Are You a ‘Change’ Leader?

This January, I’m featuring the topic ‘leadership’. Why? Because it’s one of the biggest real estate industry trends (and probably world trends) of 2012 and beyond. Look for leadership strategies and trends (not just in the real estate industry), plus ready-to-use documents to go from ‘maintenance management’ to leadership. And, check out my complimentary webinar on Jan. 30 on leadership, trends, and what you should do about it! See more at the end of this blog.

Check at the end of these blogs for those ready-to-use documents and checklists to put these ideas to work.

Leadership: It’s REALLY Big for 2012

According to authors Ian Morris and Steve Murray, leadership is one of the big trends of 2012 and beyond. In fact, to read their take on 10 big trends, grab Game Plan: How Real Estate Professionals Can Thrive in Uncertain Times . In fact, I think leadership isA�in such a crisis state (think companies, politics, families, etc.) that I created a 12-part subscription series for real estate owners, managers, and team builders. In 365 Leadership,A�I provideA�one new leadership strategy per month, with everything subscribers need to put that strategy right to work (low or no cost and workable for the 5 person or the 500 person office). I know how difficult it is to go from maintenance to leadership (and especially so, because the majority of managers and owners now also sell!). So, I want to make it as easy as possible to step into effective leadership.

Needed today: A Special Kind of Leader

I think we would all agree that leadership is desperately needed in the real estate industry. I read a book several years ago titled Sacred Cows Make the Best Burgers (I also highly recommend it). In it, authors Kriegel and Brandt show why people resist change, and the kind of leadership it takes to move people off dead-center into new actions. Isn’t that what’s needed in business today? Not ‘maintenance management’ but leadership. (I’ll write more about the differences in another blog). The authors introduced the concept of a ‘change leader’. So, what’s a ‘change leader’?

An individual who leads initiatives that influence others to perform differently–and better.A�A�

If you’re an owner or general manager, you need this ‘change manager’ in your organization.A� If you’re an agent, you’ll want to look for a ‘change leader’ to help you adjust to the rapidly changing real estate industry. How would you identify one? Find a leader who leads the way great leaders of businesses internationally today are leading.

Change Leader Attributes

Commitment to a better way

Personal initiative to go beyond defined boundaries

Stay undercover (stay close to the everyday business)

Sense of humor

Courage to challenge existing power bases

Motivate themselves and others

Care about how people are treated and enabled to perform

Change leaders believe in:

Tough standards of performance

Joint accountability

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Even though the real estate industry cries for ingenuity and creativity, compared to other businesses, it has been slow to change the way it does business. Allowing ‘change leaders’ to come forward and thrive is vital for the very existence of our industry–and, of course, vital for a bright future.

In my next blogs, I’ll be talking about how to implement these attributes of change leadership.

Do you have the attributes and actions of a ‘change leader’? Take the questionnaire I created for you. Click here.

A�Complimentary Leadership/Management Webinar

join me on Jan. 30, from 1-2 PM PST for Leverage the Top Trends for Profits in 2012.A� We willA�explore the top real estate business trends for 2012 and beyond–and I will provide you specific strategies to not only manage to those trends, but to thrive because of them. This is a complimentary webinar. Space is limited, so register today.

Jan. 30

Time: 1-2 PM PST

To register:A�A�https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/306755846