Katie Najjar is the senior vice president, chief member experience officer at All One Credit Union in Leominster.
Updated: April 21, 2025
Advice
10 Things I know about ... Building a thriving team culture
By Katie Najjar
10) Live your values every day. At All One Credit Union, our company’s culture is shaped by its values, and they are more than words on a wall. Make sure leadership sets the example, and employees see those values in action every day.
9) Hire for attitude, train for skill. You can always teach technical skills, but you can’t teach work ethic or passion. Focus on bringing in people who align with your mission, then give them the tools to succeed.
8) Be transparent. People want to know what’s going on. Regularly share goals, updates, and even challenges so employees feel included and valued.
7) Create a safe space for ideas. Employees should feel comfortable speaking up, whether it’s offering a new idea, challenging norms, giving feedback, or admitting mistakes without fear. The best solutions come from open conversations.
6) Encourage teamwork across departments. Silos kill collaboration. Make it easy for different teams to work together so they understand how their roles connect and contribute to the bigger picture.
5) Celebrate wins (big and small). “Thank you,” though simple, goes a very long way. Recognize hard work, whether it’s through shoutouts in meetings, through incentives, or just a handwritten note.
4) Support career growth. People stay where they see a future. Provide mentorship, training, and opportunities for employees to grow within your organization. If positions are limited, try allowing employees to gain experience by being assigned different projects to elevate their skillset and allow them to have added exposure to leadership within the organization.
3) Make work enjoyable. A great culture includes moments of fun. Whether it’s team outings, recognition events, friendly competitions, or celebrating milestones, small things make a big difference.
2) Trust your team. Micromanaging stifles motivation. Give employees the freedom to make decisions and take ownership of their work. If you give more autonomy to direct reports, it will foster an incredible amount of creativity and innovation.
1) Listen and take action. Employees know what’s working and what’s not. Regularly ask for feedback through surveys or one-on-one check-ins. Most importantly, act on what you learn.
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