Having tough conversations
Being a leader also means having tough conversations with your employees to ensure they’re meeting the standard you’ve set.
“I’m going to say this as woman to woman, don’t mistake our kindness for weakness,” Carter said. “Because when we go in the office and we shut the door, they understand. If I shut the door behind them, he knows we’re going to have a talk. It’s really about understanding that you can have that honest conversation. And they take critiquing from you, but you take the critiquing back.”
Cavanaugh agreed that the tough conversations shouldn’t surprise employees as long as you have set clear expectations.
North Carolina mortgage brokers Mike Alberico and Alec Conrad of Carolina Mortgage Advisors urge originators to “get back to basics” in a tough market. They emphasize becoming advisors to clients’ needs amidst high rates and low inventory. https://t.co/yBtHMEX4vT
— Mortgage Professional America Magazine (@MPAMagazineUS) June 18, 2025
“I’ve had some memorable, difficult conversations over the course of my career,” Cavanaugh said. “I’ve had tears, I’ve had screaming, and yelling. I’ve had it all. The only way that I’ve been able to go home and sleep at night is having set forth the expectations clearly, giving the tools, and providing honest feedback along the way.
“When I’m having these conversations, it shouldn’t be a surprise. Because the reality is, if somebody is surprised about that conversation, that’s on you. Somewhere, somehow there was a major miss in them understanding what you wanted.”