Education and Experience:
The Dynamic Duo
by Hilde Deprez
Wanting to be in a profession
where I can be of help and
service to others, I chose to
become a Notary. Even though this
profession may appear to be all about
papers and files, in essence it is about and
for people.
When clients come to us, they rely
upon our professionalism. They trust
that our knowledge and experience will
provide answers to their questions and
concerns. Therefore, we have an
obligation and duty to our clients and to
our Society to ensure that our
professional knowledge and expertise
remains of the highest standard.
Continuing education is not an option.
It is a necessity, and an absolute must. By
being aware that learning is an ongoing
process, we render better service to our
clients. Education is key because
education brings knowledge. Only time
can bring experience, however.
Experience can not be studied but it
can be passed on. Therefore, it is
important that experience be shared. Since
every client is unique, every file brings its
own particularities and specific issues. Not
every file fits the perfect scenario.
Experience can make the difference,
particularly when we are confronted with
those challenging situations. The
discussion group set up via the private
Website of The Society allows us all, from
the comfort of our desk, to discuss these
challenges and the solutions thereto.
Apart from the discussion group,
there is the “1 – 800 or “hot line” of The
Society, where Nanaimo Notary and
Education Co-coordinator Rick Evans,
with his years of experience, addresses all
sorts of questions and concerns. It is of
tremendous value to know that at all
times, you can discuss and share your
approach in a file with another
experienced professional.
| If called upon, many of our members are
very willing and co-operative in sharing
their experience and expertise with
others. The constant exchange among us
of knowledge and experience allows us to
provide our clients with excellent
professional service, which reflects upon
all BC Notaries and The Society. We
work together as a team and have the best
interests of our clients and The Society at
heart. In a way, we all have mentors and
in turn, we all mentor others.
Another reason Notaries provide
exemplary service as business professionals
is that we have the ability to listen as
people. Life experience is of tremendous
value, not only in our own private life
but also in our professional life. We are
who we are today because of what we
have lived and what we have experienced
every single day along our journey.
Clients trust that a BC Notary will
not only assist them as a professional but
will guide them with solutions to the
issues in their lives. In many instances,
our life experience helps resolve a matter
before it escalates, by mediating a
situation or by bringing the client’s
attention to the long-term risk and
concerns the decision may entail.
Just as our life and professional
experience and knowledge allow us to assist
our clients, the clients “shape” us, one by
one, by sharing their experience with us.
Once again, we come full circle.
There is a constant exchange of
knowledge and experience between us:
the professional and the client.
For as long as we are in this profession,
for as long as we are alive, we will be a
mentor and coach to some, and we will be
in need of a mentor or coach ourselves.
- HD |
