A Direct Line Blog

By Donya Parrish, MCU VP Risk Management

Think back to your own experience when you started in your current role within your credit union. Were you made to feel welcome and given the tools and information you needed to succeed, or were you shown the restrooms and coffee pot and promised more detail later? My first few days in this role years ago were spent with two large binders of policies and a desk with drawers that wouldn’t open, which had been stuffed into a former storage closet. Fortunately, the work and people involved quickly made up for that “orientation” process.

Both experiences happen, even if not intended. New board members are joining our movement all the time, so think to yourself: What do you wish you had known then that you know now? How would you improve the process if you had a chance? The America’s Credit Unions Board Onboarding & Orientation report provides a good blueprint for developing an onboarding process. It covers several important topics, from expectations to background and many other critical considerations in between.

Whether you have a current process in place, haven’t even considered it, or want to improve what you have been using, this report is a great resource and starting point for your onboarding program. Give it a read, take the suggestions into consideration, and let me know what you found worked well. If you have particular resources you love to use in onboarding, I would appreciate hearing about them. Our newly revised Credit Union Philosophy Certification program would be a nice addition to any credit union onboarding!