35 THE NAFCU JOURNAL May–June 2023 ■ Transparency: Some people seem to think that hoarding information gives them power. It is precisely the opposite. High open, honest, robust communication levels are the hallmark of any great corporate culture. It’s pretty simple: people without access to information do not have to take accountability for their actions. A team member must have all the information and data necessary to do their work effectively to succeed. ■ Fun: In a great corporate culture, people enjoy their work and those they work with. They share a genuine connection and care for each other and consider many of the people they work with their friends, possibly even their best friends. It is this sort of family atmosphere that binds people together and creates a special place to work. ■ Praise: One of the strongest human motivators is feeling appreciated. People need to know that they are doing a good job. They want to feel like they are part of the team, and that people are glad they are in the organization. The best leaders in the world create a culture of catching people doing things right. They establish an environment where teammates recognize each other’s good work and give one another genuine praise for a job well done. This sort of atmosphere is a complete game changer for any organization. A winning culture is critical for the success of your credit union. It doesn’t happen by chance, fate or good luck. A solid organizational culture must be designed, managed and intentionally “lived” by all senior leaders in the credit union. In the credit union industry, employees are inspired by their ability to make a difference in members’ lives. In this way, culture plays a vital role in attracting, retaining and growing top talent for your organization. Which, I said at the beginning of the article, is the single most potent driver of happy, loyal and engaged members. John Spence is widely recognized as one of the top business and leadership experts in the world. He has been working in the credit union industry for more than 20 years and serves as one of the lead instructors for NAFCU’s Management and Leadership Institute. To find out more about John, go to www.johnspence.com.
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