International MLS Forum – Milan, Italy – Panel Discussion: CULTURE

International MLS Forum 1st panel discussion MLS CULTURE

MLS Culture – My Panel. It was all about culture, and we discussed and answered many questions, led by our moderator, John Heithaus. Each of us addressed our questions from our own perspective. My experience in this realm includes working as a productive broker, mentor, and coach to the agents who choose to partner with me. It also involves leadership governance roles within our REALTOR Association and our Multiple Listing Service. To say that this topic or question had many facets to explore is an understatement—and, of course, that’s why we have moderators on these panels, keeping us from going outside the rails, bless their hearts.

My fellow panelists brought their own history and experience within this business to the discussion, from executive directorship to staging yourself and your product for sale, and back to MLS governance as a broker.

My brain broke this topic into three parts:

1. The individual cultures of the many nations of the world.
2. The culture within the working spaces of our industry.
3. The culture I provide, which can be translated to “my brand.”

Expanded:

1. The individual culture of the many nations of the world includes their religious routines and the philosophies they live by. It’s theirs, they own it. Respect. Then comes the best part—when all is said and done, when it comes to housing, we all want the same thing for ourselves and our families: a roof over our heads to host and enjoy those families. We all live in our own respective lives, and our job, for those of us who work in this space, is to bring it down to: What do you need? Listen, and proceed accordingly. When that path is set and a strategy is in place, then there’s room to enjoy human connections. Just remember what comes first.
2. Addressing the culture within the working spaces of our industry: Managing administrators, technology providers, and real estate professionals all in one space at the same time certainly has its challenges. Each of these roles attracts a different mindset, and each is valuable in bringing the best results to the consumer, who is the ultimate beneficiary and should be the focus of all discussions in these spaces. Let’s face it—without a need on their (consumer) end, none of us have jobs. Those who do this well are rockstars!
3. Addressing the culture I provide: This is on a more personal level and is often translated as someone’s individual brand. Personally, I prefer the word “culture.” How should someone feel in my presence? Do I have their best interests at heart in this fiduciary relationship? Have I listened to them and what they need? Am I confident in my skills to provide the best service to them? Do I have the ability to set a personalized strategy for them, recognizing that we are all individuals with unique needs and wants? Do I truly like what I do, and does it show?

Pulling it all together, in any environment, First build the trust, by allowing everyone in the party to have a say and listen. Leaders need the skill to identify the mindsets present to take the next steps.

Next: Find the “why”. This becomes your mission. Every issue, problem, decision should solve part of the mission.

Have the skill in place that is needed to execute.

And, finally, the ultimate outcome of any scenario is peace of mind that you explored all options, were educated through the process and you have peace of mind that you made the best decision possible at the time for yourself/your group/your organization.

The International MLS Forum is a prime example of this process in action. As I see it, it provides the space, physical and intellectual, to allow this process, and it is working. Witnessing the exploratory stage that some are on to the existing systems that see a need to pivot and change and the standardization of data that binds it all together, it truly is an exciting time for real estate worldwide. All of this, along with the technology that is available, the brokers and agents who provide a service and, the consumer they serve, can look forward to the benefits ahead.