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Take advantage of solid opportunities for professional development.
As the only credit union organization dedicated solely to talent development, CUES has spent 2020 doubling down on its understanding of how to best offer online learning events and programs.
While we all love in-person gatherings and look forward to their safe return, our deep look at online learning options this year shows that online learning isn’t “virtual” learning. That is, it isn’t almost in-person learning. It isn’t a substitute for something else. Rather, it is a real learning option with fantastic characteristics of its own—some of which would be difficult to replicate in the in-person learning setting.
Recently I’ve been thinking about how online learning is an additional learning option that promotes diversity of participation because of its incredible flexibility. For example, with online learning, it’s often true that:
It helps balance credit union staffing because it doesn’t require attendees to be out of the office for several days in a row. For example, a credit union might alternate who participates in the various sessions of an online event, freeing up others to manage the branch, oversee the core conversion or do direct member service—whatever the key operational or leadership priority is at the credit union that week.
It creates more flexibility for introverts. Have you noticed the engagement in the chat during online gatherings? This is a perfect place for a person to speak up without having to speak out loud—or to fully compose their thoughts before putting them out there. In another example, online vendor booths can be visited without having to talk to someone—and still allow the gathering of useful information about a vendor, product or service. (Note: I’m not encouraging event participants not to talk with each other or with vendors, but the option is there for those who want it!)
It’s so cost-effective that more people can attend from a single credit union. For example, with our November and December online learning events, one registration fee enables anyone from the credit union to join in.
It creates more opportunities for asynchronous learning. If a participant has a conflict with the live session time, a playback is typically made available that they can view when they don’t have another credit union obligation—or aren’t helping support their children’s schooling.
It can bring brand-name programs to more learners. CUES has long offered its institutes at top business schools in the U.S. and Canada. Our latest online learning offerings—one a benefit of Unlimited and Unlimited+ membership and a second that’s available to non-members, too—keep up the trend of connecting people in our industry with some of the best institutions of higher education in the world.
Winter is just ahead. If you start to feel cooped up, remember that a big strength of online learning is that it comes to you. Join us in learning something new—online.
Since joining CUES in March 2013, John Pembroke has played a leadership role in developing and launching a new direction in CUES’ strategy, branding and culture. Under his guidance, CUES has revamped its membership structure and launched new institutes. Additionally, CUES has expanded its market further into Canada and the Caribbean. Pembroke’s experience includes 25 years in financial services, marketing and e-commerce. He also has served as chief marketing officer at PSCU Financial Services, St. Petersburg, Florida. Pembroke holds a B.S. in Economics from the Wharton School of Business of the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA in Marketing and Policy Studies from the Booth School of Business of the University of Chicago.
