Reflecting on 2020 to prepare for a successful year ahead 1SHARES The year 2020 will be memorable in many different ways. There were challenges and struggles, but for most of us, many teachable moments and lessons learned. On both a personal and professional level, 2020 was likely not what you expected it to be. However, through reflection and evaluation, here are our takeaways and thoughts for future strategies that can help your credit union prepare for a successful year ahead. Strategic Initiatives Put to the Test The past year upended all of our best laid plans. Most initiatives were either put on hold, delayed or even cancelled due to the pandemic. At Coastal, we had to quickly adjust at the beginning of the year to focus on member relief programs. This unexpected shift actually proved to be invaluable to us as it brought us closer to what members really need, and we learned how they really want to do business with us. It also brought us closer to our employees, reinforcing their trust that we would take care of them even in extreme circumstances. We pivoted to enable work from home situations and created options for all employees to continue to work.