Each member of an organization is a vital contributor to success, broker says
With more than a decade and a half in the industry, Ryan La Haye, mortgage broker at Group RLH – Planiprêt Mortgage Cabinet, stressed that a focus on honing one’s team to a keen edge is a crucial component of long-term success.
“Learning to be a good coach and leader in the industry and for my brokers and employees has been the most rewarding and most challenging,” La Haye told Canadian Mortgage Professional. “Knowing when to push and when to hold back, listening more and talking less, and above all seeing each individual as a unique human that contributes to the success of my organization in different ways, has been the biggest learning curve.”
These lessons had deep roots. La Haye entered the industry in 2005 and cut his teeth on Home Loans Canada, before joining Planiprêt as a shareholder in 2010. This was also the year that La Haye established his division Group RLH under the Planiprêt umbrella.
“The ability to coach, advise, and collaborate with people on a daily basis to improve their financial situation and reach their financial goals is what really drives me in mortgages,” he said. “Seeing the impact we have had on thousands of families over the years keeps me going even today.”
Years of developing the most effective approach in resolving clients’ needs has taught La Haye that what every customer ultimately wants is dependability.
“You don’t need to reinvent the wheel,” La Haye said. “Clients and partners don’t want something new, but they will appreciate the familiar done differently. Be your unique self and you can develop a strong business in a market that is tailored to you and who you are.”
Arming oneself through continuous learning is central to establishing what approach works best for the team and the client base, he added.
“I’ve worked hard on developing the tools necessary to allow me to be better and more impactful here,” La Haye said. “Attending international conferences on business and receiving coaching from a variety of professionals on the psychology side has helped tremendously to navigate these complex waters.”
La Haye said that he believes in utilizing what the sciences have to offer when it comes to human interactions.
“I have a unique approach that applies ontology through transformational language when dealing with clients, business associates, and partners,” La Haye. “To most, the previous sentence is almost incomprehensible, but the science of ‘being’ and its mastery has been one of my specialties over the years.”
He also stands by the value of combining these pieces of learning with good old-fashioned grit.
“I believe in a very disciplined approach to work and health,” La Haye said. “Following a rigorous and strict schedule allows me to consistently build the business and operate optimally.”
For La Haye, the stoicism to disconnect oneself from the results is an important survival trait.
“I think it’s very important to do impactful work, to be engaged, to make a difference for clients, brokers, and business partners – but to not get caught up in the numbers,” he said. “If you do great work, the numbers will happen, or maybe they won’t. But either way, if you are making a difference, that is what is important. This thinking allows me to stay calm and keep my ego out of the equation, something that has been a real challenge over the years.”
The approach has paid off significant dividends for La Haye.
“I was very proud to be named to the Global 100 list of most influential mortgage figures in the world in 2022,” he said. “This was a surprise and a great honour. Being nominated for ‘Best mortgage broker of the year’ for the past few years for the CMAs has also been very special.”
“I am often contacted to write articles and content for media or to be quoted in industry magazines, I am always very humbled by that. I [also] began a podcast in French just about 18 months ago and we have surpassed 500,000 views per episode on all platforms combined, a real great achievement in my books.”
