Happiness Tips for the Broker Industry

The broker industry has changed drastically since the GFC, said Ann Folbigg, chief people person at The Happiness Institute , and Smartline broker for Northbridge, NSW.

“The mood in the broker industry during the GFC mirrored the rest of the world,” she said, adding that the industry has undergone a fair amount of change in the last couple of years.

She believes that it’s a profession that generates a feeling of happiness.

“It’s incredible satisfying helping people obtain their first home.

“You become a part of people’s lives – you keep in contact with them, you get invited to housewarming parties – it’s very fulfilling work.”

Folbigg is not a psychologist, but she runs the operational side of The Happiness Institute, Australia’s only organisation ‘focused solely on promoting happiness in individuals, couples, families and organisations’.

She co-runs the institute with founder Dr Timothy Sharp, a clinical psychologist, adjunct professor, speaker and author.

One of their core areas of work is promoting happiness at work – which has been proven to increase staff satisfaction, promote productivity and teamwork, improve retention rates and lower staff turnover.

Folbigg adds that happiness breeds success and recommends brokers stick to what they know as a strategy to maintain a positive attitude.

“Research has proven that you’re more likely to be successful if you’re happy.

“To a certain extent, you can fake it until you make it, but not for too long,” she said.

 “When you’re feeling negative, your mind closes down but when you’re positive your mind opens and you’ll start to see more opportunities.”

While it’s easy to

get bogged down in the stress and tedium of a job, Folbigg advises it’s important to ensure you still have fun.

She recommends brokers who are working day and night to make their business a success should prioritise their goals, strengths and values and try to find a balance.

Article appears courtesy of Mortgage Professional Australia.