- Run your business like you’re leaving town next week -- every week.
- Be willing to fire bad clients, even if you’ve worked very hard to get them.
- Your business should have a strong enough foundation that it can run in your absence.
One of the most valuable assets of a successful real estate agent is the ability to see the big picture. In an industry that requires so many hands-on daily tasks, taking a step back to assess your business from a bird’s-eye view can make all the difference.
Here are a few valuable philosophies to consider when it comes to seeing the big picture. To achieve meaningful and long-term success, your business should be bigger than you.
1. True business leaders strive to replace their abilities and positions within their organization
The timeworn adage, “If you want something done right, do it yourself” is not only outdated, but it’s also unnecessarily demanding.
If every single task within your business must be executed by you, then you have not allied yourself with the right support staff. That attitude limits your business’s potential by relying solely on one person’s time, energy and ability.
A wiser aim is to provide the passion, direction and overall know-how for your business, but with the adjusted goal of delegating and fostering interpersonal growth among your staff.
2. Run your business like you’re always leaving town next week
Think of it this way: Just before heading out of town, a common practice is to touch base with clients and staff to ensure that everyone is on the same page.
The idea is that getting all your ducks in a row before you leave will ensure direction and peace of mind for all parties involved.
But why wait until you’re headed off to vacation? Making this behavior part of your weekly practice can have the same pacifying, efficiency-providing effects.
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3. Constantly cultivate a great group of people who can help and support you when you are gone
I can’t emphasize the power of surrounding yourself with good people enough. If your real estate business lives or dies with you alone, then you have become a slave to your own business.
Life happens, and your business should have a strong enough foundation that it can withstand your absence every now and again.
Not to mention that working with a staff of individuals whom you trust means that you are collectively pooling your time, energy and skills — leading to a stronger business, overall.
4. Be willing to fire bad clients, even if you’ve worked very hard to get them
You’ve worked hard to land a client, so the last thing you want to do is fire them after you put in a world of effort to secure them in the first place, right?
But toxic clients — the ones who actively work against you or refuse to shape up after you have patiently and professionally addressed their bad behavior — drain you, your resources and your real estate business.
However, part of seeing the big picture is recognizing where your energy is most effectively allocated, which means that a toxic client is best left behind so you can turn your talents to the next one.
Gain the perspective that you and your real estate business deserve, using these philosophies as a jumping-off point. Examining your business from above can amount to meaningful change and growth — for you as a leader and for your business as a whole.
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Brandon Doyle is a Realtor at Doyle Real Estate Team — Re/Max Results in Minneapolis. You can follow him on Twitter.
