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.

The guidelines of effective leadership have changed dramatically in the last thirty years. Top-down decision-making is out; participative leadership is in. Having no standards is out; standards-driven leadership is in. Everyone doing their own thing is out; mutual accountability and teamwork is in. Yet, as I look at real estate offices nationally, I see most leaders still leading as though it was 1970a��or earlier.A�A�

In fact, a new book by Morris and Murray, Game Plan: How Real Estate Professionals Can Thrive in Uncertain Times, names Need for Leadership as one of theA�trends for 2012 and beyond. Get this book. You’ll find some trends predictable–but some are not.

Compare and contrast. Leta��s look at four principles of effective leadership today. These principles have been proven effective again and again by huge companies internationally. They should be embraced by the real estate industry, which badly needs effective leadership in this challenging time:A�

  1. Vision-lead: Few companies have an articulated vision thata��s shared by all in the company. Fewer yet have leaders who have the fortitude to a�?do the right thinga�� (as stated in their vision), even if it means turning down a deal.

Example: When is the last time you saw a manager fire a top producer who acted unethically? How do managers treat customer complaintsa��especially if ita��s against a top producer? (Ask agents if they feel managers unfairly favor the top producers. Boy, will you get an earful!) In too many cases, the a�?leadera�� isna��t leading. The big loser long term: The company, because agents are de-motivated when they feel there is not a level playing field, and consumers will seek out new companies if they feel their complaints are not handled seriously. (read Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies, Porras and Collins, for stunning examples of vision-integrated companies.)A�

  1. Everyone is involved in the decisions: This is participative leadership, and ita��s the leadership style that is best suited to our real estate industry. After all, with independent contractors, we need strong organizational structures to pull people together. What percent of real estate companies have effective leadership councils, one of the attributes of participative leadership? In my teaching, Ia��ve found about 2%. What this means it that the vast majority of agents dona��t feel ita��s a�?their companya��, they dona��t feel empowered, and they arena��t very loyal. I will be writing blogs about participative leadership in January, so watch for them.A�

Leaders will be those who empower others. Empowering leadership means

bringing out the energy and capabilities people have and getting them to work

together in a way they wouldna��t do otherwise.A�

A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A� a��Bill Gates, fellow Washingtonian, founder of MicrosoftA�

As you read articles and books on leadership, you will find every successful company today has turned its hierarchical leadership upside down and/or flattened it to become inclusive, participative, and as some people term it– a�?spiderweba��. (read The Female Advantage, Sally Helgesen).A�

A�A�A�A�A�A�A� 3. Standards-driven: During my presentation at a recent National Association of Realtorsa�� Convention, I asked attendees if they had productivity standards (minimum expectations) in their companies. Out of 200 attendees, three raised their hands. No wonder agents dona��t believe they must be a�?on the teama��, pulling their own weight in production.A�

In a recent study by The Ripple Effective of Negativity Leadership IQ, 87% of the 70,305 executives, managers, and employees interviewed said working with a slacker actually made them want to change jobs; 93% said it hampered their development or decreased their productivity. So, without standards, real estate leaders are de-motivating their good performers!A�

Herea��s what Roy Disney says about effective leadership, from the New Leadership Paradigm:A�

Leadership is the ability to establish standards and manage a creative climate where people are self-motivated toward the mastery of long-term constructive goals in a participatory environment of mutual respect compatible with personal values.A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A�

A�A�A�A�A�A�A� 4. Mutual accountability: Creating a participative environment suggests that everyone must be accountable to their goals. Ita��s just amazing that managers are frustrated by agentsa�� lack of business plans and accountability. Yet, as I coach managers, I find that many in each organization dona��t feel they need to be accountable to their recruiting goals. (In fact, only about 2% have written recruiting plans!). In addition, owners have not hired and coached them to standards, so the managers just want to a�?leave that part outa��!A�

What is the result of this leadership paradigm switch? A real team, a team with a common goal. Why is it in the real estate industrya��s best interests to adapt to this participative leadership style? To preserve the industry, maintain commissions, add a�?pride in belonginga�� back to the real estate company, and, most important of all, put the consumer first, where he belongs!
A�Do you have the attributes of a ‘change leader’?A�A�Click here.A�

A�In an earlier post, I talked about the 3 things change leaders do to impact the industry. See how you stack up here.

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

Leading with these 4 ‘change leadership’ attributes assures a future, thriving business.