Does your appraisal department make mistakes? It’s embarrassing to be wrong especially if its pushback from your RM or LO. Determine the productivity and happiness of your (often over-worked) staff. 

Can an appraisal workflow platform like YouConnect help? 

Progressive financial institutions are making significant investments in technology. Those that delay don’t truly understand the efficiencies gained through implementing software solutions. 

Julia Galef presents Why you think you’re right, even if you’re wrong. She explains the soldier and scout mindsets. The former defends viewpoints at all costs; the latter is motivated by curiosity. Best practice would be to alternate between the two. Too much of soldier results in narrow thinking. Not enough soldier can be perceived as indecisive. 

Scouts are curious, open and grounded. Heather Lanier’s “Good” or ”Bad” are incomplete stories we tell ourselves. She believes that simply identifying everything as “good” or bad” is overly simplistic. 

She discusses the parable about a farmer who lost his horse. 

“The neighbors came over and said, “Oh, that’s too bad.” And the farmer said, “Good or bad, hard to say.” Days later, the horse returns and brings with it seven wild horses. And neighbors come over to say, “Oh, that’s so good!” And the farmer just shrugs and says, “Good or bad, hard to say.” The next day, the farmer’s son rides one of the wild horses, is thrown off and breaks his leg. And the neighbors say, “Oh, that’s terrible luck.” And the farmer says, “Good or bad, hard to say.” Eventually, officers come knocking on people’s doors, looking for men to draft for an army, and they see the farmer’s son and his leg and they pass him by. And neighbors say, “Ooh, that’s great luck!” And the farmer says, “Good or bad, hard to say.” 

As appraisers, we have truckloads of logic. However, moving forward consider a scout mindset. Change the way you feel. Change the dynamic. Feel proud to be a valuation expert protecting your bank’s collateral. Inspire others in your department to be maximally productive.  

Awareness of mindsets can help us see the world clearly. 

Fixed Mindset😔Growth Mindset😊
Gives up easily
Works hard to look smart
Threatened by others’ success
Ignores feedback
Hates to be challenged
Strong perseverance
Inspired by others
Wants to learn
Build abilities
Gives effort to build new skills
Scarcity Mindset😔Abundance Mindset😊
Fear change
Never sets goals
Hordes information
Transactional
Makes up stuff as they go
Embraces change
Passionate
Collaborative
Transformational
Seeks out new knowledge.

Predetermined judgment 

I think in Q4 2021, it’s “hard to say” where our valuation industry is going. There’s a lot of positive things going on, as well as structural issues (like not backfilling with younger talent). I think as a collective group, focusing on growth and abundance mindsets with a give-back attitude is key. Hire and train new appraisers, even if you don’t feel like it. Worried they will leave and compete with you? Do it anyway. Too busy to train? Do it anyway. 

Productivity Mindset 

Invest money and time with productivity workflow software like YouConnect for appraisal and environmental. Make a significant positive impact on your appraisal department. 

Soldier or scout? Decide your mindset. Determine your productivity and happiness.