PROFESSIONS IN TRANSITION …. Real Estate Licensees ARELLO Annual Conference, 2009

PROFESSIONS PROFESSIONS IN TRANSITIONIN TRANSITION

…. Real Estate …. Real Estate LicenseesLicensees

ARELLO Annual Conference, 2009ARELLO Annual Conference, 2009

DONALD BELFALLDONALD BELFALL

ConsultantConsultant

To DefineTo Define

• What Is a Profession?What Is a Profession?

To Define and AppreciateTo Define and Appreciate• Three Basic Types of ProfessionsThree Basic Types of Professions

• Licensed Versus Accredited Licensed Versus Accredited

• Employed Versus Self-EmployedEmployed Versus Self-Employed

• History, Societal Context & The Specific History, Societal Context & The Specific BrandBrand

• And … The Professional IdealAnd … The Professional Ideal

ProfessionInstitution

For Real Estate LicenseesFor Real Estate Licensees

To Define and AppreciateTo Define and Appreciate

• To Protect the Public Health, Safety and To Protect the Public Health, Safety and WelfareWelfare

• To Engender ‘Right’ ConductTo Engender ‘Right’ Conduct

• To Facilitate ‘Right’ Conduct Through To Facilitate ‘Right’ Conduct Through Second Nature Thinking …Second Nature Thinking …

• And Thus to Instill Habit of ThoughtAnd Thus to Instill Habit of Thought

ProfessionRegulation

Trends and IssuesTrends and Issues• Loss of Pride in Profession Loss of Pride in Profession

• Decline of Profession CultureDecline of Profession Culture

• Disconnect Between Practitioners, the Disconnect Between Practitioners, the Profession and the Professional BodiesProfession and the Professional Bodies

• Diminished Quality of Professional LifeDiminished Quality of Professional Life

• De-emphasized Professional HonorDe-emphasized Professional Honor

• Disappearance of the SymbolicDisappearance of the Symbolic

Fractures in theFoundation

Trends and IssuesTrends and Issues

• Shifting ValuesShifting Values

• Shifting Basis for LegitimacyShifting Basis for Legitimacy

• Different Perceptions of GenerationsDifferent Perceptions of Generations

• Internationally Trained PractitionersInternationally Trained Practitioners

• Different Jurisdictions PerspectivesDifferent Jurisdictions Perspectives

• Elimination of MonopolyElimination of Monopoly

Fractures in theFoundation

Trends and IssuesTrends and Issues• Loss of Professional AutonomyLoss of Professional Autonomy

• CommoditizationCommoditization

• Self-Regulation, State Regulation, Etc.Self-Regulation, State Regulation, Etc.

• The Limitations of Self GovernanceThe Limitations of Self Governance

• New Forms of RegulationNew Forms of Regulation

• On-going Professional Development On-going Professional Development ResistanceResistance

Trends and IssuesTrends and Issues

• The Competency UnderclassThe Competency Underclass

• The Practice UnderclassThe Practice Underclass

• The Economic UnderclassThe Economic Underclass

• The More Visible Upper Class ….The More Visible Upper Class ….

• And The Rise of Expert CompetencyAnd The Rise of Expert Competency

Accentuated ClassesOf Professional Practice

Trends and IssuesTrends and Issues

• 1 Specialization in Form and Content1 Specialization in Form and Content

• 2 Standard Primary Base Practice2 Standard Primary Base Practice

• 3 Excessive Delegation to Subordinates3 Excessive Delegation to Subordinates

• 4 Working Below Scope and Competence 4 Working Below Scope and Competence Too Often, Too LongToo Often, Too Long

• 5 Assembly Line Practice5 Assembly Line Practice

Tiered ProfessionalPractice / Segmentation

Trends and IssuesTrends and Issues• The Impact of Public FundingThe Impact of Public Funding

• The Intransigence in EmploymentThe Intransigence in Employment

• Unionized Professional – Oxymoron?Unionized Professional – Oxymoron?

