Embracing Genuineness in Leadership: A Key to Real Estate Success

What Do You Crave?

I had a business coach for a few years who always asked me the same question about my role: "What do you crave?" Not having yet woken up to the fact that I was approaching burnout in a gaslighting toxic work environment, I struggled to answer it. Fast forward to my current work helping clients grow their businesses in a balanced, sustainable way aligned with their strengths, and I can finally answer: Genuineness.

Genuineness has become the cornerstone of my coaching philosophy. It's about being real, honest, and true to oneself. In a world where so many are caught up in projecting a certain image or fitting into a predefined mold, being genuine stands out. It builds trust, fosters deep connections, and creates a solid foundation for any relationship—whether personal or professional. This is especially true for real estate agents, who are the leaders of their businesses. As leaders, their ability to connect authentically with clients can make or break their success.

Leadership vs. Ownership

Leadership is different from ownership.

While ownership is about having control and responsibility, leadership requires leveraging your unique strengths to inspire, motivate, and guide your teams toward a common goal.

Real estate agents, as business leaders, must do this by being authentic, showing vulnerability, and being open to growth and change.

Ownership can often lead to micromanaging, which stifles creativity, breeds resentment, and hampers productivity. Leadership, on the other hand, empowers team members, encourages innovation, and drives success. It's about setting a vision, aligning it with the team’s strengths, and fostering an environment where everyone can thrive. For real estate agents, this means creating a client experience that is genuine and trustworthy.

Whether you are an individual solopreneur real estate agent, a small business owner, or the CEO of a large firm, we are all leaders in one way or another. Learning how to genuinely connect with others is an essential component of leadership. It requires self-awareness, empathy, and the willingness to engage in honest and open communication. For real estate agents, this means being able to connect with clients on a deeper level, understanding their needs, and building lasting relationships based on trust.

The Importance of Genuine Connection

Organizations are, after all, made up of people. People are the greatest asset, from the customers and clients to those who serve them to those who lead them. Learning how to connect with each of them is essential to the overall retention and productivity of the organization. Genuine connection fosters trust, which is the bedrock of any successful relationship.

Genuine human connection is what is often missing in business. It is what we all crave. Genuine human connection in our workplace—whether in our leadership, our service, or our marketing—helps individuals thrive and businesses be more productive. When real estate agents lead with authenticity, they build stronger relationships with their clients, which in turn drives their business success. By embracing genuineness, real estate professionals can create a more fulfilling and productive work environment, ultimately leading to greater success and satisfaction in their careers.