Living the life of a speaker and consultant means I’m often on the road for a week or more at a time, sometimes traveling from one city to another for back-to-back engagements. Not that I’m complaining! Just giving a little insight into life on the road. I recently had the honor of presenting for an organization in southwest Wisconsin, being a co-officiant for my niece’s wedding in south-central Wisconsin and working with a credit union in Ontario for their all-staff training day – all in the same week from the same suitcase.
After almost 25 years of speaking, packing for work trips is relatively easy since I know what outfits work for presenting and which are best for long flights in a cramped airplane seat. (Window or aisle doesn’t matter since both are smaller than my considerable assets!) The trick of this particular trip was including the formal wedding attire with the work attire. No big deal, right?
I counted days on my fingers to be sure I had enough of all the essentials, tossed in my favorite presentation duds, added a couple of fancy bits for the wedding and voila! Packing was done! With my mental checklist complete, I flew off for a happy, hectic week. I was mentally patting myself on the back for successfully juggling the details until in those final, peaceful moments as my head hit the pillow the night before the first presentation. SHOES!! I forgot to pack shoes for the wedding!
I happened to mention my foot faux pas during the first event (because I love to overshare with my audiences), when shockingly, our session host offered me the shoes off her feet! Before you think I left her standing barefoot in a parking lot, she did have a pair of boots in the car as part of her winter travel kit. (IYKYK) The People Helping People spirit was alive and well, and it wasn’t even a credit union group.
So, you can imagine that my heart broke a little bit the following week when someone in another session mentioned that they felt that the People Helping People philosophy is boring, old fashioned, and makes the whole credit union system feel antiquated. In my humble opinion, the credit union philosophy of People Helping People remains relevant and meaningful today.
People Helping People reflects the core values and mission of all credit unions, emphasizing our cooperative approach to financial services. If it feels old fashioned, it’s up to us to explore what this philosophy means in current terms, along with investigating some leaders in the credit union space who can teach us all a thing or two about People Helping People.
- Cooperative structure: Credit unions are financial cooperatives, meaning that our members are also owners. While I agree that not many of our members know they are owners, it is truly up to us to turn this around. Check out Element Federal Credit Union where their tagline is “You Own the Joint” for an example of how to do just that. Or take a trip over the border to the North where the fine folks at Libro Credit Union in Canada have owners instead of members. That’s a model to investigate!
- Financial inclusion: "People helping people" underscores the commitment of credit unions working to provide access to financial services for underserved and low-income communities, helping individuals who might otherwise struggle to access traditional banking. The team at Guadalupe Credit Union live this every day! In fact, the credit union went from conservatorship to a thriving $270 million+ in assets by living a culture of financial inclusion built on the People Helping People philosophy.
- Community involvement: Credit unions actively participate in and support our local communities. From financial literacy programs to community outreach to support for local businesses, we do this in spades! Check out the recipients of the 2023 Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Award, Louise Herring Philosophy in Action Member Service Award, and the Desjardins Adult and Youth Financial Education Awards for ideas and inspiration. The 2023 winners were just announced on November 17, 2023, so you’ll get a lot of fresh ideas here.
The People Helping People philosophy also emphasizes a personalized approach to service. We often pride ourselves on building strong relationships with our members, understanding their unique financial needs, and providing tailored solutions. What’s the story that’s unique to you? How are you sharing that story with your team, especially new hires, as well as with members?
According to our friends at ChatGPT, “The credit union philosophy of "people helping people" encapsulates a commitment to community, cooperation, financial inclusion, and ethical practices. In today's rapidly changing financial landscape, this philosophy serves as a reminder of the core values that distinguish credit unions from other financial institutions.”
If AI knows, why don’t we all? Reach out to learn more about how building a stronger culture around People Helping People can benefit your credit union. And don’t forget your shoes!
