Alabama 10-16-17 by Top Agent Magazine

ALABAMA EDITION

4 Ways Mentoring Up-and-Coming Employees Makes You a BETTER AGENT Your Secret PRESENTATION WEAPON

FEATURED AGENT

PATTI SCHREINER COVER STORY

TOWANNAH SMITH

BUSINESS GROWTH HACK: Absorb Your Clients Stress HOW TO BUILD A TEAM THAT WILL WIN BIG: No Matter it's Size 5 Things You Can Do to ACHIEVE YOUR BIGGEST GOALS

ALABAMA EDITION

PATTI SCHREINER

“At one point I said, ‘I’ve either got to stop talking about getting into real estate or just do it!’” says Patti Schreiner, who for 22 years has excelled as a REALTOR® in the Greater Birmingham, AL, area. For Patti, the real estate seed was first planted when she, her husband TOWANNAH SMITH PATTI SCHREINER and their little babies were transferring from North Carolina to Birmingham for his job decades ago. “My husband stayed home with the babies for three days so I could CONTENTS come out and meet with the REALTOR®. We had the best time19) looking at houses and going to lunch.” She told her 4) BUSINESS GROWTH YOUR SECRET ® REALTOR she knew she wanted to do real estate, but HACK: ABSORB YOUR was PRESENTATION worried about making theWEAPON change while she had young CLIENTS STRESS children. After several years in other wonderful jobs, she finally made the switch, “And I have just loved it!”

13) HOW TO BUILD A TEAM THAT WILL WIN BIG NO MATTER IT'S SIZE

16) 5 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO ACHIEVE YOUR BIGGEST GOALS Phone 888-461-3930 | Fax 310-751-7068

TOWANNAH SMITH

22) 4 WAYS MENTORING PattiUP-AND-COMING leads a small, extremely efficient team made up of herself and two assistantsMAKES who focus YOU on meeting people’s EMPLOYEES needs. have the opportunity A “IBETTER AGENTand privilege of meeting so

many great people through real estate that I never would have met otherwise,” she says. Working with buyers and sellers primarily in Jefferson and Shelby Counties, she enjoys a high degree of repeat and referral business. “I think people refer me because we have so much fun!” she says. “If they’re not familiar with the process it can seem like it’s going to be stressful, but I take the stress off them and make it a positive, memorable experience.”

mag@topagentmagazine.com | www.topagentmagazine.com

By combining her own knowledge of the local market and

No portion of this issue may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever of the publisher. Top Agent real without estate prior withconsent the resources of the RE/MAX Southern Magazine is published by Feature Publications GA, Inc. Although precautions are taken to ensure the accuracy of published Homes brokerage, Patti offers refreshing and thorough materials, Top Agent Magazine cannot be held responsible for opinions expressed or facts supplied by its authors. service. “For listings, I always hire a professional photogTo subscribe or change address, send inquiry to mag@topagentmagazine.com. rapher. You’ve got to win over prospective buyers online Published in the U.S.

before they ever pick the phone to see a house; my listings

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Business Growth Hack: Absorb Your Clients’ Stress! Your business coach or a CRM software sales rep has probably described a number of products or services to help you grow your business. But sometimes the easiest way to increase the deals you’re closing is to simply be present for your clients. In doing so, you’ll find have the power to decrease the stress they feel. And when you decrease their stress, you increase your value to them, leading to new referrals and organic growth. 4

You may be thinking, “I have enough stress; how can I find the emotional bandwidth for other people’s stress?” But consider this: As their day-to-day point of contact in this life decision, you are already a strong presence in your client’s lives. Why not allow yourself to be the only seemingly calm part of this process? By asking them what’s on their mind, by truly listening, by showing that you truly understand and even by rolling up

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your sleeves to relieve some of their grunt work, you’ll prove yourself invaluable. Think of yourself as the equivalent of an anti-anxiety pill to your clients. All you have to do is form a few easy habits.

Laura and Raj, their agent and their loan officer soon came to learn that Laura’s 80-year-old mother may eventually move in with the family. This news not only helped the agent best meet Laura’s and Raj’s needs for a new home; it gave both the agent and the loan officer opportunities to go above and beyond for their clients. Their REALTOR® connected Laura with a senior services nonprofit near Laura’s mom’s current home that may be able to assist the family. And their loan officer outlined various, detailed options to Laura and Raj make smart, long-term financial decisions. Meanwhile, the agent and loan officer earned the trust of Laura and Raj, who felt less worried about the future.

