Aligning leadership development to your CU’s organizing principle

Endorsement by a credit union’s board and leadership teams of a thoroughly vetted organizing principle facilitates a higher level of strategic execution across the organization.

An organizing principle speaks to the long-term impact the credit union desires to have in the market. It goes beyond a vision that is posted on the website and transcends quarterly or short-term concerns to underscore the credit union’s commitment that will govern all strategies, tactics and measures of success, including leadership development initiatives.

Strategic execution is elevated when leaders can frame the allocation of precious resources—including staffing and capital—against the organizing principle. Alignment on priorities will often help overcome a focus on short-term career advancement if people buy in on all that the organizing principle encompasses—and if they know that for “doing the right thing,” they will be recognized appropriately. In practice, this could mean that an executive or business unit offers to support another’s priorities, possibly compromising individual short-term goals to reach the organizing principle faster or in a more purposeful manner.

 

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