As a brokerage leader, it’s important to remember that there are many ways to successfully run a brokerage. But no matter what your strategy is, your brokerage can likely use a boost by finding more conscious and impactful ways to produce the outcomes that you’re looking for. Here are some ways to get started:
Accept change
In a volatile line of business and a market that has moved at incredible speeds in recent years, adapting quickly is a vital skill as a brokerage leader if you’d like to be on top of other agencies, or better yet, ahead of the curve. Accepting changes as they come, and more importantly — adapting to them in a way that benefits not only you but your agents, staff and the brokerage as a whole will have far better outcomes than trying to go against the tide.
Be open to the idea that things are moving in a direction that is far out of your control, and find ways to be proactive and anticipate the needs of your agents and employees as it moves.
Look deeper
Alongside change come developments that likely require new structures, and measures that need to be taken to make sure that you and your brokerage are up to speed with all that is going on internally and externally in your business.
Using your strengths as a leader to look deeper into issues before they become bigger problems will allow you to not only advocate for a better brokerage culture and a place where your agents and employees feel valued, but will also provide an environment where operations run more smoothly while increasing the impact your brokerage has looking at the bigger picture.
There is always something that can be improved, and if we take initiatives as leaders to make those improvements, it will generate an environment and business that encourages a strong standing in the marketplace based on trust and respect.
Gain clarity
Seeing eye to eye with all stakeholders, such as staff, agents, partners and clients, while navigating and managing various interests can often be a struggle, especially when different motivators are at play. But once you’re able to see what it is that each one of them are looking for and how they can be supported by putting yourself into their shoes, it all becomes much clearer. Gaining clarity isn’t just about external factors, either.
As a brokerage leader, your goals, visions, and leadership style have to be clear to you as well as those around you. How you strive to make your brokerage better requires effective and clear communication. If you haven’t thought about what your goals and visions are for your brokerage, there’s a pretty good chance that your teams and agents don’t have a clue either. Finding clarity in the intentions and ways you want to run your business is after all the first step on which you can build a successful brokerage that has the success and impact you desire.
Marion Weiler is brokerage growth strategist and CEO of Weiler International LLC
To contact the author of this story:
Marion Weiler at marion@weilerinternational.com