When you’re working in an industry like mortgage banking, it makes all the difference when you have access to people who can make things happen
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By Jon Reed
When you’re working in an industry like mortgage banking, it makes all the difference when you have access to people who can make things happen. It could mean the difference between getting a same-day loan decision and having your client’s file delayed; or it could mean going through layers of leadership before you get a resolution to an on-the-job challenge.
It’s hard to get business done when you don’t have a direct line of communication with your decision-makers. That’s why it comes as no surprise that having access to senior leadership is the #1 priority for mortgage professionals.
In an industry that’s constantly evolving from regulatory changes to advancements in technology – the more connected your senior leaders are to you and what’s happening in the field – the easier your job becomes and the better the experience becomes for the consumer.
That’s why keeping an open door is not simply a policy – it’s our culture. It’s how we believe in doing business. We understand that if our originators are going to succeed they need contact with people who can facilitate change and make decisions so we give them direct access to everyone within our organization from the CEO to the President to the COO, to the EVPs and Regional Managers.
We create an environment where open communication is welcomed. That’s part of the reason we developed the corporate initiative, “If you want to grow, we want to know”. It’s one way we stay in tune with helping our employees grow their career.
Having an open door policy is not about doing business as usual, but it’s the only way to do business if you want to build the best sales force and provide excellent service to your customers. You have to find a way to stay sensitive to the needs on the street level.
That’s why we also created a role for Area Production Managers, who are not only leaders in their market but a liaison between operations and sales. APMs have become one of the most important roles in our company because they keep a pulse on their specific market and they keep a direct line of communication with the executive team too.
This type of accessibility is vital to a Loan Originator’s success. That’s why you have to ask yourself, “Are my company leaders available to me?”