As a broker, it may often feel as though you have a to-do list that is a mile long and always growing. Sometimes this can lead to neglecting things which may not be as urgent, but which are equally important and integral to the big picture of your brokerage’s success. For many brokers, team building exercises are one of those things that typically falls through the cracks. Brokers may view their agents as silos who mostly work independently or for whom such comradery has limited value. As everyone knows, growing a brokerage has constant challenges related to recruitment and retention. The fact is that team building activities are beneficial to you, your agents, and your overall mission of growth. So finding a way to incorporate these activities can be an investment in achieving that. Here are a few of the benefits you can expect when you choose to engage in regular team building exercises:
Team Building Exercise 1 – Share The Mission Of Your BrokerageOf course, everyone working in real estate is hoping to make a good living at it. Selling lots of big homes, being a million dollar agent is the dream of every serious real estate agent. But your mission as a broker and the person responsible for helping achieve this has to be better than just “make a lot of money”. Helping people buy the home of their dreams is a tremendously positive and impactful service you provide. Your mission statement should reflect this. It should be formal, and it should be a collaborative effort between you and your team that you revisit periodically. It should include things like how you will present yourself to clients and the community, how you will treat your clients and partners, and how you will delight and exceed expectations at every step of the process. A jointly developed, “feel good” mission for your brokerage creates team cohesion around a common set of principles beyond “make a lot of money”. Print it and post it proudly in your office. Team Building Exercise 2 – Develop And Incentivize Mentor RelationshipsAs agents are new to real estate and new to your team, they are usually in search of guidance and support from more seasoned agents that can show them the ropes. As a broker, your success derives from your agents continuously growing both personally and professionally so that they can close more deals. The larger you grow, the less time you will have to be able to offer that coaching to your agents on a one-on-one basis. Mentorships are valuable among your agents as it will save you from having to mentor each member of the team yourself individually. Develop a program in which more successful and experienced agents mentor new team members, welcome them, and help them become acclimated to your policies, practices, and strategies. Team Building Exercise 3 – Have Weekly Meetings and AwardsEven if you believe in fostering a strong sense of independence in your agents, it is wise to keep all of them grounded to your overall success as a team. One way to do this is to bring the team together regularly for a fun, open discussion with some monetary reward and recognition for significant achievements. You may want to present them with fun certificates for them to display in their offices, as well as, gift cards or cash. Holding these meetings puts you out front as their leader and keeps you connected to the team in a more personal, fun way. Plus, the positive incentive will further reinforce your agents’ productions levels and loyalty. Team Building Exercise 4 – Sponsor Non-Sales Group ActivitiesOf course, sales are a top priority to both your agents and to you as their broker. Without sales, nobody eats. However, bonding together as a team should not always revolve around driving more sales. One way that you can encourage more engagement amongst your agents is to sponsor non-sales activities. Ideally, you would do this for teams that achieve something significant such as attracting the most new agents to the team, developing a new streamlining process, closing the most sales for the period, or successfully incorporating a new technology. When you do this, other teams within your brokerage will take note that you are supportive of such healthy practices and become motivated to work harder themselves. Team Building Exercise 5 – Become Volunteers and Role ModelsIn addition to creating a positive public image for your brokerage, your agents working together for a greater good is a powerful shared experience. Try to choose a cause that is meaningful to your agents, and in line with your brokerage’s values, to increase their engagement and participation. If you hold monthly meetings, present your agents with two or three options that are all aligned with your mission and will require your team to work together cohesively to move the needle forward for the cause. Then have them vote on the cause that they would prefer to support. Send out reminders leading up to the event and generate additional interest on social media. Following each charitable event, be sure to thank your agents, share the difference that they made, and highlight the importance of working together as community role models, not just real estate professionals. A Worthwhile Investment In Your GrowthSome of these team building exercises are easy and simple to do, while others require more time to plan. Whatever time you can spend here however, is well worth the investment. As your team grows stronger together, your brokerage will become a place everyone wants to be a part of, and no one wants to leave. At Weichert, we offer support to our affiliates so they can accomplish many of these types of activities and strengthen their brokerages. National and regional Awards & Recognition programs, workshops and conferences, inspiration and public relations support for community involvement and one-on-one coaching to develop solid recruiting and retention programs are just some of the many things we provide. Ours is a people-first philosophy based on building and cultivating relationships, whether it’s a client or an associate. For more information on how to support your team for growth and continue to move forward, call 877-746-8807 or visit weichertfranchise.com. Sources:
0 Comments
Every brokerage goes through cycles where clients are beating down the door, and then suddenly, they aren’t. Some of this can be seasonal, or as in the most recent climate, some of it can be driven by forces beyond our control. Slow cycles are great for shoring up your foundation and mastering new skills. As business starts to heat up again, it doesn’t mean you should stop taking those productive steps to continue evolving yourself and your business. Making time for these steps will position you better for future sales opportunities, address long standing operational needs, and improve your knowledge and abilities related to your business.
