Panel lays out the best strategies for beginning and building an agent team
By Paige Tepping
The days of flying as a solo agent will soon be a thing of the past, according to panelists who participated in the aptly titled session, “Forming & Managing Championship Power Teams,” held during the most recent Annual NAR Conference & Expo. With the daily demands of the real estate industry steadily increasing, more and more agents are creating teams to help alleviate the constant time constraints that come with working in the industry.
This year marked the first year that RISMedia has participated in such an educational session. RISMedia President & CEO John Featherston served as a moderator with Agent Team Coach Ralph R. Roberts.
Before an agent can even begin to start forming a team, he or she needs to have a solid foundation upon which to build. This foundation is created by systems, which include means of organization, ways of compiling and keeping track of information and bringing in new technology that will help your company thrive, said Roberts. Only once your systems are in place should you think about hiring your first team member.
And while there is no ‘I’ in team, the first step to building a successful team starts by taking a good look at yourself as an individual. Knowing your own strengths and weaknesses is crucial when it comes to creating a team.
“You have to figure out what you are good at and then find someone who is the opposite to that and pair with them,” said Lois Maljak, Realtor and virtual assistant to Roberts Every team member has their own unique strengths, yet each person works together to create a dynamic personality as a whole.
The panel advised that once an agent team is in place, it is important to stay connected with each team member.
“Your team is your most important customer,” said Featherston. “You have to stay close to your team.” Added Chip Neumann, Partner, Neumann Real Estate: “You have to go out of your way to make your team happy.”
Keeping your team happy is a sure way to drive your team to success, said Roberts. This is where goal setting comes into play. In this instance, goals aren’t necessarily about ways to improve your company, but instead about how to keep your team members happy and part of the team. Ultimately, both of these things will work together to make your team successful.
Goal setting should be done on a one-on-one basis. “You need to find out what the individual wants, recognize them and show them that you care,” said Wayne Turner, broker/owner, Wayne Turner Real Estate Company.
Added Domenic Manchisi, Team Leader, Prudential Towne Centre Realty: “You don’t want to lose a good person because their goals are different than yours. The most important goal is their emotional goal as this is what will truly drive them.”
In the end, if your team isn’t happy, you aren’t going to see the amount of success that you wish to see within your company.
If you feel as though you are ready to start your own agent team, Maljak said that “you need to figure out where you are, where you want to go, and get started.”
Roberts summed it up well: “There really is no secret to success. It’s about having your team set up for success.”
