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Succession Planning – A Proven Process

Succession Planning doesn’t just happen. It is an intentional effort to achieve sustainability and viability for your organization. The need for a process driven succession plan is evident in the number of mergers driven by the retirement or passing of key leaders. A succession plan must incorporate awareness of each candidate’s leadership style, values, and alignment with the strategic…

Cultural Transformation and Alignment

Cultural Transformation and Alignment Too often, organizations accept the Culture as it is. So often, the importance and alignment of the organizational Culture are undervalued. Just a quick look at the trials and tribulations of Wells Fargo, VW America, GM, American Peanut Company, and others tell us how vital Culture is to protect an organization’s reputation, financial solvency, and…

Three Things Every Leader Must Know

Leadership is not for sissies. Leadership is not about you. Leadership has a price. Let’s diagnose each of these requirements. Leadership is not for sissies – To be an authentic leader takes courage. This courage is realized in many ways. Sometimes it is the courage to do what you don’t want to do, to do the hardest task first. Sometimes it is to make the hard decision, the one no one else wants…

We Know Micromanaging is Bad, but How Bad?

No one likes a micromanager. Micromanaging impacts employees and the organizations they work for in myriad ways. Employee satisfaction Think about how satisfied you can be with a job well done or an accomplishment when someone has dictated every step you take, every decision you made, and everything you contributed. Job satisfaction comes not from being told how to do something or to make…

5 Things Directs Need to Know About Data Governance

Five things the Board of Directors should know about Data Governance – an 11-minute video: #data #datagovernance #boardofdirectors https://player.vimeo.com/video/731024992?h=fe6100ed5e&badge=0&autopause=0&player_id=0&app_id=58479

Don’t Leave your Data to Amateurs

Financial institutions own tremendous amounts of data that can provide valuable insights. How many FIs are taking advantage of this data for their strategic planning, decision-making, or marketing? Data utilization is not just about mining for shiny objects; it’s also about collecting, aggregating, cleansing, reporting, visualizing, and creating “I think” to “I know” because the data says so.…

The leadership journey is fraught with risk and reward. To successfully navigate this journey, it is not just helpful but essential to have an independent ear and voice that will walk the path with you. The Leadership Coach‘s sole purpose is to listen, support, provide guidance, challenge, and celebrate your journey with you. This relationship fulfills the following needs: A sounding board – Do…

A White Man’s Journey to Becoming an Ally

Ally (n) – one that is associated with another as a helper; (v) – to unite or form a connection between; to enter into an alliance. For background purposes, let me share my beginning point for this important journey.   I was raised in a typical, white, middle-class, suburban neighborhood by a traditional family. We went to church on Sunday, we ate dinner together almost every night, I had to…

Leadership Doesn’t Mean You Have a Horse

There he is, a leader in the middle of the park, sitting on a horse with a pigeon perched on his hat. Too often, when we picture a leader, this is the image we see. But, what should we see? A leader probably doesn’t have a horse. A leader isn’t bronze in color. A leader is not stiff, heartless, and unyielding. A leader isn’t some oldish guy; it is very likely a leader isn’t even a guy. Who should…

Decisions, disruptions, concerns, challenges? It can be lonely at the top. As an executive, you face vital decisions. However, hearing an outside voice from someone who understands the movement and business is often challenging. That’s where an Executive Coach brings value. This seasoned industry expert is a sounding board, offers alternatives, and provides new prospectives for your decisions and…

Future of Branches? Look at the Data

What is the future of the credit union branch? This is the topic of ongoing strategic debates. Most of these debates are fraught with emotion. Some of these debates pivot around pride in having a display of a brand presence. Many of these debates are driven by a lack of wanting to see the reality of the banking habits of consumers. A few of the debates are focused on wanting to be everything for…

Data Governance – A Professional Development Workshop

Data Governance Garbage in, garbage out does not have to define your reporting capabilities This virtual workshop is designed to provide you the steps to creating a disciplined process for Data Governance. Instructor: Rich Jones – President/Founder, Leading2Leadership LLC [email protected] Who should participate in this course? Current supervisors, managers, or executives that face…

Board Leadership and Governance – Development

Board Leadership and Governance  This engagement aims to take the Board to the next level. It is a four-step process. Here is what I propose: Leadership and Governance Self-Assessment. This assessment is to be completed by each Board Member. Supervisory Committee Members can be included at the Chair’s discretion. Through this assessment, Rich will learn the strengths, weaknesses, and areas of…

Strategic Planning for Organizational Success

Strategic Planning for Organizational Success “There are two primary reasons for strategic planning, One – to transform and two – to differentiate your credit union.” – Rich Jones L2L’s Strategic Planning Competencies Rich Jones has worked in credit unions and on behalf of credit unions for over 30 years and understands how difficult it is to create and execute a meaningful strategic plan. Having…

The Leadership Mentor – A workshop for leadership excellence

“A leaders number one job is developing new leaders” Leadership Mentor  Who should participate in this course? Current supervisors, managers, or executives with a desire to improve their leadership and communication skills with their peers, team, boss, or company Employees who want to change how their boss or peers perceive them Anyone that aspires to take on a leadership role in the…

It was noted recently that the cause of most of the 117 mergers the credit union movement has experienced in 2022, most were the result of a missing Succession Plan. Yes, Succession Planning can be daunting and laden with risk. This risk may be illuminated because of the “great resignation.” Companies worried about or experiencing “the great resignation” and the brain drain it causes may not want…

Culture = Rules of Engagement

It seems companies either overcomplicate or ignore their Culture. The reality is, your company’s Culture can, and should be, a way you can differentiate yourself from your competition, especially in the financial services world. Think of Culture as a pathway to creating a “competition of one.” A “competition of one” means you have no other companies like you. For example, financial services is…