for an opportunity to swim in the blue ocean, rather than in the red ocean.
Challenge yourself to think beyond the norm. Don’t be constrained by past failures or success, and don’t be limited by what already is. Create something new. Challenge the status quo. Be different.
There were so many other things that stood out, but overall the running theme of CEO Institute I is that we can be stronger and better if we take the time to challenge our thinking.
Ronaldo Hardy, a CUES NextGen member, is branch coordinator for $391 million La Capitol Federal Credit Union, Baton Rouge, La.
Enter the 2011 Next Top Credit Union Exec challenge! Deadline: June 7.
Read more about Ronaldo's CEO Institute I experience.
Read another Skybox post by Ronaldo.