Listen – really listen – with patience Behind every home purchase or sale is a person or a family with a uniquely complex set of needs, motivations, objectives and priorities. Asking the right questions and truly listening to the answers are the easiest ways to learn how to make clients’ lives easier. In doing so, you not only show that you’re interested in them as people, but you help yourself discover ways to surprise your clients with service. Take “Laura and Raj,” for instance – a couple in their 30s who wanted a larger home because their family of five outgrew their first home. By patiently getting to know Top Agent Magazine

Empathize Don’t be afraid to describe your own personal experiences as a homebuyer or seller, explaining how you felt at the time; let your client know you “get” it. The agent who is willing to open up and let buyers and

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sellers know that they personally understand their needs and concerns will connect with clients quickly, break down barriers and help the process move smoothly. Chayan Alavi, Broker/Owner of Alavi Agency in Long Beach, California, challenges himself and his team to ensure that every action of every day serves others. “If we can put ourselves in other people’s shoes with empathy, then we become stellar professionals and great human beings, too,” he says. “I like knowing that we remove the sales pitch from real estate and make it all about the customer.” Chayan and his team focus on customer advocacy and building trust. But they don’t take trust for granted. Instead, they know trust must be earned and nurtured over time.

Roll up your sleeves “You can’t be afraid to do anything!” says Matthew Todd of d’aprile properties in the Chicago area. “People know there’s nothing I won’t do to get the job done.” He has 6

mowed clients’ lawns, walked dogs and personally cleaned someone’s 8,000-squarefoot, $2 million home for a showing one day after his seller left the house. Two days before another closing, Matthew’s client was unable to move large amounts of unneeded furniture out of the house he sold. No problem! Matthew joined or created five online garage sales; sold or gave away most of the client’s belongings and had the remainder hauled away before cleaning in time for the closing. “The first time I sit with a seller on listing presentation or the first day I take someone on a buyer’s tour, they know I’m ‘all-in.’” Meanwhile, in the Cincinnati area, Aaron Denton of Summit Funding considers himself and his team members to be concierges for their borrowers. “We’re like personal assistants,” says Aaron. “People are happier when you remove the stress.” Included in their standard services are researching moving quotes; arranging and organizing movein day; scheduling utility transfers; assisting with children’s school registration paperwork; and even connecting buyers with local resources like daycares. If “rolling up your sleeves” isn’t your strongest skill, then an easy alternative is to get to know professionals in your area who can do these tasks for you. In the end, remember that by listening with patience, empathizing, and being willing to go the extra mile, you have the power to remove the stress your clients would experience without your help. When clients feel cared for, they remember the agents and partners who helped them.

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TOWANNAH SMITH

TOWANNAH SMITH Top Agent Towannah Smith of Our Town Realty in Montgomery, Alabama understands intuitively the power of providing excellent client service, and has been rewarded with a loyal client base that has skyrocketed her rate of return and referral business to an impressive 40%.

“I started part time in real estate after I bought my first property,” says Towannah, “and I didn’t feel like I had the best representation from my agent, and I thought I could do a better job. So I ventured off into real estate with the goal of doing it just for investment purposes. But I fell in love with actually selling homes.”

With seventeen years of accumulated knowledge and business acumen under her belt, Towannah oversees a team of seven dedicated, hardworking agents who are singularly focused on making the home selling and buying process as smooth as possible for their many clients.

Currently servicing the Alabama Tri-County area, Towannah believes client loyalty is predicated on many factors. “I think it’s about relationships,” she says. “That’s always the goal: not just to sell a home, but to form a relationship with the client. That way they’ll always

think of us when they think of real estate. It’s got to be about more than the money, it has to be about caring for your client, and we really and truly do care.” Caring extends to the community of Montgomery itself. Towannah has recently partnered with the city to revitalize the western area of town, which has seen a staggering proliferation of foreclosed, bank-owned properties. Towannah has spearheaded the effort to sell these properties, in the hope of bringing new life to this impoverished community, and so far she has been incredibly successful. Remaining in touch with their client’s post-transaction is of paramount importance to Towannah

