Category Archives: Real Estate Retention

Four Factors You CAN Control in Recruiting

Posted on by The Profitable Recruiter
22 Jul

Positioning Yourself for Exponential Results

By Real Estate Recruiting Coach Judy LaDeur

Bottom line? Recruiting is the lifeblood of your real estate brokerage. If you are not actively recruiting, you are on your way out of business. You can have the best team in the industry, but at some point, every agent that you have will leave. They will retire, they may get ill, and they might just get tired of working, or relocate. But for reasons out of your control, they will leave.  There are many things that you can control to keep them there for as long as possible.  Here are those things which you can control:

  1. Office Environment & Culture: The brokers I know who are excellent recruiters, also provide an exciting work environment for their agents. They are in the office to greet their agents daily, they create reasons for the agents to come into the office, they host fun events throughout the year in the office, and the office has a clean, professional look about it. Create a welcome, efficient place for your agents to network, meet clients, and impress your recruits and you’re one step ahead of your competition.
  1. Create a Written Profile of the Perfect Agent for Your Office:  By writing down what it would take him or her to be the perfect fit for your team, your mind will actively look for people who fit your profile. Have you ever noticed that if you buy a new blue car, that suddenly you see that color and model everywhere? Once you are aware of something, your mind will point it out.  The same is true for agents.  When you are consciously aware of what you are looking for, your mind will also quickly discount people who do not meet your profile. You will hire more of the right agents, and fewer agents who fall short of your criteria. The time to talk about your criteria and expectations for your agents is in the interview process.  Don’t be shy. During the interview say things such as “The ideal agent for our team is an agent who is looking for (quality). Our expectations of those who join our team are (expectation).  The typical agent on our team averages (annual income). Those who are right for your team will make statements that confirm they meet your criteria.  If you are hiring new agents, you may want a separate profile, which may encompass areas such as passion, drive, experience in other sales fields, and education. A new agent’s desire and persistence can overcome many obstacles. For experienced agents, you may want to consider things such as the time constraints each one will put on you or your staff. It seems there are always a few agents in each office that take up the bulk of the leader’s time.  Your focus should be to find good people so you can replace the ones who do not meet your criteria.
  1. Prospecting: Once you know who you want, you next job is to find those agents and position yourself and your company to recruit them. Prospecting effectively allows you to fill your office with the kind of agents who fit your profile, which will enable you to earn more money. Prospecting can take on many forms such as direct mail, social media, face to face interaction with agents, phone calls, texting, emails and anything which will allow you to connect with the right agent for your team. Prospecting does two things: It keeps you positioned with the agents that you want until they are ready to move. It also tells you which agents are ready to make a move that day.  For that reason, calling must be a daily part of your prospecting, but don’t try to recruit them over the phone. The purpose of the call is to get the interview. They can’t sign up over the phone. I am amazed at the number of brokers who do not prospect, and most prospect less than their agents do. The brokers with the most productive offices lead by example. They are always prospecting and building their business, just like they expect their agents to prospect. Are you willing to get in the mud with your troops? Are you willing to show and teach them by example the value of prospecting? Are you going to teach them through your actions what leadership is about?
  1. Powerful presentation: Just as your agents need to perfect their best listing presentation — you need to create a dynamic presentation which is customized to each agent. The agent needs to feel that you have a lot to offer him/her in knowledge and experience. Your presentation should be based on well-scripted questions to find their hot buttons as well as products and services that they currently need in their real estate career. The better you learn what the agent is looking for, the more powerful your presentation will be.  Focus on hiring agents on value. What is the value to them in joining your team? How much more can they earn as a member of your team? Just as agents can get more listings by reducing their commission, you can always get more agents by lowering your fees or increasing your splits. Do the best sales agents reduces their fees and profits just to get more listings? NO. And the best brokers do not “buy agents”.  They do, however, end each interview with an invitation to join their team, if the agent is a good fit.

Is recruiting a challenge for you?  We can help.  Join The Profitable Recruiter and gain access to 7 hours of training via downloadable links, hundreds of recruiting letters and notes, emails, social media contents, webinars for recruiting and retention, and opportunities to network with the best of the best. 

If you’re ready to get your recruiting ON TRACK and keep it there —  join today and take advantage of our 50% off special using promo code 50OFF.

