More than a year remains before we as a nation vote to elect the next President of the United States; for some, the coming year will feel like five. Already, increasingly bombastic rhetoric on both sides clearly illuminates the deep divide we face. So many comments made in the name of public – and credit union – discourse are at best judgmental and at worst downright hateful.
Modeling Cooperation in Word and Deed
It's funny, but I have friends across the political spectrum who will read this and absolutely agree, then lay all the blame at the door of the "other side." Simple conversations can easily spin out of control, especially when discussing how politics and our shared credit union world could (or should) intersect. For example, I have close friends who believe the CFPB is a godsend, and others who are so against the bureau, it might as well be the anti-Christ. Who is right?
It's important to remember that one of our core values is cooperation, and I believe that to be more cooperative we have to find a better way to get along. Sometimes I read or hear comments, from both our rank-and-files and our thought leaders, and am left to wonder with whom we really want to cooperate? Is it just those who see the world exactly as we see it? Or people with different, sometimes opposing viewpoints? Does our public dialogue model the spirit of cooperation, or is it judgmental, condemning, or divisive? Is our rhetoric so strong that we are willing to alienate the people in the middle?
I believe it's important that our core cooperative values are supported by our words as well as our actions. We have to do a better job of finding middle ground where we can agree and from which we can make progress.
I'm not a perfect example and have on more than one occasion lost my patience and been baited into an argument (or post). Heated, spiteful and condescending arguments rarely go anywhere positive and rarely convince people to our way of thinking.
When in Doubt, Remember Filene (and Carnegie)
I'll admit that when it comes to credit unions, I am a Kool-Aid drinker. It's remarkable (even more so today) that Filene was so diverse in his advocacy. Besides playing a decisive role in the foundation and formation of a trillion-dollar cooperative credit union movement, he was also influential in the formation of one of the first trade unions to represent a select group of his rank-and-file employees. On the other side, Filene was one of the premier capitalists of his day and championed the creation of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Try pigeonholing Filene into one of today's modern political camps.
This is where it gets tricky for me. I passionately believe that each of us should be guided by what we believe is true about the world, and I'm not advocating that any of us abandon our beliefs. They're what make us who we are. However, I also believe in the sage advice of Dale Carnegie, who taught in "How to Win Friends and Influence People," that if we want to win someone to our way of thinking it's best to be "hearty in your approbation and lavish in your praise."
Why it Matters
We are a cooperative movement, and that means working with people – diverse people who each have closely held beliefs and passions. Our words and deeds matter. People watch what we do and what we say, and it's these words and actions that will positively or adversely influence whether or not they want to cooperate, befriend, partner or do business with us. I hope that as credit union leaders, we can rise above this age of divisiveness and set examples of respectful dialogue and actions that will strengthen our friendships and, most importantly, our movement.
Scott Butterfield is principal at the Seattle-based consulting firm Your Credit Union Partner. He can be reached at 253-507-2443 or [email protected].
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