• Globalization and the Localized VisionGlobalization and the Localized Vision

• Difficult Matters Are Becoming More Difficult Matters Are Becoming More ComplexComplex

• Process, Process, ProcessProcess, Process, Process

Trends and IssuesTrends and Issues• The Better Informed Patient / Client as The Better Informed Patient / Client as

Consumer – Self-Help & Risk ToleranceConsumer – Self-Help & Risk Tolerance

• Off-shore ProfessionalismOff-shore Professionalism

• Increasing Number of ProfessionsIncreasing Number of Professions

• Scope of Practice Competition – The Scope of Practice Competition – The ExternalExternal

• Practice Competition – The InternalPractice Competition – The Internal

Impact of Current Regulatory Impact of Current Regulatory Trends and PracticesTrends and Practices

• Initial Entrance Minimums / Discipline Model(s)Initial Entrance Minimums / Discipline Model(s)

• A Focus on Misleading AdvertisingA Focus on Misleading Advertising

• Increased Entrance Qualifications Increased Entrance Qualifications

• Quality Practice Audits / Education / Info.Quality Practice Audits / Education / Info.

• Minimum On-Going Competency To Practice Minimum On-Going Competency To Practice RequirementsRequirements

• The Next Stage(s) ….The Next Stage(s) ….

Typical Stages of Regulated Profession

Impact of Current Regulatory Impact of Current Regulatory Trends and PracticesTrends and Practices

• The Near Future Next Stage(s) ….The Near Future Next Stage(s) ….

Typical Stages of Regulated Profession

Practice EthicsPractice Ethics

Re-CertificationRe-Certification

Re-ExaminationRe-Examination

Impact of Current Regulatory Impact of Current Regulatory Trends and PracticesTrends and Practices

• Emphasis on Prescriptive ProcessEmphasis on Prescriptive Process

• Excessive Reliance on Re-TrainingExcessive Reliance on Re-Training

• High Reluctance to Use Temporary and High Reluctance to Use Temporary and Permanent License SuspensionPermanent License Suspension

• Ineffective Public Representation Ineffective Public Representation

• The Impact of ‘Minimum Competency’The Impact of ‘Minimum Competency’

Impact of Current Regulatory Impact of Current Regulatory Trends and PracticesTrends and Practices

• Intransigent PerspectivesIntransigent Perspectives

• By Definition, The Significant By Definition, The Significant Imbalanced Emphasis on the NegativeImbalanced Emphasis on the Negative

• Less Than Effective CommunicationsLess Than Effective Communications

• Lack of Jurisdictional Co-operationLack of Jurisdictional Co-operation

• Lack of Accountability / TransparencyLack of Accountability / Transparency

For Your Consideration …For Your Consideration …

• Ideas for Real Estate Licensee Ideas for Real Estate Licensee Regulatory BodiesRegulatory Bodies

Applied LeadershipApplied Leadership

For Your Consideration …For Your Consideration …

• It Will Not Be Easy – It Never IsIt Will Not Be Easy – It Never Is

Change LeadershipChange Leadership

Context for Real Estate Context for Real Estate Licensee RegulationLicensee Regulation

• Understand the Barriers to Success In Understand the Barriers to Success In Change Leadership for Licensees Change Leadership for Licensees

• The Status of Local & National RelationsThe Status of Local & National Relations

• Regulatory and Advocacy Bodies Issues Regulatory and Advocacy Bodies Issues (or Versus)(or Versus)

• Level and Type of Volunteer Activity / Level and Type of Volunteer Activity / Licensee ActivismLicensee Activism

Strategy

• Threat Level From External SourcesThreat Level From External Sources

• Economic Condition of PractitionersEconomic Condition of Practitioners

• Oversupply of Practitioners & ImpactOversupply of Practitioners & Impact

• Erosion of Common Body of KnowledgeErosion of Common Body of Knowledge

• The Basis for Internal / External Respect The Basis for Internal / External Respect

• The Reality of Multicultural TrendsThe Reality of Multicultural Trends

Context for Real Estate Context for Real Estate Licensee RegulationLicensee Regulation

Strategy

• Do You Know Your Industry MembersDo You Know Your Industry Members

• Governance / Volunteer LeadershipGovernance / Volunteer Leadership

• Quality of Web Focused TechnologyQuality of Web Focused Technology

• Attitude to Licensee Involvement (?)Attitude to Licensee Involvement (?)