Learn why brokers of every company size are making it their turn to way to stay positioned for recruiting success in today’s market — and putting the fun back into their recruiting. We’re taking the guesswork out of recruiting for brokers — and they are loving it.  We can do the same for you! Questions?  Email us today.  

The Opportunities in Change

Posted on by The Profitable Recruiter
The Opportunities in Change real estate recruiting
02 Jul

The Cyclical World of Real Estate Sales

By Judy LaDeur

The world — and the world of real estate — is one of the cycles. And certainly, we are in a stage of change right now in markets all over the globe. Change can be a little intimidating for some agents, but with the right mindset, tools, and training — it presents opportunities at every turn. How you deliver the possibilities and help agents navigate change is powerful.  Perception is reality. As the Broker, you are the captain of the ship. The person in charge of the information that is distributed, as well as how it is perceived. You are also responsible for the routing of the journey. As the captain of the ship, if you saw that there was a potential storm on the horizon, would you alter your course? Would you start to make plans and prepare? Of course, you would. A real estate office is no different. Regardless of what happens in the market, there are things on the horizon that you should be planning for today.

Things that you know will happen, such as:

  • Some agents are feeling ready but anxious about change.
  • Most agents are struggling with a correcting and shifting market, higher interest rates, and uncertainty. This makes it easier for them to change offices. That makes you vulnerable as a Broker but also creates opportunities as a Recruiter. What are you doing today to prevent your agents from leaving, and what are you doing to position yourself as the Broker agents think of when making a move?

When you look forward, you can be better prepared for whatever the market does. Here are a few tips to help navigate through any storms on the horizon.

  1. Schedule training for your agents designed to support their business, adapt to change, foster a strong finish to the year, a sense of confidence, and the tools they need to thrive.
  2. Host some fun events, or contests, to keep your agents focused on business, even in these challenging times!
  3. Create marketing pieces for your agents to use to position themselves in front of their clients for new listings.
  4. Remind your agents that there is no better time to stay consistent with their Monday morning messages to their clients. Stay top of mind for additional business opportunities.
  5. Don’t forget to send your Monday Morning Motivation Messages to your recruits each week. Once we head into the holidays, it is especially important for you, as the Broker, to stay positioned with potential recruits.

And don’t forget, there are always changes and cycles in this business. You can change the size of the wave, but you can learn to surf! 

Want to learn how to increase your market share and build an extraordinary team?  Bookmark our blog, and join The Profitable Recruiter today.  We have a full spectrum of membership benefits with all the tools, strategies and solutions you need to position yourself to win this year and every year. Our goal is for you to become the “turn-to” broker in your area for every agent.  

Join today and take advantage of our special offer of 50% off with the promo code 50OFF any membership.  That’s 50% off everything you need to be in the right place at the right time when the agents you want are ready to make a move – including SEVEN HOURS of recruiting audio training!  What are you waiting for? When you join – you and up to 10 managers can access your account! Try it for a month and see what it can do for you.

 

Powerful Phone Skills Can Be Easy!

Posted on by The Profitable Recruiter
21 Jun

Putting ALL the Pieces in Place for Successful Recruiting

By Real Estate Recruiting Coach Judy LaDeur

What do top recruiters/brokers do daily to ensure consistent results in recruiting?   It is really pretty simple.  Most do what others are unwilling to do to get the desired results!  There are several steps to mastering phone calls and many great reasons to pick up the phone. Here are ten great reasons to call an agent:

  1. Your office has a co-op transaction with that agent.
  2. Your agent has identified them as a great agent to do business within your market.
  3. Invite them to a social or educational event that you are hosting.
  4. Pay them a compliment. It could be on their production or just the way they conduct business.
  5. Introduce yourself if you do not know them.
  6. Suggest getting together to meet and exchange information over coffee.
  7. Check the progress of a first or second-year agent.
  8. Follow up with agents that you have met with but did not YET hire.
  9. Call to tell them about the special systems and services that your company offers.
  10. Invite those who left to come back!

Regardless of why you call them, what to say seems to be the biggest challenge for most brokers and recruiters.  For your best results, you should follow a process that allows you to build the relationship and secure the info that you need when the time is right for that agent to make a move.

Our process teaches you how to diffuse the initial response of “I’m busy” or “I’m happy where I am.” When you can lower the resistance in the first few seconds, the call is much easier.  Many brokers jump right in and ask them to meet. That works occasionally, but asking a few questions and engaging them in the conversation will usually result in a better close ratio.

