What Credit Unions Can Learn From the Bachelorette

by Cunuck

by. Devin Selte

I watch the Bachelorette.

I’m not a fan of the Bachelorette, but as many of you married folk know, there is a give and take when it comes to the remote control.  For every hockey game I watch, my sweet wife gets to watch one of her guilty pleasures.  One of those just happens to be the Bachelorette.

On Monday nights at 9, after the kids are tucked into bed, we settle down on the couch after a long day of work and parenting to catch up on how our day went.   As we converse, my wife watches her mindless entertainment while I plug away on my computer.

While the years of the Bachelor and Bachelorette have not brought true love to many couples, I see a great opportunity for credit unions to incorporate some of the qualities of this reality TV show into our world.  I think we have the ability to help our new staff fall in love with this great thing we call CREDIT UNION.

Send the Limo

I remember when I started in the credit union industry 14 years ago.  It was awkward.  Once I was hired, I was basically told on my start date to go to the side door at the branch and ring the door bell where someone would let me in.  Not the greatest welcome wagon by any means.  Why not change this up?  Get people truly excited about coming to work that first day.  Send them a postcard in the mail telling them you’re excited to see them.  Send them a branded gift in the mail that will help them on their first day.  Why not even send a car/limo to pick them up on their very first day of work?  When they arrive, have their manager or even a member of the Executive Leadership Team waiting at the front door to greet them.

Build the Relationship

Love doesn’t happen in a matter of days, and in my opinion, neither should your onboarding.  The standard onboarding tends to happen over a very short period, sometimes over a matter of days.  Take your time to bring your new staff a whole new perspective about credit unions and all the great things that come with it.  Introduce them to your mission, vision, values, cooperative principles, and the people helping people philosophy and ingrain them into their being as your employee.  Connect them to the inner working of your credit union through branch life and administration life and let them see your culture first hand.

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