• Communications ProficiencyCommunications Proficiency

• The Pragmatic - $ and TimeThe Pragmatic - $ and Time

Context for Real Estate Context for Real Estate Licensee RegulationLicensee Regulation

Strategy

Future Strategy Focus – Future Strategy Focus – To Change / Deal With CultureTo Change / Deal With Culture• To Fill the Leadership VoidTo Fill the Leadership Void

• To Deal With Common FundamentalsTo Deal With Common Fundamentals

• To Engage & Activate LicenseesTo Engage & Activate Licensees

• To Become the Licensee’s Home (?)To Become the Licensee’s Home (?)

• To Connect on the Visceral, Intellectual, To Connect on the Visceral, Intellectual, Spiritual, Economic, Etc., LevelSpiritual, Economic, Etc., Level

Strategy

The UnderpinningThe Underpinning

• Pride, Ethics, Trust, & Respect (Self-Pride, Ethics, Trust, & Respect (Self-Respect and Societal) Are InterrelatedRespect and Societal) Are Interrelated

• Improving The Individual’s Quality of Improving The Individual’s Quality of Practice Life & the Profession Are the SamePractice Life & the Profession Are the Same

• Protecting the Public and Improving the Protecting the Public and Improving the Profession Are the SameProfession Are the Same

• The Process Is Integral to the End Goals & The Process Is Integral to the End Goals & Is An Objective Unto Itself, & ContinuousIs An Objective Unto Itself, & Continuous

Strategy

The Common BasicsThe Common Basics• Confirmation of the Professional IdealConfirmation of the Professional Ideal

• Some Licensees Will Fall By the Way Side Some Licensees Will Fall By the Way Side – and This Is Good– and This Is Good

• All Licensees Have a Role to PlayAll Licensees Have a Role to Play

• Expect / Prepare for the Cheap Shots Expect / Prepare for the Cheap Shots Endemic to Change LeadershipEndemic to Change Leadership

• Do Not Undervalue Technology in DeliveryDo Not Undervalue Technology in Delivery

Strategy

For Real Estate LicensingFor Real Estate Licensing

• Pride In Profession Is LeveragePride In Profession Is Leverage

• The Trend to Independent The Trend to Independent Entrepreneurial Practice Is PositiveEntrepreneurial Practice Is Positive

• It Provides the Basis for RespectIt Provides the Basis for Respect

• Allegiance to Professional Community Allegiance to Professional Community Will Contribute to Regulatory MandateWill Contribute to Regulatory Mandate

Pride

Pride Based on Ethics Pride Based on Ethics Will = Trust and RespectWill = Trust and Respect

For Real Estate LicensingFor Real Estate Licensing• Establish the Professional Trinity – Ethics, Code Establish the Professional Trinity – Ethics, Code

of Conduct, Rules of Professional Courtesyof Conduct, Rules of Professional Courtesy

• Facilitate the Smaller CommunityFacilitate the Smaller Community

• Honor the Better Among UsHonor the Better Among Us

• Support the Obvious Charitable Cause – The Support the Obvious Charitable Cause – The Collective Selfless ActCollective Selfless Act

• Entrench The Public Protection Message – Entrench The Public Protection Message – Regulatory Body as the ‘Official Source of…”Regulatory Body as the ‘Official Source of…”

StructuralRespect

For Real Estate LicensingFor Real Estate Licensing

• Participate in Multi-jurisdictional DialogueParticipate in Multi-jurisdictional Dialogue