Most agents will say “no” at least two times before saying “yes”! The secret is asking them more than once in more than one way! Most agents will say no before even listening to what you have to say. It’s important to say something that will not only get their attention but pique their curiosity to learn more.

There are also days of the week and times in the day which will have better results. Those who understand the Rules Behind Successful Calling will have fewer no-shows and spend less time making the calls and more time face to face with the agents they want.

Do you want to hire more agents?  Mastering the phone is an important part of the puzzle! Not only will you learn many of these vital tools in the 7+ hours of audio training that you get as part of your Profitable Recruiter Pro membership – you have the advantage of learning on demand – individually or as a leadership team.

And if you HAVEN’T put systems in place to ALWAYS have the tools you need to grow your team with fewer headaches and more results – consider joining The Profitable Recruiter today.  Take 50% off with the promo code 50OFF — PLUS, can add up to 10 managers or admins to your account at no extra cost!  That’s 50% off everything you need to be in the right place at the right time when the agents you want are ready to make a move – AND includes the SEVEN HOURS of recruiting audio training, webinars on demand, scripts, letters, social media tools and more!  What are you waiting for? Register today.

 Identifying and Communicating Your Value Proposition

Posted on by The Profitable Recruiter
15 Jun

By Real Estate Recruiting Coach Judy LaDeur

The most important asset within your company is the people. Attracting the right people means attracting those aligned with your values and vision.  This gives you an opportunity to create a flourishing environment that translates into an improved bottom line.

Putting a strong team in place will require you to answer a few tough questions first. You must be able to share details about your company in “what’s in it for them” terms. Explain how a move would benefit them both personally and professionally. Because let’s face it, switching companies is a very scary decision for most people. Diffuse fears by accurately and effectively sharing the “WHY” that sets you apart from your competition. What does this look like?

You must define:

  • What you do better than your competitors
  • What you are doing that your competitors are not
  • How you can help potential recruits earn more money through your systems and tools
  • How you enhance the working environment of your agents
  • What real results other members of your team have seen since making a move

Once you answer those questions, the next step is spelling out the reasons any agent would want to join your team. In my training, I ask each broker to come up with their 12 most compelling reasons. Unfortunately, twelve reasons can be difficult for a lot of brokers. For that reason, I have created a blueprint that you can follow to begin crafting your list.

12 Compelling Reasons Recruits Will Say YES to Joining Your Company

# 1:  Strong Leadership: Vision, support with problem-solving, and leaders who are acting like leaders. Take it one step further and determine what specific value you and your expertise bring to your team.

#2: Lead Generation: Agents need to prospect, but they want companies that are working to generate leads for them as well. There are lead generation companies out there that are charging agents up to $1000 a month for leads and believe it or not, agents are paying. Why? Because agents want those internet leads or any leads that the company can provide. What are you willing to provide?

#3: Name Brand Awareness: Companies with a strong presence in the market, locally and nationally, are doing well with their recruiting efforts. Name awareness is tied to market share. The best agents understand that the stronger the name/market share, the easier it is to compete for business.

#4: Education/Training: Agents are looking to fine-tune their skills. Many are staring down steep learning curves for technology and virtual presentations. Many agents know they need to get back to the basics and most realize the value of staying current in an ever-changing real estate industry. The best agents also understand the value of securing specialized training or securing certain designations for areas of specialization. Such areas might include: Virtual presentation, social media and digital marketing, niche-market prospecting, and technology.

#5: Positive office attitude and healthy environment in the office: Agents want a positive work environment with competent and positive peers. It is easy for me to see that the offices with the best production and best attitude have brokers with a great attitude. Those same brokers spent the last 5 years getting rid of their dead weight and many are more profitable today than they have been in years!

#6: Mastermind Groups and networking opportunities with other top producers:  Many of the best agents enjoy connecting with the other successful agents. Their needs and approach to the real estate business is different from those just getting started, so why not give them the opportunity to grow and play together? Agents who work hard, play hard and spend time together are more likely to stay together

#7: Marketing support/tools: Marketing is the #1 thing that agents need to stay in touch with their sphere and past customers. What can you do to assist or support their marketing efforts?

