REALTORS® Make A Stand On Capitol Hill – an Interview with Shannon McGahn, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs for NAR
In times of crisis, it’s reassuring to know that you have good people in your corner. I recently had the privilege of interviewing Shannon McGahn, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs for NAR, to discover how the organization is representing the interests of the real estate industry on Capitol Hill during the Coronavirus crisis. Here’s how you can incorporate some of her insights into your daily life right now:
Work Together
NAR has been so effective on Capitol Hill because they don’t represent a special interest, they represent everyone’s interests: Members, property owners, consumers, the real estate industry and the business as a whole. Working with people across the board and leaning into relationships and connections to get the job done is so important, now more than ever. In times of difficulty, people have to work together to get resolution, get out of crisis and move into recovery. No matter your views or philosophies, working in a bipartisan and problem-solving way is key.
Follow the Process and Have Respect
If you follow the process and you’re good to people, progress will be smoother and easier. Keep lines of communication open, have ongoing dialog and try to understand the other person’s point of view. Above all else, be respectful. If you can have a healthy sense of respect for what other people need to do to get their job done, then it is far easier to do your own job and represent your people to the best of your ability.
Be Passionate and Be Patient
If you bring passion to the work that you do, you will fight harder and always go the extra mile to help those who need it. It’s also important to exercise patience. Remember, in times of crisis, things might be slower or take longer to process than usual, so hang in there. Listen to the latest episode of “It’s a Good Life” to hear more about how pandemic unemployment assistance can help those who need it; why cash flow is so important to real estate and how the pushback of the tax deadline to July 15 will help the industry; and how lending institutions can service small business with loans.
