ONTARIO, Calif.—Diana Dykstra is president and CEO of the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues.
Below, Ms. Dykstra shares her thoughts on leadership and management as part of CUToday.info’s The Corner.
CUToday.info: What intangible of leadership is most difficult to convey or prepare for?
Dykstra: Understanding that all stakeholders (staff, board, members) have very different personalities, and to be successful you must navigate carefully. This means how you communicate, understanding the time it takes for individuals to assimilate the information/change, being very aware and sensitive to all, and being prepared to adjust style on the fly.
CUToday.info: Is there any training for working with a board of directors, and what have you learned about this process?
Dykstra: I think the most essential training for working with boards is, first, understanding the difference between governance and business operations. The most effective tool that I have used in making sure that both the board and management are successful is carefully developing an authority matrix in the beginning of the relationship so that everyone understands their role. Ongoing education is very important and should be a regular part of your board meetings. When there is a new board member, on-boarding is extremely important. That means first setting up meetings with management to introduce the individual and the work they are responsible for, developing an education plan (i.e. Bylaws/Policies, Financials, Regulatory, etc.), and assigning a mentor from the existing board.
CUToday.info: Are you a fan of a management book or books? If not, why not. If so, which have resonated with you and why?
Dykstra: I can’t say I am a fan of management books because there isn’t one thing or style that makes someone a great leader. Having said that, I do read many management books to help me gain insight and to pick those things that I think can work for me and the organization. I read hundreds of pages from books, magazines and online sources on a weekly basis and almost without exception that have absolutely nothing to do with credit unions or financial services. These readings help me see the possibilities of how success from different industries might be applied to move my organization ahead.
CUToday.info: If you could go back and talk to You On The First Day On The Job, what advice do you share?
Dykstra: Not sure what “first day on the job” you are referring to, but my very first day on the job in a credit union was in 1982 as a part-time loan clerk at The Golden 1. I would advise myself to be mindful of the whole and not just the job that I did. Sometimes we get wrapped up in our charge and if we don’t attempt to understand and keep a broad view of the organization we either become frustrated or we frustrate others!
CUToday.info: My Keeps-Me-Up-At-Night concern is? Why? And My-Let’s-Me-Sleep-At-Night optimism is?
Dykstra: I think that the world has changed and I worry that credit unions will not be nimble enough to retool products and services in this hyper-fast environment. We must remain relevant and as the Baby Boomers age (me included) we need to remember that at one point in history we were demanding that things get done differently when we were met with resistance. Don’t forget this when you hear what Gen Y is looking for. They will rule the world sooner than we think! I am an eternal optimist and I think we have the talent, drive and will to do good!