Truly great leadership happens when skill and talent intermingle. Much like with music, the artistry emerges when they have mastered the basics and the uniqueness of their own voice begins to be heard. With leadership, even for those with little experience, most can become competent with enough practice. Here are eight characteristics of a great leader.
Truly great leadership happens when skill and talent intermingle.
You set and maintain clear expectations for each person on your team.
Administrative staff need to be clear about what their job is and how their performance will be measured. Sales staff should have reasonable sales benchmarks and high standards on professional conduct. Team accountability to these expectations, both individually and collectively are your ally in building a strong culture with low turnover.
You ensure each person has what they need to represent the team well.
Don’t leave any gaps in training or support. Each person should have the tools, coaching and knowledge to represent the team to the standard of your team. Your team brand’s promise is one of your greatest assets, don’t shortcut your team members ability to fulfill it.
You give each person on your team an opportunity to do what they do best every day.
The secret to the great management of people is based in celebrating the uniqueness of each person. We all have our strengths. Help people discover what they do best. But don’t stop there, find an outlet for them to express this each and every day. Taking the time to discover and find outlets for this might very well be the hardest of the characteristics of a great leader.
You recognize and praise each person for what they do well each week.
Praise in public and correct in private. Look for ways to recognize the great things people do in the course of their everyday work. The public celebration not only builds the team member but also inspires everyone else to raise their game.
You care about each person on your team as a person.
Profit is important. But the people that help create it are critical to your success. Each person needs to know they matter. Know what’s going on in their lives and foster a culture where people feel loved and cared about just because they are human.
You encourage each person’s development, both personally and professionally.
Actively invest in each person’s growth. Help them be the very best at what they do. If you can’t teach them, find those that can. This extends into supporting the development of their knowledge of financial planning, relationships, communication and physical wellbeing.
You listen to the opinions of each person on your team.
Each person sees the opportunities and challenges within the team from a different perspective. Learn to take the time to stop and listen. The insights you will glean from those in the trenches will bring brilliant and elegant solutions.
You lead with purpose, making each person know what they do is more important than just making money.
We often get lost in the trees and forget to pull back to see the beauty of the forest. What we get to do is far more important than merely making money. We touch lives. People are better off when they work with a team of professionals. While moving, our clients are in the midst of one of the most emotionally challenging things they will experience over their lives. It can be beautiful or a nightmare, dictated more often than not by the real estate professional in whom they place their trust. Remind each person that what they do matters more than they know.
Much like with music, the artistry emerges when they have mastered the basics and the uniqueness of their own voice begins to be heard.
Leadership is like music. There are a few base skills which anyone can learn. There are a few universal characteristics of a great leader. Most people can become competent by just working hard. The artist starts to emerge when the mastery of the basics has been achieved. It’s in that place where one’s own voice begins to be heard. Just like with music, the true beauty in leadership is when skill and talent intermingle for the benefit, and delight, of those they are leading.
For those interested in taking their leadership to the next level, please contact us or check out our Private Client program.
