Is your team brimming with excitement, engagement, and fervor for their roles? Distractions, interruptions, and inefficient workflows can hinder even the most exceptional credit union teams. Surprisingly, we’re quick to turn to perks and incentives to keep people motivated rather than practical steps to improve productivity.
Why is that?
We encounter statistics, such as those highlighted in Slack’s 2023 State of Work survey, indicating that 82% of employees identify feeling happy and engaged at work as a pivotal factor influencing productivity. So, we throw more toward things such as casual dress codes, wellness programs, and free food. It is often structure, however, that reduces fatigue, stress, and anxiety, which leads to happiness.
Maybe, just maybe, we have things backwards.
So, before you start the conversation about offering free yoga classes, what’s holding your credit union back? Here are three practical ways to help your employees get more stuff done.
Dive into the Flow Zone
You know those days when your team is juggling a dozen different tasks at once, feeling like they’re barely keeping their heads above water? Encourage your team to batch similar task together. By focusing on one type of task at a time, your team can minimize distractions and maximize efficiency.
What specific tasks or processes are causing bottlenecks or delays within the credit union? Are there any communication breakdowns or misunderstandings contributing to any workflow issues? Work with your team to get to the root cause of workflow problems.
Champion Service Excellence
Every interaction with a member is an opportunity not just to provide outstanding service but also to upsell or cross-sell. Encourage your team to listen closely to a member’s needs and preferences, and empower them to suggest relevant products or services that could enhance the member’s experience.
Championing service excellence isn’t just about solving problems. It’s going above and beyond to wow your members and keep them coming back for more.
Utilize Downtime Strategically
Empower your credit union personnel to excel in their roles by using those quieter moments to foster a culture of learning and improvement. This can be regular professional development sessions, online learning training modules, or knowledge sharing sessions where teammates can share insights, experience, and best practices with colleagues.
It’s important to remember that downtime is important for creativity, self-improvement, and rest and recovery. It is not meant for catchup work. If you are using downtime for busy work, you’re denying growth opportunities.
Set the Tone
Which of these strategies can you start immediately?
Remember: Leaders who demonstrate high levels of productivity inspire and motivate their team members to do the same. Leading by example shows that productivity is valued and expected within the organization.
As Vice President of Brand Experience for Your Marketing Co., Frank Allgood works with credit unions to develop strong leaders, create effective training programs, and build powerful brands. Want to connect? Call 864.326.8740 or email frank@yourmarketingco.com.
