By Stuart R. Levine Published In, The Credit Union Times For millennia stories have transmitted human experience. Storytelling simplifies complexity and helps us make sense of the world. Stories help us empathize with others. They make us feel a part of something larger than ourselves. Stories trigger emotional responses that can powerfully drive memory and […]

By Stuart R. Levine Published In, The Credit Union Times The mission and values of the credit union industry over the last 170 years, has always been expressed in the service brought to its members. The first credit unions were founded on the ideals of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality and solidarity. They were imbued with […]

By Stuart R. Levine Published In, Forbes  There is growing intergenerational convergence around the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues affecting organizations. Millennials, born 1980 to 1995, recently became the largest segment of the U.S. labor market at 34%, and greatest share of the U.S. population (24%). Gen Z, born after 1996, is growing both […]

By Stuart R. Levine Published In, The Credit Union Times The strength of an organization’s learning culture can be the single biggest driver of business impact. In a learning culture, people develop their abilities, their technical skills improve and career advancement occurs. Learning and development professionals are leading the charge to make sure their companies […]

By Stuart R. Levine Published in, Forbes What is an optimized board and are you serving on one?  I have found that the key factors contributing to an optimized board are boards that have a strong culture, focus on ensuring company strategy and succession planning and have engaged directors who are prepared for all meetings. […]

By Stuart R. Levine Published In, CU Times Achieving change in an organization requires a relentless commitment to include people and their thoughts in the process. Most change efforts fail because of a lack of understanding of the dynamics of organizational change. Organization’s behave like a biological system. It attempts to achieve balance by resisting […]

By Stuart R. Levine Ethical Boardroom, Summer 2017 Directors spend approximately one full month a year on board-related matters. What can you do to assure that your board’s culture is optimal and that this valuable time is maximized effectively? Dysfunctional boards waste time, and, more importantly, dysfunction depletes the organization’s resources through unwise decisions and […]

By Stuart R. Levine Published In, Forbes Industries have always faced challenges in the marketplace, but today they are under stress like never before. Advances in technology have ushered in dramatic changes, remaking traditional industries like energy, retail, journalism and medicine. Even cutting-edge technology companies that themselves are disruptors, are in a continuous state of […]

By Stuart R. Levine Published In, CU Times An overwhelming number of companies use annual or semi-annual performance appraisals that focus on ratings and employee weaknesses, without commensurate tools to engage or develop their employees. Furthermore, too many managers believe that compensation is all that matters, and if the pay and benefits are good, people […]

By, Stuart R. Levine Published in, Forbes Are your performance evaluations improving your organizational culture? Do you think evaluation systems really engage people, make them feel heard and help them to grow? An overwhelming number of companies review their people infrequently, usually on an annual basis, and in a way that is not engaging or effective. […]