With 16 offices in the Greater Richmond region and 500 agents and employees, Long & Foster Real Estate is a powerhouse when it comes to buying, selling and renting a home. The 55-year-old company prides itself on offering comprehensive services, not only moving in or out but also handling all the complexities that accompany the process of homeownership, such as mortgages, title insurance and moving.
Long & Fosterâs Tri-Cities office comes together for a celebration.
Dawn Bradley, Senior Vice President for the Richmond and Charlottesville regions
How do you ensure employees feel heard, valued and supported in their roles while fostering open communication at all levels of the organization?
That starts at the top. You have to lead by example. Our CEO Patrick Bain hosts whatâs called âLetâs Get Real.â He talks about whatâs going on in the company, acknowledges top producers, celebrates successes and takes questions. I try to model the same approach. I write a lot of thank you notes, have an advisory board and ask them for employeesâ input. What can we do to do a better job? What can I do personally? You have to be able to listen and take constructive criticism.
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What initiatives or policies do you have in place to promote work-life balance for employees?
We all lead by example. Balance is essential. This canât be just about chasing the next deal. A huge part is giving back to communities and participating in community events. We realize that the agents and employees need down time. I tease my folks and say, âI need to recharge my batteries. I might be slow in responding.â The agents and employees all know that family comes first.
Why is it important for your organization to have a workforce that reflects a variety of perspectives and backgrounds?
This goes all the way back to our founder, Wes Foster. If our workforce is diverse, we have a better understanding of our diverse customer base. Thatâs essential to being able to serve all our customers. We celebrate that diversity, and it helps us to attract top talent in the real estate market, and thatâs been very important to help us serve our community better.
Long and Foster sponsored the hometown team VCU in Richmond.
How do you create an environment where all employees feel a sense of belonging and have opportunities for growth?
We feel like we have created an environment where you feel like you belong. You are loyal to us because the company is loyal to you. We emphasize participation and celebrate success. This reinforces that you belong. For example, weâve taken walls down between branch offices. You might be assigned to one office, but you can go to any of our locations if you need a conference room, copier or managerial guidance. Collective success helps all of us.
