Written by Steve Kotan
With new Committees set to launch at the Ontario Real Estate Association, now is a great time for you to evaluate how volunteering on a Committee can further your career goals.
Although it may not be for everyone, there are numerous benefits to participating on a Committee at your provincial association. The biggest and most obvious is the professional relationships that you will build. As a result of being involved in Committees at the local, provincial, and national levels, I have met and built lasting personal and business relationships with colleagues from across the country who stay in touch with me and send me referrals to this day. And as a result I now know numerous people that I can count on to assist my own clients.
Being involved with Committees has also helped me develop my professional and leadership skills. Our boards and associations work on issues that have a significant impact on the real estate profession every day, and getting involved has opened my eyes to the factors that shape our success as a profession, providing me with additional knowledge of value to my clients. I’ve also developed critical on the job skills such as conflict resolution, group decision making and yes, even negotiation skills. This involvement keeps me at the forefront of current trending issues that will or are going to affect us as professional REALTORS® and our clients.
Last but not least, through my volunteer work I’ve met the people behind the scenes – amazing staff and personnel at the associations – who contribute to our profession every day, and experienced what it’s like to give back. I can’t emphasize enough how much more well-rounded I have become as a person through working to help others, and how much this has elevated me as a professional. Volunteering is good for the soul.
I sincerely encourage Realtors who are contemplating what’s next in their careers to try out for a Committee. It doesn’t matter if it’s your first time or if you’ve already volunteered with an association. There are many options to choose from at OREA based on your interests and experience. I’m biased, but I think volunteering on the YPN Committee is a great place to start for those looking to get their feet wet and gain some experience while having a blast. I have however been on most committees over the years and thoroughly enjoyed them all.
All seriousness aside, volunteering for committees has been FUN. I get to meet great people, benefit professionally, all while giving back to the real estate community, which makes me feel good. Apply for a committee and see for yourself.
I hope I’ve inspired some of you to fill out an application and that our paths will cross in the months to come!
This guest blog contribution comes to us courtesy of Steve Kotan. Steve is the current Chair of the Ontario Real Estate Association’s YPN Committee, Steve Kotan has worked for over 25 years as a licensed REALTOR® in North Bay. Steve is the incoming OREA Director for Northern Ontario, Past President of the North Bay Real Estate Board and a current Committee member with the Canadian Real Estate Association. He is the recipient of Royal LePage’s Director’s Platinum Award and Lifetime Award of Excellence and the Royal LePage Shelter Foundations 2015 Individual of the Year.
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