Do you practice MMFI?

I had the pleasure last week of attending the Glover U LeadUp conference in Florida and I have so many amazing ah ha’s that I am going to spend some time on sharing them with you.

Kathy Schweitzer, who is just a powerhouse coach in the real estate industry, and an amazing leader shared about the ONE mistake so many leaders make when it comes to their people and it was missing out on the MMFI-

Make Me Feel Important

I mean wow. How simple is that? Yet, I think we can all think of a leader or maybe even a few right now who completely miss the boat on that!

In fact, you can watch Kathy’s brief statement on MMFI at this link HERE, but also take a look at some of the ways I brainstormed with some of my fellow leaders on how we don’t miss this oh so important piece of the leadership puzzle.

Here are our notes-

As a leader in a real estate company, fostering a sense of importance and value among your agents is crucial for their motivation, job satisfaction, and overall success. Here are some effective strategies to make your agents feel important and valued:

1. Open and Transparent Communication: Maintain open lines of communication with your agents. Regularly share company updates, goals, and achievements. Provide feedback, both positive and constructive, to help them grow. Encourage an environment where they feel comfortable expressing their ideas, concerns, and suggestions.

   1. Morning Huddles

   2. Weekly Team Meetings

   3. Recurring One-on-One meetings

2. Recognize and Celebrate Achievements: Acknowledge and celebrate your agents' accomplishments. Whether it's closing a significant deal, achieving sales targets, or receiving positive client feedback, publicly recognize their efforts through team meetings, company newsletters, or social media shout-outs. Show genuine appreciation for their hard work and dedication.

   1. Highlight a first transaction

   2. Highlight a team anniversary

   3. Celebrate someone who embodies your team culture

3. Provide Opportunities for Growth: Invest in your agents' professional development by offering training programs, workshops, and seminars. Encourage them to enhance their skills, acquire new knowledge, and stay up-to-date with industry trends. Support their pursuit of certifications and designations that can further their career prospects.

   1. Send them to brokerage conferences

   2. Invest in their coaching or even split the cost

4. Empowerment and Autonomy: Give your agents the autonomy to make decisions and take ownership of their work. Trust their judgment and provide them with the necessary resources and support to succeed. Encourage innovation and creative problem-solving. Recognize and reward their initiative and independence.

   1. This will also stop the “got a minute” that can eat up a leader’s day

5. Create a Supportive and Collaborative Culture: Build a positive and inclusive work environment where collaboration and teamwork are encouraged. Foster a sense of camaraderie by organizing team-building activities, networking events, or mentorship programs. Encourage agents to share their knowledge and best practices with one another, fostering a culture of continuous learning.

   1. Hold quarterly team nights

   2. Call Days and Nights including lunch or dinner when you're done

   3. For larger teams, a themed potluck is a blast

6. Listen and Respond to Feedback: Actively listen to your agents' feedback and suggestions. Show that their opinions matter by implementing changes based on their input whenever possible. Regularly seek their input on important decisions and initiatives. Make them feel that their perspectives contribute to the growth and success of the company.

   1. Listen to understand

   2. Pull a leadership panel to discuss team changes for buy-in from the whole team

   3. Don’t just always dictate

7. Provide Competitive Compensation and Benefits: Offer competitive commission structures, bonuses, and incentives that recognize and reward outstanding performance. Provide attractive benefits packages that support their well-being and work-life balance. Show that you value their contributions by ensuring their compensation aligns with their achievements.

   1. Do your caps and compensation models match your value proposition?

   2. Are you in line with local compensation models?

8. Foster Work-Life Balance: Promote a healthy work-life balance by encouraging flexible working arrangements, if feasible. Recognize the importance of personal time and support your agents in maintaining a healthy equilibrium between work and personal life. Encourage vacations and time off to recharge and avoid burnout.

   1. This is a tough industry and one of the great values pf a team is to find that work-life balance. Are you encouraging that?

   2. Half-Day Fridays in the summer?

   3. Mandatory vacation time?

9. Lead by Example: As a leader, lead by example and embody the values and work ethic you expect from your agents. Show integrity, professionalism, and a strong commitment to their success. Be accessible, approachable, and supportive. Demonstrate your genuine care for their well-being and growth.

   1. Are you giving and doing what you expect? Even better are you giving and doing MORE than you expect?

Remember, making your agents feel important and valued is an ongoing process that requires consistent effort and genuine care. You should be focused on foster a positive and thriving work environment where your agents feel appreciated, motivated, and inspired to achieve their best.

As Greg Erlanger said at LeadUp- “A leader needs to be passionate about the people, if not, be an investor, take a step back and hire a leader who can be passionate about the people”