The Power of Habit and the Role of Belief

Every credit union wants better performance. Better service. Better culture. But behind every “better” is something more personal and often more challenging:

A habit that needs to change.

From frontline behavior to leadership rhythms, habits shape your credit union’s culture. They drive decisions, define pace, and dictate how well your team adapts to change.

And here’s what we know: Habits can’t be erased. They must be replaced.

According to The Power of Habit, if you keep the same cue and the same reward, you can successfully insert a new routine in place of the old one. But there’s a catch – one that too many leaders overlook. 

For the new habit to stick, belief must take root.

And belief rarely happens in isolation. People don’t believe change is possible just because we tell them it is. They believe it when they see others doing it. They believe it when they are part of a community that supports it.

That’s why group accountability and shared behavior shifts are so powerful. Belief multiplies in community.

So ask yourself:

• What habit – at the personal, team, or cultural level –needs to shift?
• What is the cue, routine, and reward that holds the current behavior in place?
• Is your environment reinforcing belief in the new direction—or undermining it?

At the organizational level, habit change often looks like a string of small wins – mini experiments that uncover hidden barriers, reveal untapped energy, and test long-held assumptions. These scattered victories aren’t just progress. They’re proof.

Proof that change is happening.

Proof that resistance can be overcome.

Proof that belief is building.

So, if you're aiming to change habits in your credit union, don't start with massive overhauls. Start with stirring belief, and surrounding people with a culture that supports the shift. Because transformation doesn’t begin with structure. It begins with belief.