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In uncertain times, real estate pros become lamplighters – leading with kindness, inspiring trust, and turning service into their greatest strength. 

In a world where uncertainty, shifting market forces, and raw fear seem to dominate the headlines, the role of the real estate professional is more vital—and more meaningful – than ever. The old playbooks no longer suffice. Buyers, sellers, and communities are asking for something deeper. Trust. Compassion. A steady hand. 

That’s why, as we head into 2026, our mission at POWER Headquarters has never been clearer. We’re not just in the business of helping people buy or sell houses – we’re igniting a movement. The POWER AGENT® Movement is about shining light in dark times, one client, one community, one act of kindness at a time. It’s about being the steady glow that helps others find their way home—literally and figuratively. 

That’s why we’ve partnered with Feeding America to help provide 100,000 meals for families through the holidays. Because kindness isn’t just a nice add-on; it’s our strategy. It’s what turns ordinary agents into lamplighters – beacons of hope, connection, and transformation in a market that needs it now more than ever.  

Related reading:  Cultivating Kindness in Leadership: A Universal Impact 

The Times We’re Living In: Uncertainty, Fear, and the Real Estate Landscape 

Here’s some facts to consider: 

• Economic and real-estate sentiment is softening. According to the RCLCO Real Estate Market Index, momentum in the market has dropped into the “stress” zone—an RMI of 37 mid-2025, down about 28 points since the end of 2024.
• Broader economic uncertainty is weighing on the investment and development side of real estate. As one recent summary puts it, “the commercial real estate landscape in 2025 is shaped by structural uncertainty driven by geopolitical tensions, persistent inflation, and an unpredictable interest-rate path.”  
• On the human side, in every county in America there are families facing hunger. Feeding America’s “Map the Meal Gap 2025” study shows that in some counties, child food-insecurity rates are as high as 50 %. Nationally, about 13.5 % of U.S. households (18 million households) were food-insecure.  

When we combine these facts – market stress + human need – we arrive at an undeniable truth: people are searching for stability, relationship, leadership and purpose. 

Why Kindness Isn’t Optional – It’s Strategic 

In a business world that often chases numbers and rankings, the real standouts are the leaders who choose people first. On Real Estate Unscripted™, our leadership podcast, we’ve seen that the most resilient companies are led by individuals who understand that generosity isn’t a sideline – it’s a strategy. 

• Hoby Hanna, President of Howard Hanna Real Estate Services, talked about his team’s commitment to their Children’s Free Care Fund, which helps ease the burden for families facing unimaginable medical costs. What began as a local effort has grown into a movement of compassion woven through the company’s culture. 
• Mike Pappas, President and CEO of The Keyes Company, shared how their organization champions initiatives like the Dolphins Challenge Cancer and Move For Hunger, giving agents tangible ways to connect their daily work with meaningful impact. For Mike, service isn’t an event – it’s the glue that holds a community together.
• J. Lennox Scott, Chairman and CEO of John L. Scott Real Estate, reflected on the enduring work of his firm’s Foundation, which continues to fund children’s hospitals and family support programs across the country. His message was clear: giving is not a seasonal act – it’s a sustained expression of leadership.

Together, these leaders remind us that purpose and profit aren’t opposites—they’re allies. When kindness drives culture, businesses grow stronger from the inside out. 

Following that same belief, our team at POWER AGENT® Headquarters joined forces with Feeding America to help provide 100,000 meals to families facing hunger this holiday season. Every dollar raised goes directly to food banks nationwide—no middle steps, no hidden costs—just hope on a plate. 

Because at the end of the day, the most powerful form of leadership is service. 

Here’s why it’s so important: 

• Kindness builds connection. Science and psychology tell us that human beings thrive when we feel seen, heard and valued. When you lead with generosity, you help your clients and your agents feel that connection. 

• Kindness surfaces trust. In a volatile market, trust becomes the currency. When clients sense you care about their whole life (not just the sale), they lean in. 

• Kindness creates differentiation. With many agents focused only on deals, meaningful acts of compassion, community service and giving back stand out—and so do the agents who embody them. 

• Kindness expands reach. Much like a pebble thrown into the pond sends ripples outward, one small act of kindness has far-reaching effects. When you support your team in serving their communities, the echoes of kindness multiply—and so does your brand’s reputation. 

