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“Leadership is not a person or a position. It is a complex moral relationship between people based on trust, obligation, commitment, emotion, and a shared vision of the good.” —Joanne Ciulla

In light of the recent National Association of Realtors (NAR) Lawsuit, the real estate industry faces a pivotal moment. This situation has stirred concerns about trust within our community and even within individual companies, making Joanne Ciulla’s perspective on leadership particularly relevant. Leadership, as she defines it, is deeply rooted in the moral fabric of relationships, emphasizing trust, commitment, and a shared vision.

The Essence of Leadership in Challenging Times

In these, let’s call them what they are, fear-inducing times for so many agents, the role of a broker or manager transcends the day-to-day operational tasks. It becomes a critical mission to uphold and reinforce the values of trust and commitment within the industry and within the “walls’ of every organization. That begs the challenge to every leader to figure out how to our teams through uncertainty because the LACK of information and clarity just leaves agents conjuring up worse-case scenarios and eyeing an early retirement or a run for a “real job”.

Fostering Trust and Vision Amidst Uncertainty

The lawsuit brings to light the necessity for leaders in real estate to actively cultivate an environment where trust is not just a word, but a practice. This requires a commitment to transparency, ethical behavior, and a dedication to a shared vision of what the real estate industry should embody. It is a call to action for leaders to be the exemplars of these values, to instill confidence not just in their immediate teams, but in the broader industry and its stakeholders.

Steps to Reinforce Trust and Commitment 

• Open Forums for Discussion:
  -Conduct regular meetings to openly discuss industry developments and the lawsuit’s impact.
  -Facilitate a space where agents can voice concerns and seek clarity.
• Transparency in Operations:
  -Maintain transparency about your company’s response to ongoing industry changes.
  -Share the challenges and the strategies being employed to address them.
• Ethics and Best Practices Workshops:
  -Offer workshops focused on ethical practices, adapting to new standards and regulations.
  -Use real-life scenarios to reinforce the application of these principles.
• Strengthen Community Engagement:
  -Lead and participate in community initiatives that reflect the values of your agency.
  -Demonstrate how these efforts align with the integrity and ethics of your team.
• Advocacy and Representation:
  -Engage in industry discussions regarding the lawsuit and its broader implications.
  -Keep your team informed about these efforts and their role in shaping a positive outcome.
• Mentoring and Support Systems:
  -Implement mentorship programs within your organization and encourage your agents to be part of the larger community

Support your agents in adapting to these changes, emphasizing trust and dependability.

The Takeaway 📚

The challenges presented by the current industry craziness call for a renewed focus on the core tenets of leadership. By nurturing trust, advocating for commitment, and fostering a shared vision, we can do this. We can get to the other side of this. We can create breakthroughs where there are breakdowns. As leaders, take pride in your advocacy and take actions to play a pivotal role in rebuilding the trust and integrity of the real estate profession.

For Your Agents…

Encourage your agents to embrace these values in their daily interactions. Their commitment to ethical practices and transparency is vital in maintaining client trust and upholding the industry’s reputation.

Related reading: The Power of Integrity: Elevating the Real Estate Profession 

Related reading: Psychology Today – Trust 

Know that agents do NOT have to go it alone in this market. Our goal is to bring the tools, training, and coaching to not only survive the shifts – but also build solid, dependable foundations they can count on and help them build clients for life. If that sounds like a goal that can help you reach YOUR goals – then join us for our Free Weekly Real Estate Webinar Training Series! Click below to register for the next one!  

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 100,000 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!