and her team. “When we first interview with a client, we have them fill out a questionnaire so we can get their birthdates, their spouses name, information on their children, any information they feel comfortable giving. We put that information on calendars and set reminders. We want to be cognizant of holidays, and when the seasons change we’ll pop by their homes and give them small gifts, like a Starbucks gift card. Just something to let them know we’re always thinking of them.” Savvy, comprehensive marketing is another reason for the success of Towannah and her team. “We market on social media, the MLS, and we’re on Trulia, Zillow and homes.com, Twitter and Instagram. We also market through Copyright Top Agent Magazine

local magazines and newspapers, so we’re pretty much everywhere.” As a Premier Agent on Zillow and boasting a solid five-star review on the site, Towannah is clearly doing something right. One glowing testimonial reads: “Towannah is a champion deal closer. She has a very complete understanding of the areas that she has listings. Most importantly, she takes the time to understand the needs of buyers in order to best market your house. As long as you do your part, she will make the close happen. Her style is one of both tough coach and den mother. Very professional and courteous almost to a fault, she will make sure that the entire sales process pro-

ceeds at a swift pace while constantly keeping you abreast of what needs to be done. She is both open and honest with her sales process.” What Towannah enjoys most about her job has little to do with commissions. “I love working with first-time home buyers,” she says. “That’s my passion: turning people’s dreams into reality, or helping someone who thought they could not purchase realize the dream of homeownership.” As for the future, Towannah eventually plans to open her own brokerage, but for the moment she is content providing her many clients with topdrawer customer service. “I have a passion for what I do,” she says. Copyright Top Agent Magazine

For more information about

TOWANNAH SMITH,

please call 334- 324 -3547 or email TowannahSmith@gmail.com

How to Build a Team That Will Win Big No Matter its Size In the real estate world building a team is a goal almost every agent strives towards achieving. Doing business with a team as opposed to solo has numerous advantages. With more agents handling clients as well as other employees specialized in areas such as marketing and administrative support there to assist you; you can greatly increase your business and sales. Top Agent Magazine

So, when creating a team, logic would tell us that the bigger it is, the better, right? Wrong. When it comes to real estate teams, size doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t matter so much as the players you bring onto that team to work with you. A team doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to be big to win big, and here are the secrets to building a team that wins big no matter its size.

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Hire the Right Team Members

Put Your Team Members in the Right Positions to Win

You’ve probably heard the saying, “you’re only as strong as you’re weakest link.” That idea holds true for any kind of team, including those in real estate. If you have weak members on your team, then it’s not possible to have a strong team. Drawing strong team members to your business is essential.

Finding strong team members is just one part of the equation. As the leader of your team, you now have to assess each member’s strengths and weaknesses and position them appropriately. You want the best player for each role playing that part and catering to their strengths. Choose your team member’s roles wisely, and place each individual in the position where their strengths can shine and they can best contribute to a win for the entire team. Every role is important to the team working smoothly and winning as a whole, so it is important to place each team member in the role most suited to his or her skills.

To better understand what kind of person would make a strong addition to your team, you need to ask yourself what skills and characteristics you want your team members to possess. The strongest members are often ones that share their leader’s values. When you share values with your teammates, you are all running along the same course towards the same goal as one. Your definition of a victory in this case is also your teammates’ definition of it. This helps strengthen even the smallest of numbers because you are all working together toward a common goal. Another characteristic too look out for in potential team members is a positive attitude. You can teach someone the skills needed in real estate, but you can’t teach someone how to have a positive attitude. Positive members tend to achieve more due to their optimistic nature, but more importantly, they spread that positive attitude to the rest of the team, which improves every members’ performance. 14

Communicating Your Vision to Your Team

Your team members are the key ingredients to ultimate victory, but what recipe do you follow now to lead them to victory? That is what communication is for a winning team; the recipe you will use to

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help best utilize each team member and instruct them on how they need to work together to fulfill the recipe that will lead them to be a winning team. Your team members need to know the plan and you must give them the tools to successfully execute it. It is up to the leader of a team to help your players see your vision and help them understand what a victory looks like. The goal may seem simple and obvious to you, but you must communicate it over and over again to your team members, so they understand it as well as you do. With different personalities coming together to form a unit, you are going to be dealing with numerous challenges such as competing agendas. You will find this on any team. You must keep the goal and at the forefront of your playerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s minds in order to encourage them to put aside their own personal desires in order to come together as one cohesive, single-minded unit and push towards the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goal.

