Leadership involves passion. That is the ability to motivate listeners to rise above matters of the moment to strive for greater success.
The skill is rare. It must speak to the heart and the head, ideally with humor.
One person who achieved this art was a former high school football coach who years later became Chairman of NCUA. Whenever Ed Callahan spoke, he would often end his talks with a rouser. It was a throw back to the halftime coach’s exhortation to go out and win the game.
I miss this communication mastery in today’s credit union world. It is more than a celebration of financial accomplishments. It is a spirited message that uplifts by affirming belief in and ambition for the future of the cooperative system.
Then I found a 1994 VCR video that captured the feeling of this endless opportunity to serve people in what the speaker asserts is the “best movement in the world-second to none.”
You may not need your morning coffee after listening to this minute and a half excerpt. It is a momentary summing up during a lending seminar by Rex Johnson. His persuasive tone and style undoubtedly owes a debt to the Southern Baptist preaching from his upbringing.
He wants credit unions to “get rid of the box” when making loan decisions and to exercise creativity serving members in “these difficult times.”
The message sounds just right for today and maybe all time.
This was one of the best minute and a half of my life. I have worked for a Credit Union for 33 years and believe strongly in the mission of people helping people. Even after 33 years that is the best part of my job. THANK YOU for saying it the way you did. The message was clear.