The strength of our differences

Diversity doesn’t mean we can’t work toward common goals.

by John Eckstrum   Anytime you’re dealing with 50,000 people spread across a state as big as Texas, you’re going to find some different backgrounds and varied opinions. Yes, Texas REALTORS® are a diverse group of folks. That fact has never been more evident to me than during the regional visits CEO Benny McMahan and I attended recently.

Don’t get me wrong–we share many common goals and concerns. But the hot topic in Del Rio right now might not even be on the radar screen in Dallas. Even within the same local association, you’ll find people coming at things from opposite ends of the spectrum. No matter where we go, though, we find no shortage of opinions.

At one time, I didn’t think much about regional visits. Now, I’m a big believer. For one thing, visiting face to face with members gives TAR leaders an opportunity to tell everyone about the fantastic TAR resources available to them. Even with this magazine, the Inside Track e-mail newsletter, the TAR Web site, and other communications, many members are unaware of benefits like the legal hotline and the virtual campus.

I also find that we often clear up topics that have been misunderstood or have taken a spin through the rumor mill. More frequently than I ever would have guessed, comments–sometimes malicious ones and other times honest ones that take on a life of their own when re-told–get repeated and soon are treated as the truth. Before we know it, there’s a forest fire burning that never should have started. Regional meetings give us the opportunity to douse the flames.

Just as important are the comments and suggestions we get from meeting attendees. Pick your cliché–a two-way street, a win-win situation, give and take–they all apply. I don’t mind tough questions. After all, silence is not going to move us into the future. And we have to get issues out on the table and start discussing them before we can work toward a solution.

Some members ask for explanations of why TAR did this or that instead of the way that member wanted it done. The answer comes back to the subject of how diverse we are. Nothing TAR does is going to please every individual out there. It’s not possible. But I hope that every regional-meeting attendee leaves with an understanding that TAR leadership makes business decisions we believe will benefit our association and industry.

I expect that you will take an opposing stance to TAR’s positions from time to time, and I respect that you might choose to individually support another cause, candidate, product, or service. I firmly believe, though, that all of our businesses are stronger on balance by the many efforts our association puts out on our behalf.

There is one commonality among the people who show up at regional meetings: Every one of them is engaged and involved in making our association and industry better. These people are taking the initiative in providing better service to consumers and adhering to the strictest professional ethics.

Yes, we are a varied group. I, for one, am glad for it, because our differences make us stronger as a whole. I hope that’s one idea we all can agree on.

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REALTORS®, visit www.tar.org.