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Give Your Team Members the Tools to Help Them Perform at Their Best The final thing all great leaders do is equip their team members with the proper tools and training needed for them to succeed. You have to show them how they can each come together with their different strengths to work as a team towards one unified goal. This involves more than simple skills training, but also endurance, so they can last as a team and win even those matches that seem unending and impossible. Think of all the challenges that they could possibly face ahead, and clear their path to victory by giving them the necessary training and tools they will need to get past any obstacle. As the leader, you must be prepared to continually communicate the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goal and your vision. Use that vision to motivate your team members throughout the journey towards victory.

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5 Things You Can Do To Achieve Your Biggest Goals If there’s one thing successful people can agree on, it’s that setting goals has been key to their success. Whether you’re creating a five year plan or just settling on what you want to achieve by the end of the day, setting goals gives you the focus and direction you need to complete even the biggest tasks. But there is a method to setting them. It’s a process that takes careful thought and consideration up front, which is then combined with the hard work necessary to implement your plan. Luckily there are proven methods to goal setting that you can start using immediately. 1. MAKE YOUR GOALS SPECIFIC Yes, it’s fun to think in grand terms of where you want to end up in life and in your career, but it’s better to have a specific goal like “Increase my sales by 25%”, than “Get rich.” When a goal is clear and specific, it allows you to figure out the exact steps you need to take to accomplish it. The more general it is, the more paralyzed you might be when it comes to figuring out what to do since, the choices may be overwhelming. 2. MAKE IT ATTAINABLE Making attainable goals might seem boring, I mean afterall, you want to dream big! But you don’t want to suffer through the disappointment of not reaching your goal, something that may not even be possible at this stage in your life to begin with. One solution to that is creating goal levels. You can have the dream goal, but underneath that you have the realistic goals that are setting up a foundation for achieving the big one. Things that are attainable still take work and effort to achieve. Those small victories will keep you motivated and encouraged to go for the bigger dreams. And don’t forget, those 16

little goals may have been things you wouldn’t have gotten done if you didn’t set out to achieve them, so be proud! 3. PUT A PLAN OF ACTION IN WRITING Your plan of action should include daily, weekly, monthly and yearly goals. There is something about seeing things in writing and crossing them off the list that is oddly satisfying.The daily goals are especially important in regards to building up those good habits. The first few weeks of your plan of action are critical when it comes to your long term success. Reaching a goal is something you are doing every day, all throughout the day, in numerous ways. Achieving goals is all about creating good new habits. 4. MAKE IT MEASURABLE This is key, since you definitely want to reward yourself for a job well done, and having a goal that is measurable in some way is a sure way to know. Maybe it’s to increase your lead generation or to cut expenses, whatever the case, have a measurable test you need to meet, as well as a time frame. Then calculate what you have to do to reach that goal. Not only should your goal be specific, but the plan and the measure of success should also be set in stone. 5. ADJUST AS YOU GO You can have all the best laid plans, and you still might quickly realize that what you thought would help you reach your goal, might not be cutting it. Commitment to reaching your goals is good, but commitment to a plan you know isn’t going to work is not only a waste of time, but will be a devastating blow to your motivation. Sticking to a plan everyday means adjusting it accordingly.

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PATTI SCHREINER “At one point I said, ‘I’ve either got to stop talking about getting into real estate or just do it!’” says Patti Schreiner, who for 22 years has excelled as a REALTOR® in the Greater Birmingham, AL, area. For Patti, the real estate seed was first planted when she, her husband and their little babies were transferring from North Carolina to Birmingham for his job decades ago. “My husband stayed home with the babies for three days so I could come out and meet with the REALTOR®. We had the best time looking at houses and going to lunch.” She told her REALTOR® she knew she wanted to do real estate, but was worried about making the change while she had young children. After several years in other wonderful jobs, she finally made the switch, “And I have just loved it!” Patti leads a small, extremely efficient team made up of herself and two assistants who focus on meeting people’s needs. “I have the opportunity and privilege of meeting so many great people through real estate that I never would have met otherwise,” she says. Working with buyers and sellers primarily in Jefferson and Shelby Counties, she enjoys a high degree of repeat and referral business. “I think people refer me because we have so much fun!” she says. “If they’re not familiar with the process it can seem like it’s going to be stressful, but I take the stress off them and make it a positive, memorable experience.” By combining her own knowledge of the local market and real estate with the resources of the RE/MAX Southern Homes brokerage, Patti offers refreshing and thorough service. “For listings, I always hire a professional photographer. You’ve got to win over prospective buyers online before they ever pick the phone to see a house; my listings

