The Real Estate market has witnessed significant transformation over the past years and is expected to reach a staggering value of US$637.80tn by 2024. Within this market, Greater Vancouver REALTORS® stands out for leading professionalism and innovation, reimagining Real estate.
Greater Vancouver REALTORS® (GVR) is a member-based professional association of 15,000 REALTORS® and their companies who live and work in communities from Whistler to Maple Ridge to Tsawwassen and throughout the Metro Vancouver area in between.
Founded in 1919, Greater Vancouver REALTORS® specializes in offering a variety of products and services to its members, including the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®), research and statistics, education and training, professional standards and arbitration services, public and media relations, computer support, advocacy and more.
Jeff King is the CEO of the Greater Vancouver REALTORS®. As an exemplary leader, Jeff brings over an extensive experience in strategy, innovation, licensing, distribution and corporate planning.
Before entering this role, Jeff has demonstrated his expertise and leadership in various roles. He served as the Chief Operating Officer for The Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada. Between 2020 and 2021, he also served as interim CEO of Dataclef, a back-office service provider to music rights organizations, and as Chair of the Board of Directors at DDEX, a standards-setting organization focused on creating digital value chain standards for the music industry.
Leading with Transparency
Jeff believes that transparency is the most critical leadership attribute. He strives to be authentically transparent. “I work hard and give full commitment to my team. People see how you act when things are going well and when things are going poorly. Culture is either strengthened or eroded in times of crisis. Consistency and strong positive energy can be an incredible force for corporate development.” By mastering courage, transparency and resilience, Jeff not only navigates the ever-changing business landscape but also inspires his team to reach new heights of success.
Seizing Opportunities in Business
As the CEO of Greater Vancouver REALTORS®, Jeff sees opportunities for new technologies in the real estate sector. The rise of digital players and the entrance of new approaches are changing the landscape for real estate transactions. Jeff embraces new technologies rather than viewing them as “disruptive’. He aims to build bridges with new entrants and promote open data, partnerships, and collaboration.
In terms of relationship with the public, Greater Vancouver REALTORS® focuses on building trust by increasing data transparency and setting higher standards of accountability for its members.
Raising the Standards of Professionalism
Professional courtesy is a key focus for Greater Vancouver REALTORS®. They are taking a leadership role provincially and nationally to raise the standards of professionalism in the real estate profession. Last year, the company published a white paper on professionalism that sets out an ambitious series of changes they want to achieve in partnership with other boards and associations across Canada. “This work is about strengthening and keeping the public’s trust along with modernizing the standards and practices that Realtors follow to serve their clients,” asserts Jeff.
Embracing Challenges Head-On
Challenges are a part of business and solutions don’t often come easy. As a leader, Jeff faces challenges head-on with confidence.
“When you seek to implement changes with the long term in mind, you can disrupt the immediate day-to-day activities of the people you serve. This can cause resistance, especially if you have not articulated your vision for change effectively,”
Jeff elaborates. “To be successful, you need to ensure that you bring your customers along with you, so that they are aware of what you are doing and that they see the rationale and vision that is driving your actions. This is why we make sure change management and stakeholder engagement are the key components of any large initiative we undertake.”
Candour and persistence are important qualities to guide through challenges and uncertainty. As a leader, Jeff believes that one need to frame the challenges he faces in a clear, accurate, and honest way so people he works and partners with understand the case for change. People are natural problem-solvers, and they will rally around a cause when presented with a compelling reason to take action and improve the conditions around them. If a mission is unclear, however, it is doomed to fail.
Finding Inspiration from Others
Jeff takes inspiration from people around him. Like most entrepreneurs, Jeff has had several role models who catalyzed his leadership journey. “My father, a food industry executive and my brother, a software company CEO have been my biggest inspirations. I have also gathered valuable lessons from people I’ve earlier worked with, like my bosses. I also draw inspiration from various thought leaders, like Clayton Christianson and Simon Sinek, who have greatly influenced my view of business leadership.”
Forward Strategy
Housing challenges in Canada have been building over for many years. Greater Vancouver REALTORS® aims to solve those with a collaborative, multi-faceted approach. They are looking to embrace new technologies as a means to modernize the tools and infrastructure that members and clients rely on in a real estate transaction today. They are focusing on elevating the standards and culture of professionalism in real estate. Moreover, by strengthening their internal business processes and expanding the capacity to better serve members and take advantage of opportunities, Greater Vancouver REALTORS® is solidifying its position in the real estate space.
Leadership Insights
As a consummate leader, Jeff shares his valuable advice for the aspiring leaders in the field. “It starts with the fundamental principle of treating people well. If people feel supported, respected and heard, they will be motivated to perform, grow and champion the organization. You also want to be mindful of the influence of the office. You set the tone at the top, as they say, so never forget that your words and actions set an example and contribute to the organization’s culture.”
