10 Questions to Ask Before Your Next Credit Union Strategic Planning Session

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What is the most important thing to do before problem solving? Gain perspective.  The only way to gain perspective is to ask a lot of questions. It’s one of the rules we emphasize with boards and leadership teams prior to facilitating strategic planning sessions for credit unions. Before throwing ideas out, you must gain perspective on your credit union’s growth strategies. Before your next credit union strategic planning event, use our free Strategy on Speed videos to spark conversation and gain perspective. Address the list of 10 questions below.  1

  1. Do your goals still make sense? Chances are, you set goals in your last strategic planning prior to the topsy-turvy reality of 2020. Are your credit union’s goals still relevant? 
  2. Is your leadership team all rowing in the same direction? If there is confusion around your goals and strategy, it’s hard for everyone to do their part to accomplish the goals.
  3. What three things do you hope will remain consistent over the next 12 months?
  4. What three things do you hope you can change over the next 12 months?
  5. Are there windows of opportunity your credit union needs to take advantage of quickly?
  6. What action could be taken within a week to produce the greatest good in the shortest time?
  7. What is the biggest problem within your credit union that most people know but no one talks about?
  8. Have any solutions created new problems as bad or worse than the original problem?
  9. How much does the board and top leadership know about how the credit union really operates at the lower levels?
  10. What are the most dangerous assumptions you’ve made in the last six months or are making now? 

Sometimes the right question at the wrong time is met with indifference due to a perceived lack of urgency or just plain fear of having a tough conversation. Focusing on credit union strategy with your board and leadership team has never been more important than right now. The rapid changes and unknowns require tough conversations, and many credit unions to rethink their strategy, and even their organization as a whole.  Need perspective? Is it time for a fresh approach to strategic planning? Our unique time-tested process will facilitate tough yet prosperous conversations that yield great results. Those aren’t our words; those are the words of our credit union clients. Check out our free Strategy on Speed videos or fill out the form below to download our free e-book as an additional resource to prepare for your next strategic planning event.

Ready to take your strategy to the next level? Fill out the form for your FREE downloadable e-book on how to have your best strategic planning event ever.

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Dexter Ochoa

Development Assistant

When it comes to blending logical thinking and creative problem solving, Dexter’s abilities are undeniable! Beginning his career as a Web Developer, he’s no stranger to the wide world of Marketing and Advertising. Calling Biñan City in the Philippines home, Dexter has a burning desire to visit the Alpine peaks and valleys of Switzerland. While that journey may be far off, he is still no stranger to international travel. While visiting Japan, he was able to enjoy his favorite delicacy: Sushi and Sashimi. He also learned unexpected facts about Japanese Yen, specifically that it has special markings for the blind to know its value!

Living life by his motto to “Do good even if the world is unfair,” Dexter would also advise his younger self, “It’s hard, but you’re doing good!” Whether he’s enjoying a cup of coffee in the morning or the occasional Pale Pilsen in the evening, Dexter is eager to work with the talented professionals of YMC, and we’re just as eager to add his talent to the team as well! His marketing words of wisdom? “Be creative, and just do what you want!”

Andrew Wyche

Copywriter

Hailing from the NC state capital (that’s Raleigh if you didn’t know), Andrew is YMC’s Copywriter extraordinaire. That’s why he knows that “The verb form of ‘reconnaissance’ is ‘reconnoiter.’ The former is, strictly speaking, a noun.” Seriously, he knows his words and he’ll use those words to get bold and weird (in a good way) with his copy. Fuelled by a love for pasta, shellfish, a good single malt, or a meal consisting of all three, Andrew navigates life with a motto engraved in his heart: “Choose kindness. Always.” It is this guiding principle that has led him to explore the realm of marketing, driven by a desire to connect with people in meaningful ways. As he continues to chase his dreams, one bucket list item stands out above the rest – a pilgrimage to Scotland. With his heart set on adventure and his pen poised for creativity, Andrew’s journey is far from over.

Alex VanHaasteren

Senior Web Developer

Alex is YMC’s Senior Web Developer and, as the title suggests, she is an absolute pro! While she initially started in graphic design – working long and hard to expertly bring concepts to life – she also felt drawn to technology and applying her natural ability to problem solve. Web Development proved the perfect blend of her creative passion and technical savvy.

When Alex is out with friends – including her YMC colleagues – she’s up for Greek cuisine or some good pulled pork BBQ washed down with Diet Coke. Or an Old Fashioned, if the occasion demands. Someday, she hopes to go to Africa on a safari. Hopefully she’ll see a giraffe in the wild, because – as she’s pointed out – its neck is too short to reach the ground!

When she isn’t jamming out to T-Swift, she’s happy to impart some marketing words of wisdom, “Aim to create something unforgettable.” For day-to-day inspiration, she would remind you of two fundamental truths: You decide your happiness, and Ice cream is its own food group—not just a dessert.

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