Great Leadership Begins With Mastering Your Mindset

Editor’s Note: This was originally published on RISMedia’s blog, Housecall. See what else is cookin’ now at blog.rismedia.com:

No matter the industry, there are certain qualities an individual must possess in order to be a great leader. From one’s skillset to being able to approach various situations both openly and honestly, leaders have their work cut out for them when it comes to guiding others to success.

While possessing a positive attitude and being confident and committed are important, being a good leader also has a lot to do with how we manage ourselves.

This topic was discussed in-depth during RISMedia’s ACE Webinar, “Leadership: Winning Mindset, Winning Marketshare.” The webinar, sponsored by HouseCanary, was moderated by real estate coach Cleve Gaddis of Workman of Gaddis Partners, RE/MAX Center.

“A lot of what I do and how I understand leadership is through communication and how I listen, more so than what I say,” said Paul Sessum, team leader/REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty World Media Center in Los Angeles. “More often than not, it’s not about what the team is/isn’t doing, but rather, what the team leader is/isn’t doing—and where they are in their mindset,” added Sessum.

Once this relationship has been mastered, it’s all about leading by example.

“Leaders do what other people won’t do, and by doing so, others begin to follow,” said Sessum, who explained that people listen carefully to their leaders. “I can say something almost off the cuff, not understanding how it will impact a particular agent, and what they do is watch what I do. This is where a leader has to be in awareness.”

For Brooke Sines, a REALTOR® with RE/MAX of Grand Rapids in Michigan, it’s her dedication to co-creation (a management initiative/form of economic strategy that brings different parties together in order to jointly produce a mutually valued outcome) that has set the tone for the way she leads her team.

“I don’t have an ‘I’m-the-boss mentality,'” said Sines. “Instead, I look to everyone on the team to add their ideas, input and thoughts on everything just as much as I do. This is a huge part of what type of team we are.”

Taking this one step further, Hines stressed the importance of practicing what she preaches. Whether it’s completing her Daily Success Habits Tracker right alongside the members of her team, utilizing Agile Project Management software to keep projects moving forward or taking the time to sit down and business-plan, Sines is committed to setting a positive example.

“Not only do each of these tools provide a great way for us to collaborate as a team, but they’re also instrumental in helping us shoot for our own individual goals—as well as the team goal—at all times.”

While leadership styles vary from person to person and industry to industry, one thing is clear: Getting your mind in the game is half the battle.

“People tend to think of leadership along the more obvious dimensions, but being in tune with yourself and the community and how folks are reacting to the way you lead is a good reminder for anyone in a leadership position,” concluded Martin Morzynski, CMO of HouseCanary.

View the webinar in full: