by Paul Cowhig, Advisor, Professional Standards
This is the perfect time of year to reflect on what went well and not so well in business and our personal lives over the past year.
I love what Zig Ziglar said about this in a lecture I heard back in the 1980s. He said,
“If you don’t like what you’ve been getting, then you better quit doing what you’ve been doing. Because if you keep doing what you’ve been doing, you’ll keep getting what you’ve been getting!”
It’s hard to argue with that logic. You get to choose your plan for 2018. You get to identify and plan to do certain things differently in order to achieve a different result. What did you do in 2017 that made you better than you were in 2016? What do you plan to do in 2018 that will make you better than you were in 2017? Whether it’s good manners or computer skills, it can be learned. The good news, the really exciting news, is that it’s up to you.
Here are some suggestions on how you can elevate your level of professionalism in the New Year under our 5 Guiding Principles of Professionalism.
Clients come first
Put client satisfaction first. Make a point of knowing what matters to each client and why. Then do what it takes to make sure those needs are met.
Do more than is expected. People pay more attention to what we do than what we say. So, spend less time talking about what you can do and more time actually doing it. And, wherever possible, go the extra mile.
Deliver on every promise you make. Be clear on what you plan to do and even on what you are not going to do. Don’t leave any room for false expectations. For example, if you don’t do open houses then say so and explain why. There are a lot of different business models out there and people are confused. Bring clarity to the transaction.
Be an industry expert
Make expertise your specialty. Become the expert people expect from a professional. Don’t ever stop learning and growing. Learn to leverage your experience. Study and attain relevant accreditations that will demonstrate your commitment to excellence.
Reflect a high standard
Boy Scouts and Girl Guides make great REALTORS®! Learn about and practice good manners and etiquette. Strive to achieve high ethical and moral standards. Be honest and fair with everyone no matter who they are. Personify professionalism.
Express your appreciation to those who help. Office staff, municipal hall staff, lawyers and their office staff and others. All the people around the fringes of what we do are often taken for granted or worse. Be polite. Be patient. Say please and thank you. It only takes seconds to stop and say something that lets people know you appreciate what they do for you. It will pay huge dividends. Do it because it’s the right thing to do.
Communicate clearly
Communicate effectively. Explain options. Educate. Answer questions clearly. Clarify costs. Successful communication is your responsibility. If your client doesn’t understand, you’ve failed.
Honour your community
Praise your peers – not yourself. If you don’t have something nice to say, then don’t say anything at all. Respect and acknowledge the talents and abilities of your peers. There isn’t much that is more unprofessional than slamming your competition while blowing your own horn. Professionals are humble about themselves and generous in their praise of others. Be the kind of individual others can’t help but speak highly of.
Share your knowledge. Professionals help their peers and are respected for it. Volunteer. Be a mentor. Be an asset to your brokerage. Be one of the reasons other agents want to work at your brokerage.
Lastly, smile and have a good attitude. No one likes a wet blanket. Sharing your misery is not a hallmark of professionalism. Leave people uplifted, confident and encouraged every time you interact with them.
May 2018 bring you everything you need and just the right amount of what you want.
More information:
For more tips related to our 5 Guiding Principles of Professionalism, revisit some of the great articles shared during our RESPECT campaign from last year.