Step-by-Step for Agents: Becoming a Harbor of Hope 

Here’s how agents and team leaders can operationalize this idea of leadership anchored in kindness: 

1. Embed service into your culture. For your team and your brand, make a public commitment – like the 100,000 meals through Feeding America – to show you’re part of something bigger. Share stories, invite participation, spotlight the impact. 
2. Lead in uncertain markets. When buyers hesitate and sellers fret, agents who offer calm, clarity and compassion win. Sit with your clients’ fears. Educate them. Hold the lantern in the dark. 
3. Prioritize human-first dialogues. Replace the transaction-only mindset with questions like: “How are you doing?” “What worries you about this move?” “How can I support your life today?” 
4. Encourage random acts of kindness across your team. Small gestures matter – sending a care package to a past client, volunteering locally, supporting a family facing food insecurity. Make it part of your weekly rhythm. 
5. Use your platform for community impact. Share the story of your Feeding America partnership. Show how real-estate professionals aren’t just selling houses – they’re building stronger neighborhoods. 
6. Talk the vision. In team meetings, internal communications, branding – constantly reinforce a message that goes beyond real estate: “We are in the business of serving people, building communities and spreading hope.” 

Related reading: The Quality of Kindness 

Why The POWER AGENT® Movement Is So Timely 

As some agents head into 2026 with more questions than answers, the POWER AGENT® Movement offers something rare: clarity, values, community and a rallying point. By positioning your company as not just a real-estate firm but a movement of integrity, education, community and clarity – you help agents see themselves as part of the change, not just part of the market. 

When you tie that into purposeful campaigns (like the 100,000-meal commitment), you reinforce that business isn’t just about profit, it’s about purpose. 

Closing the Loop: From Kindness to Legacy 

Yes, the market is uncertain. Yes, many agents feel stretched, buyer and seller sentiment wobbles, and the pressure is high. But therein lies the opportunity. When agents choose kindness in times of fear, they do more than survive – they lead. They become the stabilizers, the anchors, the trusted voices in communities that are yearning for someone to show up, elevate the conversation and extend hope. 

So, here’s the question to plant in your team’s mind for 2026: How will you incorporate kindness as your personal and business superpower—and help your agents do the same? 

Because when you do, you don’t just sell real estate—you build lives, uplift communities, and leave a legacy. 

For Your Agents… 

In a market that often feels uncertain, our greatest strength isn’t in our scripts or our systems, it’s in our humanity. The world doesn’t just need more agents; it needs harbors of hope. 

As we move toward 2026, I want us to remember: kindness isn’t just a feel-good quality, it’s a business strategy, a differentiator, and a legacy. When clients feel seen, heard, and cared for, they don’t just trust us with their transactions, they trust us with their lives. 

That’s why our mission goes beyond listings and closings. It’s about creating impact where it matters most because real leadership shows up not only in contracts, but in compassion. 

So, here’s my challenge for you: find one way each day to lead with kindness. Check in with a client who’s stressed. Offer to mentor a newer agent. Send a thank-you note just because. Those small ripples add up to waves of change. 

Together, we’re not just navigating this market, we’re lighting the way through it. 

Darryl Davis is an award-winning international speaker, real estate and business coach, and best-selling author of three books, all published by McGraw Hill Publishers.       

For more than 35 years, Darryl has spoken to and trained more than 600,000 sales professionals around the globe to more than double their production year after year. His book, How to Become a Power Agent in Real Estate, tops Amazon’s charts for one of the most sold books to real estate agents.       

He was awarded the Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation by the National Speaker’s Association, which is given to less than 2% of all speakers worldwide.       

Whether from a stage or Zooming into a virtual room, Darryl’s extraordinary humor, relatability, and natural gift for teaching real-world, results-producing skills and mindsets to audiences have made him a client favorite throughout his career.       

Audiences will laugh, learn, and ultimately walk away better prepared for a changing world, with the tools, skills, and training they need to build their businesses with more ease and less stress and to design lives and careers worth smiling about.  

Bring One of Darryl’s W.O.R.K. Topics to Your Organization!       

By providing your agents with the knowledge and insights they need to stay ahead of the game, you can ensure that they are equipped to handle any situation that comes their way!  Contact us here to learn more!