Lessons Learned as a New CEO

As a new CEO, the past few years have been full of learning, challenges, and growth. I’ve been fortunate to lead a talented team, and along the way, a few key lessons have stood out:

• Listen More Than You Speak: I've learned that authentic leadership starts with understanding. Listening to our team and members have provided invaluable insights in shaping better decisions.
• Embrace Uncertainty: Every day brings new challenges. While it's impossible to predict everything, being comfortable with uncertainty and agile decision-making is critical to navigating the path ahead.
• Trust the Team: Building a strong and empowered team has been critical to our success. I’ve learned that the best results come when you trust the experts around you, empower them to take ownership, and support them in reaching their full potential.
• Focus on the Long-Term Vision: Getting caught up in the daily grind is easy, but staying focused on the bigger picture keeps the entire organization aligned and motivated. Clarity of purpose helps in making tough choices and prioritizing what truly matters. Our purpose of advancing people's lives is a differentiator, and our teams work hard each and every day to live our brand promise of charting our member's course and getting them there.
• Stay Open to Change: The business landscape is constantly evolving, and as a CEO, it's crucial to stay adaptable and willing to pivot when needed. Innovation often comes from embracing change rather than resisting it. We are working hard to build a resilient organization that embraces and thrives with change.
• A supportive Board of Directors: A supportive and engaged board of directors is a game-changer and a must-have. A board that provides strategic insight collaboratively (vs. being adversarial or wanting to "shoot holes in everything"), acts as a sounding board, and encourages bold decisions is instrumental in guiding the CEO and the credit union forward. If you don't have a Board like that, it may be time for a change.
• Be Tolerant of Failure and Fail Fast: Failure is one way we learn and grow (leaders and organizations). We've all worked for others who aren't tolerant of failure, which is a real shame. Don't be a leader who isn't tolerant, and don’t stay with a leader(s) who aren’t.

My journey as a CEO has only just begun, and I'm excited about the road ahead. For anyone starting their leadership journey, I'll continue to carry these lessons?with me as I grow and learn more daily, and I hope they are meaningful to you.

What leadership lessons have you learned recently?

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