Experience, coupled with mentoring and coaching, plus accredited qualifications are key to brokers maintaining a work life balance and a successful career.
This equation - E (MC) + AQ = WLB - has been developed by former broker and technical and training manager Emilie Webster.
For those who weren’t paying attention, that’s: Experience (Mentoring Coaching) + Accredited Qualifications = Work Life Balance.
“The number of years of experience is irrelevant,” says Webster. “It is the accomplishments in various roles; were you able to have hands-on experience or were you just a cog in a big wheel? Experience demonstrates the work ethic you have.”
Webster says experience also includes volunteering to do tasks that are outside one’s responsibilities and comfort zone.
“Take the decision to take every opportunity no matter how insignificant it may seem,” she says. “It’s a skill that may help you with that next opportunity that knocks on your door.”
Webster said even if one fails, it is a learning experience that will help them further down the line. She adds: “If you do fail, you need to take responsibility for it and learn from it. The sun will still come up tomorrow.”
Networking is also key to building experience.
“It may seem daunting at first but networking is a must in our industry,” says Webster. (continued.)
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She also points to the importance of young brokers to have a mentor – someone who has a personal interest in their mentee – as well as a coach – someone who has an agenda to work on a skill/behaviour of the person they are coaching.
As for having qualifications, Webster says “accredited qualifications will be worth their weight in gold in the future.”
Brokers will have to do the “hard yards” on accredited qualifications if they want to be a part of the future of brokering and choose their own career path and progression, says Webster.
“Having a minimum qualification will not be enough,” she says. “You need to start thinking about moving up the ranks. Having an accredited qualification is important if you want to be considered for management roles.”
Soft skills are extremely important too, Webster points out, explaining that brokers need to have interpersonal skills, time management, public speaking and presentation skills. Finally and as an aside, she explained, brokers need to have the ‘X factor’: passion.
“It is not something you can fake,” says Webster. “You can see it in the broker’s eyes and body language.”
