Improving Board
Leadership and Effectiveness
Welcome
Steve Winninger & Associates is a consulting firm that works primarily but not exclusively in the credit union community working with Boards and CEOs. We specialize in governance issues, board/CEO relations, executive coaching/mentoring, board/CEO evaluation systems and strategic planning. Our goal is to improve the quality and effectiveness of the Board/CEO leadership team while creating a higher value for the organization’s owners.
A consulting firm devoted to improving Board effectiveness and leadership through strategic governance.
Testimonials
“I worked with Steve for many years within the Credit Union community. He is first class. I was President and CEO of Christian Financial Credit Union (Roseville, Michigan) and our Board of Directors worked with Steve on governance issues and and an updating of our policies and were pleased with the results. I highly recommend him.”
– Roger Quitter, President & CEO Christian Financial Cu (Retired) and Past Chairman of Mortgage Center LLC
Strategic Governance
Now more than ever, Credit Union Boards need to be at a strategic level and focused on the future. There are significant opportunities and challenges ahead as the volunteer structure of leadership faces increased liability, succession planning and new business models while an ever increasing regulatory presence impacts decision making. How is your organization preparing its volunteers to govern in this reset economy and regulatory environment?
Governance vs. Management
It was relatively late in my career that I could articulate the difference between governance and management, and there are many board members today who haven’t given this enough thought to make the distinction. When boards manage instead of govern, there is role confusion and a dilution of accountability.
A Leadership Story
Sometimes leadership requires you go places you’ve never been, or chart paths that are unfamiliar to you. I was asked to play bagpipes in a 9-11 ceremony for a nearby fire department. I knew we would be marching in a parade from the fire station to a park for the ceremony. As I drove into town, I didn’t notice where the park was relative to the fire station. As the time to begin drew near, I asked the Chief where I was in the lineup, and I was surprised when he told me I was leading. There wasn’t time to see where we were going and the program was about to begin. I was leading over 100 people to a place that was only described to me. Because of the pipes, I couldn’t look back. I had to trust my instincts and hope I got to the right place. If I had made a wrong turn, I would have been by myself because they all knew where the park was located.
Leadership requires you to trust your instincts when the path is not known. Sometimes followers know what to expect, and sometimes not. Trust your instincts, lead with confidence and you will probably have a good outcome. I successfully led the group to the park and participated in a moving ceremony that honored our fallen Heros.