• Borrow With Permission As AppropriateBorrow With Permission As Appropriate

• Co-operate on the Common Standards for Co-operate on the Common Standards for Minimum Requirement for Licensure Minimum Requirement for Licensure

• Co-operate on the Common Standards for Co-operate on the Common Standards for On-going CompetencyOn-going Competency

• Co-operate … on Finding a Better NameCo-operate … on Finding a Better Name

Find theCommonGround

For Real Estate LicensingFor Real Estate Licensing

• Control / Minimize Marketing Hyperbole - Control / Minimize Marketing Hyperbole - Provide the Common Basis for DefinitionProvide the Common Basis for Definition

• Define, Accredit and Perhaps Begin Define, Accredit and Perhaps Begin Formalized Licensing for SpecializationFormalized Licensing for Specialization

• Recognize Web Site (Media) Misuse Recognize Web Site (Media) Misuse

• Have Licensees Define What Is an ExpertHave Licensees Define What Is an Expert

PublicRepresentations

For Real Estate LicensingFor Real Estate Licensing

• Promote Dialogue – Actively Engage Promote Dialogue – Actively Engage Licensees in Everything, Noting That Licensees in Everything, Noting That the Term ‘Volunteer’ Has Negatives the Term ‘Volunteer’ Has Negatives

• Complete a Communications AuditComplete a Communications Audit

• Research, Research, ResearchResearch, Research, Research

• Face-To-Face Interaction Is RequiredFace-To-Face Interaction Is Required

• Help New Licensees in Some FashionHelp New Licensees in Some Fashion

LicenseeEngagement

For Real Estate LicensingFor Real Estate Licensing

• Define, Quantify and Prove You Are Define, Quantify and Prove You Are Accountable – Outcomes FocusAccountable – Outcomes Focus

• Recognize the Limitations of Recognize the Limitations of Excessive ProcessExcessive Process

• Invite Licensees and Public to MeetingsInvite Licensees and Public to Meetings

• Web-Cast Participation for LicenseesWeb-Cast Participation for Licensees

Accountability

For Real Estate LicensingFor Real Estate Licensing

• For More Informed Decision MakingFor More Informed Decision Making

• Engender a Spirit of Enquiry Engender a Spirit of Enquiry

• Facilitate Engagement and CommunityFacilitate Engagement and Community

• Promote Relationship Proficiency – The Promote Relationship Proficiency – The Better Practice StyleBetter Practice Style

• Technical and Practical KnowledgeTechnical and Practical Knowledge

Research

For Real Estate LicensingFor Real Estate Licensing

• Define the Public Need / Licensee GapDefine the Public Need / Licensee Gap

• Plant the Flag on C.L.E.Plant the Flag on C.L.E.

• Promote / Encourage / Mandate More Promote / Encourage / Mandate More

• Soft Skills Emphasis, Relationship ProficiencySoft Skills Emphasis, Relationship Proficiency

• Provide the Accreditation CredentialsProvide the Accreditation Credentials

• Not In The Least, Continuous Ethics EducationNot In The Least, Continuous Ethics Education

Life LongLearning

For Real Estate LicensingFor Real Estate Licensing

• Is There Real LeadershipIs There Real Leadership

• Deal With Regulatory ArroganceDeal With Regulatory Arrogance

• Define What Can Be Done With the Define What Can Be Done With the (Limited) Resources Available(Limited) Resources Available

• Legislation Can’t Be Changed Is ExcuseLegislation Can’t Be Changed Is Excuse

• Offset Insularity BiasOffset Insularity Bias

RecognizeInternal

Difficulties

To Remind ….To Remind ….

• What If No Action Is Taken …What If No Action Is Taken …

• What Have You Got to Lose … To At What Have You Got to Lose … To At Least Discuss …Least Discuss …

• Public Service …Public Service …

• A Cliché Definition of Insanity …A Cliché Definition of Insanity …

PROFESSIONS PROFESSIONS IN TRANSITIONIN TRANSITION

…. Real Estate …. Real Estate LicenseesLicensees