look really good online.” Those listings get syndicated to more than 900 websites, meaning there’s “virtually nowhere my listings can’t be found.” Patti also produces and sends full-color fliers to target areas and networks closely with more than 4,300 agents. “Real estate is really about the people,” says Patti. “It’s not about the money or even the houses. I just treasure the privilege of getting to know people from so many walks of life.” She works with many buyers who are relocating to the Birmingham area from other states and countries. “I know what that’s like, because I came here myself from North Carolina and, before that, Ohio.” She enjoys hearing back from people who have moved to the area after never imagining living there. “Just like I did, they all say, ‘You were right! We absolutely love it here!’” In that way, she is as much of an ambassador for her local area as she is a REALTOR®. “I live in a city called Hoover and have been with Hoover Chamber of Commerce for decades in different capacities, from ambassador to a member of the board of trustees,” she says. “It’s a valuable resource for meeting new people.” She enjoys helping newcomers get their businesses started and helping connect her clients with services in the area. In her personal life, Patti and her husband cherish time with their children and five grandchildren. “It’s funny, whenever someone asks me when I’m going to retire, I say ‘In five years.” But she laughs when adding that she has been saying that for the last five years. “I don’t have any plans to retire. This business will continue evolving over the years.” Given the people-focused systems and processes Patti has in place, she is grateful to have done what she continues to do. She loves that people come back to her and refer others to her because of her approach. “It’s wonderful to keep making new friends while making the whole process of real estate as low-stress and enjoyable for people as possible.”

To learn more about Patti Schreiner, visit PattiSold.com, email Patti@PattiSold.com or call 205 - 222 - 5651 www.

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Your Secret Presentation Weapon by Rich Levin

You are at a listing presentation, and Agent: “Do you know the number you know the seller is interviewing one complaint owners, like you, have other agents. Would you like to about their present REALTOR®? distinguish yourself as the best? Here’s how. “The agent doesn’t communicate or loses touch. It’s one of the simplest This is on an age-old and proven things and one of the most sales concept that is taught in high- important. I know some of the best level sales training in every major agents in town who sell a lot of corporation. In real estate, it is a homes and have the best intentions, subtlety that most agents simply but they just don’t follow up like don’t build into their skill set. Those they should, and you fall through who learn and use this skill stand out the cracks. and win against the competition. “I set aside an hour each day just for Have you ever lost a listing and staying in touch with my clients.” could not figure out why? The seller says that they had more confidence “You don’t want to be in the dark, in another agent. This skill is the uncertain and uncomfortable. I reason they will choose you. They want you confident that we are both may not recognize why; they just doing everything we can to get your have more confidence in you. property sold for the most money in the shortest time. “I like to make Sample Seller Script these calls between eleven and Here’s an example. After, I’ll break noon on Thursday mornings. What it down for you so that you can is the best number to reach you at apply it for yourself. that time?” Top Agent Magazine

Robbins was a twinkle in his AABC: The Breakdown There are four steps to this mother’s eye. Most agents miss the presentation skill. They are subtle mark on this in today’s competitive and easy to learn. You must practice real estate market. To hit a bull’s to be natural with this skill, which I eye, use AABC as your secret weapon. You will begin to notice call AABC. sellers and buyers having more • Step one is the Action you take. In confidence in you, relaxing with the example above, it’s communicating you, and trusting your judgment. regularly. Sample Buyer Script • Step two is the Advantage you “Would you like to have the bring that differentiates you. In the advantage of seeing the newest example above, it is setting aside an properties on the market, every day?” hour each day. A – The Action: “Every day—often • Step three is the Benefit to them. twice a day—I will search for propIn the example above, it is making erties that are new to the market.” them certain, comfortable and A – The Advantage: “In our area confident. there are nearly three thousand real • Step four is the Close, which is estate agents. Every day, some of asking for a decision. In the them are placing new property on example above, it is asking for the the market. Within hours, often less, specific number to be reached on a I make sure that you are aware of any and every property that even specific day and time. remotely matches your desires.” AABC B – The Benefit: “You’ll have the Action: What you do. best opportunity to find the property Advantage: Your distinction. that has the most of what you want Benefit: What’s in it for them? before you are in competition for it, Close: Asking for a decision. and you often get it at the best price. This has been taught by Fortune 500 Each year, many of the homes I sell Companies decades before Anthony are those fresh listings that have 20

