Let’s face it—working in credit unions isn’t just about rates, ratios, and regulatory lingo.
It’s about people.
...And if you’re going to succeed in this people-powered profession, there’s one thing you’ll want to keep handy: humility (yes, even more than your favorite coffee mug or that trusty calculator from 2006).
Practice what you preach (even when it’s awkward)!
You know those values your credit union proudly prints on its website?
Things like integrity, trust, member-first mindset?
Well, it turns out those aren’t just for marketing, they’re supposed to live and breathe through us.
That means if you're preaching financial wellness, maybe double-check you're not impulse buying every gadget with a “Buy Now” button.
Practicing what we preach isn’t always easy, but it builds credibility faster than you can say “NCUA-insured.”
Mess up?
Fess up.
We all make mistakes. You might accidentally send an email with the wrong APR (oops), or call a member by the wrong name . . . three times. 😅
But here’s the secret sauce: owning it.
Saying “I messed that up” isn’t a weakness—it’s a power move.
People respect someone who admits they missed the mark and then makes it right.
It’s how trust is built, and it’s how leaders (yes, you included) are made.
The beautiful thing about humility is that it sticks with people.
When you’re the one who lifts others up, gives credit generously, and owns your missteps, people notice.
Members remember.
Colleagues want to work with you.
Leaders trust you.
You become the kind of person folks root for—the one they go to in a pinch, the one they follow from branch to branch, the one whose name gets brought up in all the right conversations.
Laugh at yourself.
Share the embarrassing story from your teller days.
Make the joke during the training.
We’re in the people business, and people love authenticity.
You can be excellent at your job and still be relatable.
In fact, the best CU pros usually are.
You don’t need to be perfect to have an amazing credit union career.
Just be grounded, be gracious, and show up every day ready to grow.
People will remember how you made them feel more than anything you ever said in a PowerPoint.
Especially if that PowerPoint had 47 slides and zero animations.
(Seriously, somewhere out there, a projector is still recovering.)
