Creating leaders in your credit union

Starting out, not all employees are fit to lead. And some will never have the desire to do so. But there are some things you can do to develop employees and get them started on the path to leadership…

Experience

If your desire is to grow employees, you need to provide them with experiences that are outside of their norm. Extra in-house training or helping with formal education can be good ways to help them grow, but you can also find small ways to provide leadership duties that will help them learn to manage people and tasks.

Mentors

Leadership is best learned from a leader. As you’re giving an employee more management tasks and responsibilities, there is no doubt that they’ll hit roadblocks from time to time. Make sure they have someone they can go to for advice when they need it. Even if there’s nothing specific they’re dealing with at the time, it can be helpful to receive words of wisdom from someone who’s more experienced.

Problem solving

Often your employees will come to you for help, and it may be best to not give them answers right away. Sometimes you can actually help an employee grow by giving them a chance to figure out how to solve their own problems. By pointing them down the right path, but allowing them stay in control, you’ll help them learn how to figure out what they need and how to get it.

Networking

Networking can produce valuable contacts and will also teach your employees the people skills they will use every single day. Becoming a great networker will benefit the employee and your credit union.

Trust

One way you can show an employee that you trust them is by instilling an ownership mentality. Let employees make decisions on their own without having to run every little thing by a boss. Feeling your trust will help them believe in their own decisions.