Being Professional Means Being Personal

A few years ago, a former colleague told me he wanted to improve his biography page on his web site to come across more professional to clients.  After making his “improvements” I noticed he polished up his professional accomplishments and completely removed the paragraph about his personal interests, hobbies, and passions.

This struck me. In my opinion, conducting yourself in a professional manner includes revealing yourself personally to create TRUST with others.  In fact, that’s what this blog is all about!  The slogan “Part Professional, Part Personal, Always Insightful” means I want to provide both professional and personal insight so you may better know and trust me and my services.  WHO you are often means more to others than simply WHAT you do. 

Maybe I feel this way because of my chosen field and the way we run our business.  When helping clients, we often ask personal questions about their life goals and dreams so we can best serve them and make the transaction’s outcome signify more than just dollars and cents.  In requesting such personal information, it is only fair we reciprocate and divulge ourselves through the process.

While driving around looking at homes, clients learn about my family, my boating obsessions, my ideals…they learn about me as I’m learning about them.  To me, professionalism is more than respectful demeanor, appropriate dress and market expertise; it also includes a personal panache that allows you, the client, to get to know, like, and trust me, the professional, as a person.

I consider this the “new-school” way of being professional.  Simply doing your job well is not enough.  You must do it passionately while exuding your values and your interests; your personal side.  On the chance you haven’t seen it yet, check out our team profile video to get to know our team better, both professionally and personally.