Hundreds of REALTORS® arrived in Springfield early Wednesday morning for the 2024 Illinois REALTORS® Capitol Conference Pre-Show.

Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch thanked REALTORS® for their support and for their ideas to help improve housing options for all and to lift the economy. He encouraged members to visit their legislators at the Capitol Complex and make the association’s positions clear. He also encouraged REALTORS® to introduce themselves to other elected officials.

“Your advice does matter,” said Welch. “You’re going to make a difference.”

With close to 6,000 bills put before the General Assembly every two years, legislators must rely on allies to explain the positive or negative impact that bills can have on industries, communities and consumers, said Welch. REALTORS® can provide valuable insights for lawmakers when it comes to bills that affect the real estate industry and the rights of private property owners.

Using the theme of the book, “the Infinite Game,” by Simon Sinek, Welch said he’s encouraging colleagues to play the long game when it comes to their decisions. In other words, make the world a better place than it was the day before. He believes we all can benefit from that perspective.

Also energizing the pre-show breakfast was Pat Dwyer, an award-winning performer, writer and professional speaker. He used his flair for humor to emphasize ways for REALTORS® to lead through resilience, innovation and adaptability.

Dwyer discussed the merits of laughter in communication, the importance of being a good listener and being able to use the word “yes” to extend conversations and improve understanding between individuals. He led the audience through several demonstrations of effective communication to illustrate his points.

He also told the audience that effective learning sometimes occurs in unexpected ways.

After showing the picture of a painting titled “Chaos” to the audience, he explained that although chaos is generally thought of as negative, much can be learned from it. For example, going to Starbucks for the first time can be chaotic for those who don’t understand the language used to describe various drink or size options. But after trial and error, coffee lovers eventually become so comfortable with the jargon they effortlessly place orders for multiple drinks at a time.