Here at CUSO Magazine, we mostly write for credit unions and their staff. Today’s article is a little different and goes out to their board members. More specifically, to the newcomers who have never served on a credit union board of directors before.

I have been in the credit union industry for the last sixteen years, but it was not until recently that I joined the board of a credit union. Each of us has our reasons for joining a board. For some, it may be an opportunity to deepen a résumé, for others maybe somebody you know works for the credit union suggested you run for an open seat. For me, it was a chance to serve in a different way the industry I have grown to love.

Despite my experience with the credit union industry, I was not entirely sure what to expect stepping into my first board meeting. I also happened to be joining just in time for our strategic planning session, which gave me some additional opportunities to learn about how things operate. If you are stepping into your own first meeting as a member of a credit union board, here are some tips on what to expect and plan for.

You are not expected to know everything

First things first, do not hold yourself to some gold standard of excellence at your first board meeting. At my credit union, a handful of the board members have been there for many years. They know the credit union much better than me. They know its history and the community better. My goal at my first meeting was mostly to observe and learn from them, and to participate second. You will not be expected to run the show, so don’t try to.

But still do your homework

You may not be expected to act like a seasoned board member, but you should go into your first (and subsequent) meeting having done your homework. Do what research you can about the credit union, its history, financials, etc. before stepping into the room. Read through the board packet diligently. Take notes! What stood out to you? What questions do you have? An engaged and informed board member is a good one.

Had I skipped reading through the materials the first meeting, I would have been lost and trying to get my bearings most of the meeting. Instead, knowing as much as I could for that first meeting from the materials I had available to me, I could spend more time listening and learning and less time trying to figure out what everybody was talking about.

Lean into your skills

You were elected or appointed for a reason. Maybe it was your career experience, or your passion for cooperatives, or your knowledge of credit unions. Whatever your particular expertise is, it can and will be an asset to the credit union.

In my case, as one of the supervising editors for CUSO Magazine, I have been building a wide range of knowledge of the credit union industry, how it operates, the regulations that challenge them, and more. That understanding gives me a different perspective than some of the board members.

But what I have there, I lack in other experience. I’m not a lawyer, an accountant, nor have the business acumen of some of the leaders on our board. That gives each of us an opportunity to provide a different viewpoint and to learn from the others. So as you acclimate to the flow of a board meeting, do not be afraid to chime in with your perspective on a matter than intrigues or concerns you—it may be an idea or thought others had not considered.

Understand the mission

However you found yourself on the board of a credit union, I found it—even from the first meeting—important to remember one thing: I was not hired to run things, I volunteered to oversee and govern them. As board members, we hire professionals to run the organization, who in turn hire the team they need to get things done.

Getting too into the weeds blurs that line between oversight and direct management. Rather, our role is to ensure the safe and sound operation of the credit union, to ask good questions of the team, and to keep our eye out for any abnormal trends or behavior. By giving the management team the space to develop the strategies, we give them more time to devote to that instead of playing tug of war with us.

You represent more than yourself

Lastly, remember that board members represent the member. Yes, we each have our own experience and expertise to draw from, but we do not govern for our own individual interests. We are there to ensure that the membership as a whole is best being served. Some of us may truly represent the average member, but for many, we may be serving on the board from a place of privilege. I have been blessed with a good career and financial stability, but many in the community and in the credit union do not have those same advantages. It is my responsibility to be cognizant of this disparity and to govern from the position of advancing the entire membership’s best interests.

Whatever your reason for joining, each of us chooses how meaningful the experience will be, and how much of an asset we will be to the board, to management, and to the membership at large. As I continue to grow and learn in my own journey as a board member, I hope to continue sharing here on CUSO Magazine, and to encourage more people to commit to something vital to our country and communities.