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only been viewed by my buyers. It’s fun for me. It’s the best way to give you the competitive edge.” C – Close: “Do you want me to contact you each day as soon as we become aware of any property in which you may be interested? If I call during the workday with an excellent choice—something that looks perfect—would you be able to come fairly quickly to see it?” You will find AABC is your secret weapon. While other agents present their same old way, the buyers and sellers to whom you present see, hear, and feel something different, something more. They will more easily sign exclusive contracts with less commission challenges. They will trust you and make your job with them easier, because they strongly believe in your efforts on their behalf. A Few Subtleties I like to start with a question. Do you know? Have you heard? Would you like? The Action can be very simple. It is your Advantage—the way you do it differently—that makes the distinction. Top Agent Magazine

The Benefit is always more money, the best time frame, and/or more ease and convenience. That is WIIFT: What’s In It for Them. The Close is critical. In addition to confirming their agreement, it makes them an active participant in the process. In my work, I occasionally accompany Agents on listing presentations—Agents who take over a hundred listings a year. Once they begin to apply AABC, they immediately express that they feel, hear, and see the difference in the way their clients responded to them. This is an advanced skill that raises your effectiveness and enhances your relationships and your results. It requires preparation and practice. It is a secret weapon that can shift your work and your career into the next gear.

Rich Levin is one of the most successful Real Estate coaches in the nation by virtue of the measurable results of his clients and creator of the Real Estate Hierarchy of Success, a working model for understanding and planning your business. Copyright©, Rich Levin. All rights reserved. 21

4 Ways Mentoring Up-and-Coming Employees Makes You a Better Agent In the world of real estate, there are always new agents joining the ranks. Even if you’ve been practicing for just a few short years, you’ve likely learned your fair share of lesson along the way. As an agent, much of your working philosophy is derived from first-hand experience and your work on the ground. This means that new agents are less prepared for the inevitable curveballs of the industry. That’s where you come in. While mentorship is often pitched as a relationship that solely benefits the mentee, there is actually plenty to be gained from becoming a mentor. After all, personal growth goes hand-in-hand with professional growth, and becoming a mentor asks agents to thought22

fully explore and demonstrate their own ideologies, practices, and rationale. With that in mind, take a look at some of the benefits of mentorship below, and you’ll get a sense of why counseling new agents can be a boon to your own business. Teaching lessons to others reinforces your own professional values. Showing the ropes to young agents is a great way to brush-up on your foundational skills. Verbalizing and demonstrating processes, or walking through the rationale behind negotiation tactics—all cause mentors to think through their established practices and outline in detail why they’ve chosen this route over an

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alternative. This helps older agents fine-tune their routines, while getting back in touch with the critical thinking that went into constructing those habits. Mentorships allows you to see the big picture.

surely sharpen your ability as the head of a team. What’s more, you’ll be building skills of empathy, understanding, teaching, and constructive criticism. Working on those skills will better your practice and your ability to lead in your office.

After a lengthy industry tenure, it’s not uncommon for battle-worn agents to lose some steam and begin to burn out. By devoting some time to mentoring up-and-coming agents, you’ll get back in touch with your early days, remembering the excitement, the trials, and the hard lessons gleaned. Spending time with the next generation of real estate professionals can reinvigorate your practice, as seeing the business from the eyes of an eager amateur can inject energy into your working life. You’ll benefit from seeing things from a new perspective. Just as working with young agents can help you remember your career’s big picture, you may also benefit from working alongside someone with a new perspective. Young agents bring a different set of skills and awareness to their work, and established agents can benefit from a fresh take. If technology isn’t your strong suit, or you’re interested in tapping the Millennial homebuyer market, working with a younger agent is an excellent way to see through fresh eyes. Mentoring young agents makes you a better leader. As a mentor, you’ll often direct the flow of your professional relationship—figuring out which issues to tackle, making an agenda, and imparting lessons in a clear way. These are all characteristics of a leader, and acting in a position of authority as mentor can Top Agent Magazine

While some may balk at the time commitment or energy required to take on a mentee or two, you might consider it an act of ongoing education or professional development. While your mentee will undoubtedly benefit from access to your expertise, there’s certainly much to be gained from taking the time to cultivate tomorrow’s real estate leaders.

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