I may be a business owner, but learning to be an effective manager is the hardest part of my job. I can sell real estate all day long. I can make marketing decisions like no one else. I can keep a calendar, schedule meetings, and get more done than anyone I know—but, gosh, sometimes it’s…

When you think about hiring or creating a real estate team, you dream of more free time and getting your life back in balance, in addition to extra income produced by someone other than you. That can be the end result, but you have to go about it correctly. One of the biggest mistakes team…

I talk frequently with team leaders who are at the end of their rope with team members. The consistent complaint is that team members don’t seem motivated and aren’t doing what’s necessary to be successful. The word “lazy” is used often, and the frustration in the team leader’s voice is obvious. I’m always inclined to…

Congratulations! The official license with your name on it is now or will be proudly hanging on your office wall. One you’ve passed all the tests and requirements, and ordered your business cards, you will be ready for business. The predictable first step is to put together a letter to announce to the world that…

Real estate teams and brokerages alike have similar challenges when it comes to retaining talented agents and staff. We learned a long time ago that people don’t quit brands or companies, but rather, they quit leaders. Therefore, it’s the role of the leader—either team leader or broker/owner—to create an environment that encourages growth, and allows…

With changes in technology happening almost daily, a big question on the minds of many agents and teams is, “How can I avoid a technology disruption in my business?” The answer is actually quite simple: Elevate your relationships. Most agents begin their business highly connected to their Top 50 or SOI, also known as their…

Have you ever had a bad apple on your team? A bad apple is rotten. It may not have been rotten from the beginning, but somewhere along the way, it became rotten. When a rotten apple is surrounded by other apples, it turns them rotten, too. I learned this the hard way…a few times (I…

Ask any high-producing real estate team if relationships with their sphere and Top 50 are important to their real estate business and almost all will say yes, even if they aren’t executing that at a high level. The challenge we often see is the gap between understanding that relationships with our sphere and clients are…

Real estate teams are normally formed for one of two reasons: as a way to reduce pain, or as part of a well thought-out strategic plan. Both have the cultural challenge of finding a common goal and moving forward as a group—but the pain-formed team is at a huge disadvantage from the beginning. Let’s define…

When someone works off of commission, it seems only logical that they should be telling people what they do for a living so that they can earn more business and make more money. However, many agents do not want to feel like they are pushing friends or family to buy something. Here are a few…