And every day, Weichert trainers, coaches, service team members and fellow owners are there as a resource for you as you execute the proven Weichert process for success, step by step. They’ve all been through what you’re going through. They will help show you the way. Take a minute today to give Weichert Franchising a call and get on a new path to success. Businesspeople handshaking after negotiation or interview at officeBeing in control of your destiny is powerfully appealing. It is only natural for entrepreneurial-minded agents to feel the itch to take more control in their career by adopting the role of a broker. This can be especially true for those that have already graduated to being a Team Leader. However, even the most confident and experienced Team Leaders can have doubts about whether now is the right time to take the leap and get their broker’s license and open their own shop. If you have ever considered taking on more leadership in your real estate career, this article is for you. What Makes You Want to Take the Next Step?Before taking this next step into your real estate future, it is important that you take the time to ask yourself why you’re doing it. Be honest. Do you have an idea for how you might run a brokerage? Have you always wanted to have a business where you are in a leadership role? Do you like the idea of being able to pass along your expertise in a mentorship capacity? Do you have the desire to invest in something and watch it grow and prosper? Or maybe you’ve mastered being a Team Leader and are looking for the next stepping stone of success. It is important to be clear about “your why”. Let’s face it, a Broker/Owner’s life is going to be very different from an agent’s life. You can’t effectively build a business and be an agent at the same time. You will gradually need to take yourself out of the selling game. Likewise, you’ll need to replace the things that used to motivate you as an agent with new sources of motivation – like building a successful team, fostering a positive culture, investing in your agents and getting the satisfaction of seeing them succeed, and most importantly, watching your business grow and flourish within your community. Your motivation has to come from your love of the business, your love of people, the enjoyment of taking a leadership role and wanting to build something with that. Do You Have the Experience, Drive, And Resources?Most broker/owners were above average earners as agents for a number of years before they decided to take the next step. This experience is important, but to become a successful broker/owner will require letting go of many of the common activities of agents and writing a whole new job description for yourself. As a real estate broker you now need to be thinking about recruiting, team development, education, technology selection, agent training, marketing resources, lead generation and office management, to name a few. It can seem like a big task at first, but with the right recipe to follow, the right resources and a support team in place to guide you, you’ll be well-positioned for success. For example, the franchise service team at Weichert has worked with brokers of varying levels of experience. They’ve demonstrated how a system of proven processes and intensive training and coaching opportunities can help almost any motivated realtor write their own success story. Add the power and resources of a national brand and most individuals find that their move into broker, is a natural step when they choose a partner like Weichert. Can You Afford to Stop Selling?One of the biggest challenges that real estate agents making the transition to broker will face is to quit selling houses. It is the job of the agent to sell houses, but it is the job of the broker to facilitate and support the work of agents…and build the team. This requires a time investment. Our business consultants will help coach you on how to make the transition from agent to broker/owner. However, you need to be prepared mentally and financially to take yourself out of the selling game if your brokerage is to have a chance at growth. The Value Of Guidance For Newbie BrokersJust as you faced a unique set of challenges requiring guidance and support as an agent, you will face a new set of challenges as a broker/owner. The difference is that when you were an agent you had a built-in support system. That isn’t the case for broker/owners that choose to operate independently. Should you choose to align yourself with a powerful franchise like Weichert, however, you’ll not only benefit from our proven systems, tools, educational materials, and lead generation but also our supportive network of other owners across the country who have been in your shoes. Not to mention, our expert coaching and service team is there to support you with each step. They have seen it all, and you will never be at a loss for what to do next. Not only can franchising reduce the fears and minefields of new brokerage ownership, but it can also speed to the road to business growth. If you would like to learn more about how Weichert can help you fulfill your dream of brokerage ownership, go to www.weichertfranchise.com.
|
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
July 2020
Categories
All
|