Good afternoon —
This week I interviewed Bill Dallas, president of Finance of America Mortgage, for our Housing News podcast. Dallas has been in the mortgage industry for decades and our conversation covered a range of really interesting topics — from being prepared for the purchase market to regulation to the transformation of the industry.
The last thing I asked him was what he has learned as a leader during this pandemic period that he didn't know before. His answer? He had underestimated the value of communication with his employees.
"I sometimes could leave a swath of lack of clarity behind me by talking about the future when people are living in the present. What I've learned more than anything is to…focus on their present." At Finance of America, that meant quick 20-minute huddles twice a day during 2020 with all 3,000 employees.
Dallas also said he wants to equip his employees to succeed in a world where so much about the customer has changed, from the way they make money to who lives in their home.
"Where we're going is a world that is much different than what we see today. I don't think people actually think about this, they just wake up, do all these loans and think it's going to continue. Well, the transformation is well upon us, and the process is in such an evolution.
"I want them to know we are focused on that for them. And that we can help them in that transformation by developing new ways to maintain digital relationships with the customer...You have to expand the role beyond manufacturing and selling the loan to the agencies."
Check out that conversation here as you head into your weekend. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Until Monday —
P.S. Don't forget to register for HW Annual Sept. 27-28. We have an incredible lineup of speakers on topics you don't want to miss! Find out more here and sign up to HW+ here to get a discounted rate.
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