Communication, community and commitment. Together they form the keys to success for three prominent Oak Bay professionals.
For Hazel Braithwaite, an Oak Bay councillor and Director, Community Campaign with United Way Greater Victoria, communication is key.
“One of the most important skills I have found that has helped me to be successful is my ability to communicate effectively,” Braithwaite says. “This is a lifelong skill that we start developing and using basically from the day we are born. We really need to put a lot of effort into honing this skill to get it right.”
Communication is as much about listening as it is about speaking, she notes.
“A wise person once told me that communication was collaborative, not competitive and that it involved the sharing of thoughts to be effective,” Braithwaite says.
“They also pointed out that the letters in ‘listen’ were the same as the letters in ‘silent’ and I try to remember that so that there can be an exchange of ideas with others rather than a monologue – great advice that I really try to follow.”
For Cassie Kangas, a longtime Oak Bay realtor with DFH Real Estate, community connections are key to her success.
“By being an active member of the community I know how people live, work and play in our area,” Kangas says.
“I constantly keep up-to-date about our local real estate market, how our community functions and I see the needs of the people who live here. This gives me insight into how people who are selling a home use the fabulous resources in our area, thus enabling me to market to the right audience and for the buyers moving into our area I can show them all the community has to offer.”
Commitment is the second essential element.
“Real estate is a full-time job that I am very passionate about and I am fully committed serving my clients,” Kangas notes.
“We are in an especially challenging real estate market and my job is to advocate for the best interests for my clients, whether they are home sellers or buyers, and I help them avoid any potential problems or pitfalls so they can enjoy a positive experience.
“I love being a realtor and helping people make a positive change in their living situation.”
Oak Bay archivist Caroline Duncan is in the business of preserving and telling our history – our stories. A passion for what she does has made her succesful in her career.
It’s “doing what I love,” Duncan says. “For me, my career and personal interests are one in the same, which makes it easy to stay motivated and it is always a pleasure coming in to work each day.”
Success also means keeping an eye on the big picture.
“I set a lot of goals for myself – daily, weekly and quarterly goals – and then regularly connect these to my broader long-term objectives. This helps keep me focused and gives me a sense of accomplishment and progress,” Duncan says.