President's Message
We all remember learning about Charles Darwin, author of On the Origin of Species. Many High School biology teachers consider this book to be the foundation of evolutionary biology. This 1859 publication proposes the theory that populations change – or evolve – through a process of natural selection that takes many generations. What that theory relies on, however, is the idea that the current and growing diversity of life came from “common descent” – a branching pattern of evolution.
So, basically, we all came from the same place. Somewhere inside each of us lies our commonality, our shared biology, our connection. Sharing this connection should give us comfort to celebrate our evolution, our change, our diversity. While this theory may not apply perfectly in the business world, there are still lessons to be learned.
…come to think of it, let’s take another moment during Pride month to consider how we are all more alike than different.
First, a pop quiz:
Which of these sayings can accurately be attributed to Charles Darwin?
“ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge: it is those who know little, and not those who know much, who so positively assert that this or that problem will never be solved…”
“It is not the strongest species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the ones most responsive to change...”
While commonly attributed to Darwin—the “father of evolution”—B) is incorrect; he did not say that responsiveness to change is more valuable to survival than strength or smarts. He did say, however, that confidence more commonly comes from ignorance than knowledge.
Taken together, these two sayings tell us something about business. Whether it be a credit union, a credit union league, or a pizza shop, we all evolve. Our industries evolve. Our relationships evolve. Evolution increases diversity. That constant change will generate more outwardly facing differences that can sometimes conceal our shared internal commonalities.
Those that choose ignorance will resist change and grow confidence in the status quo or, worse yet, they will hold on to “the good old days.” …And they will eventually see their businesses left behind in the tarpits with the dinosaurs. What about those who see and embrace the change as it comes – those who anticipate the evolutionary direction and bend towards it like a flower turning toward the sun? Well, those are the survivors.
Here at the league, we see the change occurring in the credit union population. We see the change occurring in the population of trade associations. There is an evolutionary shift coming in the member expectations of these associations. There is an inverse relationship between those who primarily expect results from their trade associations, and those who prefer social contact with their association and among members. Neither of these expectations is better than the other – but they coexist and can sometimes pull in opposite directions.
Like Darwin’s observation that plants interact with and respond to their environments, we too are searching for the sun and we are bending in the direction of change.
With thanks to the Ivey Business Journal, “Firms must be proactive in adapting; it will not happen if executives do not make it happen. Snoozing your way to complacency is not a recipe for a competitive, high-performance enterprise. Adapting involves change, and most people resist change as if it were a plague. Put adapting at the top of the agenda.”
As always,
Bruce
