How Credit Unions Can Achieve Internal Alignment for Success

Have you ever experienced resistance from your team when presenting innovative ideas within your organization? If so, you’re not alone.

In today’s rapidly evolving financial services landscape, internal alignment is crucial for driving success and staying competitive. Before you can effectively sell to your consumers, you need to align and engage your internal team. Successful banks and credit unions looking to improve operations take a moment to explore the importance of internal alignment and implement practical strategies to foster a culture of innovation within your organization.

> Replay our webinar, “Aligning for Innovation”

The Power of Internal Alignment
Internal alignment is a powerful force that drives organizations towards success. It goes beyond simply coordinating tasks and workflows; it involves the synchronization of goals, values, and objectives among team members and departments. When everyone is working towards a common vision, a sense of unity and shared purpose is fostered, creating fertile ground for innovation to thrive. In fact, research shows that companies with strong alignment across teams are 67% more likely to close deals.

When your teams are aligned, all individuals show interest, understanding, acceptance, and buy-in. The barriers to innovation diminish, confusion ceases, and the potential for success significantly increases.

Overcoming Common Roadblocks to Innovation for Banks and Credit Unions
Innovation can often face roadblocks within financial institutions. Understanding and addressing these challenges is essential for achieving internal alignment. Here are some common roadblocks and strategies to overcome them:

• Short-Term Thinking/Reactive Mindset: When the focus is solely on short-term gains, there’s no way to foster long-term innovation. Many financial institutions find themselves in a reactive state rather than a proactive state and are left wondering why innovation and progress are absent.
  • Solution: Encourage a mindset shift towards a more goal-driven, future-oriented approach, emphasizing the value of long-term innovation investments.

• Misaligned Goals: Misalignment in goals and goal-setting structures can create conflicts, confusion, and hinder collaboration while encouraging siloed teams.
  • Solution: Align goals across all teams to ensure that all team members are motivated and working toward one common goal or set of goals.

• Lack of an Innovation Mindset: Financial institutions may have a tendency to rely on older ways of operating, and innovation takes a back seat.
  • Solution: Cultivating an innovation mindset within your organization is crucial. Encourage a culture that values creativity, risk-taking, and continuous learning. Celebrate and reward innovative thinking to foster a supportive environment.

Engaging Your Team for Innovation To achieve internal alignment and drive innovation, it’s essential to engage and motivate your team. Here are some effective techniques to consider:

• Effective Communication: Foster open and transparent communication channels to ensure that ideas, feedback, and information flow freely across departments. Encourage active listening and create opportunities for collaboration and knowledge-sharing.
• Active Participation: Involve your team in the innovation process from the start. Encourage them to contribute ideas, provide feedback, and actively participate in brainstorming sessions and problem-solving activities. This sense of ownership and involvement enhances engagement and alignment.
• Involving Key Stakeholders: Engage key stakeholders, such as department managers and power users, in the innovation process. Their input and support are critical for driving adoption and successful implementation of new technologies or solutions.

Rewind! Watch the Webinar: Aligning for Innovation
Ready to dive deeper into the topic of internal alignment and learn actionable strategies to build a culture of innovation within your organization? Replay our webinar, “Aligning for Innovation.” Our esteemed speakers, including industry experts Seth Schaefer, CEO of Rivermark Credit Union, Chary Krout, Co-Owner and Partner at Cultivate, and List Huertas, Chief Strategy and Growth Officer and Executive Vice President at FTSI, will share their insights and real-life examples of successful innovation alignment.

During the webinar, we explore overcoming roadblocks, motivating your team, and executing innovation alignment effectively. Take advantage of this opportunity to learn from experienced financial institution professionals and discover how to drive innovation and alignment within your organization.

> Rewind! Watch the webinar: Aligning for Innovation

Achieving internal alignment is crucial for driving innovation and staying ahead in today’s competitive financial landscape. By addressing common roadblocks, fostering effective communication, and engaging your team, you can build a culture of innovation that propels your organization forward.

Watch our webinar, “Aligning for Innovation” to gain practical strategies and insights from industry experts. Take the first step towards fostering internal alignment and achieving the full potential of your team for success.

Article by FTSI, a business partner of the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues.