By:  Michelle Sandlin
Director of Global Relocation Services

I recently wrote an article for MOBILITY Magazine (the monthly publication of Worldwide ERC), which appears in this month’s publication.  The article is entitled, “Strategic Planning–Back to Basics.”  In the article I address the fact that as organizations continue to modify budgets in response to the economic downturn, that greater emphasis has been placed on getting back to basics.  This can be seen throughout the real estate and relocation industries as a whole.  And by “basics,” I mean refocusing on the fundamental business elements and habits that may have been neglected or overlooked during recent times of business hardship…you know, the ones that made us successful.

I think that this all starts with strategic planning and the idea that you need a road map to get you where you want to go.  In so doing, companies evaluate where they are, where they have been, where they want to go and the steps needed to get there.    Strategic planning often calls for a SWOT Analysis, in which you look at an organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats.  You have to look at what is working, what is not, what changes need to be made, etc., in order to begin taking steps in the right direction, which should be is towards your overall goal, whatever that may be.  Remember, a failure to plan is a plan to fail!

For many organizations, back to basics means placing more value on their clients and customers in the form of renewed customer service and service delivery.  It is often much more difficult to keep a client or customer than to get a new one.  Thus we have to provide the highest quality of customer care, and continue to differentiate ourselves from the competition and always look to increase our value-added proposition in the eyes of our clients.

Back to basics also means that we need to look at the ways in which we train within our  companies and organizations, and the ways in which we can partner with our clients to provide their teams with training and educational opportunities.  I don’t think that there is anyone out there who would not benefit from additional training, no matter how seasoned they are in their profession.  Especially with all of the technological advances being made everyday, keeping your skills sharp and keeping current on technology is more important than ever before.  For example, as I write this, our company is conducting an iPad training class for our agents.  We recognize the importance of staying on the cutting edge of technology, but at the same time we have to provide the proper training to make sure that our team is effectively using the technology.

Darren Moore, Web Marketing/IT Manager (John Daugherty, Realtors)

If we continue to re-commit ourselves and our companies to the fundamental practices that have made us successful, then I feel strongly that we will be poised for continued growth and success.

To read the full article, please click here: “Strategic Planning–Back to Basics.”

To view my other posts, please click here:  Houston Relocation Blog.