By Randy Karnes
If this is an era of supercharged energy, can we change conflict into innovation?
For all of the things that we (the world) disagree about right now, the one thing we might all agree on is that the current environment is charged with energy. Most of that energy seems to revolve around pointing out how different our opinions are–rather than fight to make right we will fight to be right.
Energy is everywhere, but instead of flowing toward something new, flowing towards something game changing, it appears to be simply flowing headlong into opposing forces and stalemate: energy wasted.
From a guy who often challenges first with the intent to increase the excitement and discussion, it might sound funny for me to want to skip that step and now call for finding innovative ways to use that energy. To trust that this energy is ready to change things for the better, to push us over the top of arguments and into the creation of new solutions and design for moving forward. The energy is here, you can feel it, and all of us can use it if we simply channel it for something new. A new design, a new approach, and a new set of expectations.
Feel the Energy, But...
I fear that our credit union members feel the energy, but have a disconnect when they think about whether the credit union industry and us as leaders are working on their behalf. Now may be the time for a resurgence of owner thinking, owner development, and trusting that what is missing in our agenda for innovation is the member-owner element. We could argue back and forth over the sustainability of credit unions as a consumer choice or on any other conflicting ideas affecting credit unions…or we can redirect the energy enveloping our industry towards innovation, and have cooperative entrepreneurs surge to new solutions.
For the first time in my career I do not think we all need a wakeup call—this frenzied energy like three cups of strong coffee has us all on edge. We need to set aside this desire to be right. Instead we need faith in the future, faith in our abilities to play up, and faith in solutions born of necessity for a mutual win-win future.
Give Into the Energy
Leaders carry everyone to the future, they craft solutions from diametrically opposed viewpoints, and they carry the day for the communities they serve. A mass awakening to the chaos is the first step in pushing for order. A mass awakening to dead end conflicts is the first step in finding consensus.
NOW is the time for designers, model builders, and industry thinkers to abandon the lure of influencing the debate to win, and simply do their jobs. Harness the energy, inspire the investment, and push new hopeful designs for future business.
I look forward to people giving into the energy of creation.
Randy Karnes is CEO of CU*Answers, Grand Rapids, Mich.