The Optimism Factor In Real Estate Agents

Wade Webb on May 31, 2023

optimism factor real estate agentsWhat is the optimism factor in real estate agents?

Every leadership study I’ve seen that ranks the characteristics of great leaders and entrepreneurs puts optimism right at the top of the list. Is optimism something you are born with or something you learn? If we were to measure ourselves right now, we would find varying degrees of optimism amongst us as a group, but we would all have some. If we can have it, we can develop it further. Certainly, some individuals seemed to be naturally better “wired” for optimism, but don’t be fooled – we can all learn to be more optimistic. Optimism is a feeling that things will work out. The optimist is not a fool looking at the world though “rose color glasses”, without regard for external forces that may get in the way of their plans. They take responsibility for what they can control and accept that they are not in control of everything. They understand how their thinking influences their expectations and that they may not always get what they want, but they will always get what they expect.

 

As the captain of your ship and owner of your business, are you prepared for the task of leading yourself and your team (if you have one) into the challenges of the New Year? This month we give some thought to optimism in leadership. I have a few strategies that you can use right away.

 

  • Avoid negative environments. Make every effort to seek the inclusion of positive individuals into your team. Avoid the professional complainers.
  • Celebrate your strengths. The key to high achievement and happiness is to work to your strengths, not correct your weaknesses. Focus on what you do well.
  • Take care of your spiritual and emotional wellbeing by reading material that inspires you daily.
  • Manage or ignore what you cannot change. When faced with setbacks, identify what you can change and proactively try to find ways to do something about it. Be inspired by Benjamin Franklin’s words: “While we may not be able to control all that happens to us, we can control what happens inside us.”
  • Learn to reframe. This involves deliberately shifting perspective and looking for the hidden positive in a negative situation, the proverbial silver lining, especially when you experience setbacks, and choosing to put a positive spin on events. Seek the valuable lesson in every problem or difficulty – remember there are no mistakes, only lessons. Every experience is a positive opportunity for growth and self-mastery.
  • Dispute your pessimistic thoughts. Dispute negative pervasive thoughts by identifying your irrational thinking and replace it with more reasonable or rational thinking.
  • Adapt your language and outlook. Consider how a simple shift in the language you use can make a difference in your outlook: Do you frequently say: “yes, but….” in response to suggestions from colleagues? The “but” automatically negates anything you have said in the beginning part of the sentence. A simple shift to “yes, and…” will make a positive difference.
  • Become aware of your stance in business meetings. Are you known as the “devil’s advocate”, the one who is quick to shoot down others’ ideas? Jumping in too quickly to negate an idea can derail the creative process. Often valuable ideas are the result of an initial “crazy” thought. Practice being more upbeat, practice speaking last, and see what happens.
  • Focus outside yourself, on important people in your life, on pursuits and projects that fire you up. Bertrand Russell once said that the quickest way to make ourselves miserable is to continually focus on ourselves.
  • Nurture a culture of optimism. Expect people to succeed, and even when they occasionally fail to achieve what they set out to do, encourage them so that they can tackle the next challenge. A simple: “I know you’ll do better the next time” can have very positive effects.
  • Focus on the task to be accomplished rather than your negative emotions, such as disappointment or fear, and see the possibilities within the task.
  • Don’t take setbacks personally; take responsibility but recognize the influence of external factors on the situation. Redefine situations in terms of their external causes.
  • DeCatastrophize and ask yourself: “What’s the worst thing that could happen, and can I live with it?” Then focus on doing everything you can to minimize the fallout.
  • An optimistic belief in yourself and your capabilities to positively impact situations, even ones that appear negative, fuels success. Try gently moving your mind into positive, optimistic thoughts whenever you find yourself feeling negative, depressed, or in despair. The rainbow is there; you just need to see it….

Strength and courage,
Wade

Real Estate Golden Opportunity – Creating A Succession Plan

Wade Webb on October 30, 2019

real estate retireAt some point, we all want to retire. One day we decide to move on to other passions or pursuits in life. There is a way to retire from real estate with relaxation and free time, to maintain an income stream and ensure our clients are well taken care of. This week we look at the method of adopting an agent and the retiring agent clients needs are attended to by the adopting agent. The most critical part of this whole plan is how you transfer and maintain client relationships and the trust the retiring agent has spent years to build. These relationships are the baton in the relay race that gets passed from the retiring agent to the adopting agent. If done well the retiring and adopting agents will win the race for them and their clients.

Let’s start by looking at the 3 steps to building your relay team. 1. Having a good plan 2. Execute the plan well 3. Everyone is replaceable, but you must choose wisely who will replace you. We have to assume the retiring agent has already compiled a solid database of relationships and detailed information about the clients so we then jump to choosing the adopting agent process which is the most critical choice you will make in the process.

Here is your adopting agent checklist:

     1. Experience – First and foremost, experience should but what you look for. By experience, I mean not only experience in helping clients but also in running a business, marketing and sales skills.

     2. Relationship Building – For every business, the process of working with clients will be different. A retiring agent may rely on mailings, phone calls and client parties. Make sure the adopting agent is open to continuing to communicate and build relationships in the same ways that have worked for the retiring agent.

     3. Resources – Another critical component to look at is the possible successor has the resources. Do they have the resources to see the plan through to completion? Depending on the size of the business, the minimum requirement will be the financial ability to fund the marketing efforts to the database of clients.

     4. Ethics – In a perfect world, it would not be important to include ethics into the equation but sadly some people are just in it for the quick buck and not the full relay race. Choose someone of high character and who will take care of your clients best interest every time.

     5. Energy – Although it might seem like energy and resources are the same thing, there are not at all. Energy is the spark in the adopting agents eyes, their sense of humor or sometimes described as their “vibe”. When you are around them do they make you feel good?

     6. Who Not To Hire – Considering adopting your office friend, assistant, the new agent or the agent who is desperate for business you should re consider. Friends take their friends for granted. Assistants know the back end of the business and not the front end of the business. The new agent has the spark but just not the experience and resources. As for the desperate agent they are thinking about the money and nothing else.

Tips For Adopting Agents

  • Do you have the systems and resources to add the retiring agents business?
  • Take the time to review the retiring agents business and how they market and care for their clients.
  • Prove how dedicated you are to handling the retiring agents business like sharing Testimonials, systems, processes, resources and your plan.

Tips For Retiring Agents

  • Make a short list of candidates to consider.
  • Ask your clients what they appreciate the most about you and want to see continue with the successor.
  • Interview more than one agent and get testimonials from their clients.

This is an exciting opportunity for both the retiring and adopting agents and trust that the content we shared will spark a fire in you and your business to find the adopting agent out there or adopting agents find those retiring agents that never consider the possibility of residual income into retirement.

Strength and courage,
Wade