FORUM Credit Union significantly expanded its leadership development efforts over the last two years. The flagship offering under its Leadership Development umbrella is the Peer-to-Peer program established in 2015. One hundred percent of front-line supervisors and manager-level employees actively participate in one of five cross-functional peer groups. Each group is facilitated by two officers (vice president- or assistant vice president-level employees), as well as guidance and training led by FORUM’s Organizational Development team.
Program Details
An overview of this multifaceted program:
1. Each group meets face-to-face on a bi-monthly basis. While the group facilitators have some flexibility in the specific agenda for their group, each session follows a consistent curriculum. A sample agenda includes:
- Participant networking and relationship-building opportunities
- Facilitated discussion of the book, “Leadership From the Inside Out” (the book is utilized in all leadership programs across the organization for continuity)
- Interactive workshop led by an Organizational Development team member (topics identified as a skill/leadership/performance need)
- Organizational change updates, led by key senior leaders
- Special projects
- Mentor pairing upon request
2. To build connections across all Peer-to-Peer groups, as well as offer informal online discussion and resource sharing, an active online Peer-to-Peer community is moderated via an internal social network. Continuing discussion of assigned reading, workshop topics, and other pertinent issues is encouraged. The popular “Tip Tuesday” feature engages participants with simple, practical team leadership challenges to apply on the job.
3. To create a blended learning solution, as well as to provide additional learning and development opportunities between face-to-face meetings, an optional, self-paced curriculum is offered to participants. Offerings include Webinars, online courses, articles, podcasts, and more. These can be accessed virtually via the Internet, mobile device, or through FORUM’s internal learning management system (LMS), as appropriate.
Results
Following the initial pilot in 2015, participant and facilitator surveys were administered to measure the initial impact of the Peer-to-Peer program, and to make modifications to it. One hundred percent of those surveyed responded that the program was providing skills, knowledge, and resources that were immediately being applied to the job, particularly building relationships across the organization, understanding different parts of the business, or gaining support for leading people.
After analyzing participant and facilitator feedback, FORUM implemented logistical and content changes to make the program more robust, accessible, and relevant, and business results were favorable:
- 22 percent of Peer-to-Peer participants received a promotion in the last 12 months.
- 64 percent of Manager In Training (MIT) participants have been promoted to assistant branch managers in the last 12 months.
- 25 percent of senior member advisors have been promoted to member advisor supervisors in the last 12 months.
- Two people were promoted to assistant vice president, and two people were promoted to vice president.