#8: Client/ data management tools: Many agents struggle when it comes to managing their data and client info. Do you have an easy-to-use customer relationship management tool that allows them to input their data, send out marketing, and locate client data quickly?

#9: Coaching and accountability: We see many companies implementing very successful coaching programs, with some great results. If the company does not provide coaching, the agents might hire outside the organization. The cost can range from $500 -$1000. What that tells me is this: if they want it and it has value to them, they will pay for it! Your agents need accountability and sometimes a third party is the best way to keep them on track and accountable. Your best option is to coach them yourself or have someone else in house that can effectively coach them. If this isn’t possible, seek out a good coach and work out an agreement with them to coach those agents who want it.

#10: Administrative support: Agents are working harder, but most are not working smarter. What can you do to support them behind the scenes?  What can you take off their plate to give them more balance in their life and work?

#11:  Proven results with proven systems: It’s not enough to have systems and tools. Your need to know what the results are from each of the systems and tools you offer. Use exact results, NAR survey results, national brand results, testimonials from your agents as well as success stories. Bring those results into your interviews.  Everyone says they can help potential recruits, but those who can prove it are winning in today’s market.

#12: Security: The bottom line for any agent making a move is whether or not they will feel secure at their new location. The more answers you can provide on the above list, the better they will feel, and when they feel good…they join!

Take some time to sit down and determine what your best selling points are as an organization.  Ask your agents what they love most about being part of your business family.  Then couple these powerful 12 reasons with your own compelling attributes and get ready to knock it out of the park this fall!

Want to continue to learn how to be the turn-to broker in your market?  Bookmark our blog, and join The Profitable Recruiter today.  We have a full spectrum of membership benefits with all the tools, strategies and solutions you need to position yourself to win this year and every year. Our goal is for you to become the “turn-to” broker in your area for every agent.  

Join today and take advantage of our special offer of 50% off with the promo code 50OFF any pro membership.  That’s 50% off everything you need to be in the right place at the right time when the agents you want are ready to make a move – including SEVEN HOURS of recruiting audio training!  What are you waiting for? When you join – you and up to 10 managers can access your account! Try it for a month and see what it can do for you.

 

7 Strategies for Real Estate Recruiting Success

Posted on by The Profitable Recruiter
28 Apr

A LOT has changed in the last year – but some strategies are always in season. If you’re ready to take your recruiting game to the next level, let’s look at a few of our favorites that always seem to help real estate recruiters knock it out of the park. Some take just a few minutes of your day – but the results — are extraordinary!

Here are a few of our favorites: 

  1. Stay positioned with your entire recruiting list using the Profitable Recruiter Monday Morning email newsletters. These provide non-salesly, motivational, action-oriented touchpoints which keep you top of mind as a broker/recruiter so that when people ARE ready to make a move, they think of your organization.
  2. Customize those emails. While we love a good cut and paste, your emails should be branded to your organization.  Consider including links to agent testimonials, links to pages on your site that refer to compensation differentiators, a personal note from you or your leadership team, a spotlight of recent recruits, including their name, photo, and charity of choice, and links to upcoming training or networking events.
  3. Send Lumpy Letters to the top 25 recruiting prospects every month. Have some fun with them – and follow up with those prospects.
  4. Use LinkedIn to connect with potential recruits. Send your prospects a message, endorse them, write a reference on LinkedIn, then follow up. More often than not, you’ll have done more than their current broker.  While you’re in there – be sure to do the same for your CURRENT team of agents!  Set aside 15 minutes a morning to do this one simple strategy – you’ll surprise and delight yourself with the results!
  5. Sponsor fun events. We loved the Taco & Tequila Tuesdays, Wine Down Wednesdays, and even virtual happy hours that many of our members have hosted. They are fun networking opportunities where agents can connect, share ideas, and learn.  Some host it at a restaurant near their company headquarters and offer dessert back at the office, where they can tour the facility and learn more about what the company offers.  Their current team of agents’ “admission” to the event is to bring another agent.  Everyone has fun – and it’s bringing agents through the doors!
  6. Call at least ten agents a day for appointments. You won’t reach all ten more than likely, but you are making the calls and contacts and setting the stage for success.
  7. Let them know that you want them on board. Often brokers feel like it is too strong to ask for the commitment after the first recruiting appointment, but what they don’t realize is that often means the potential recruit isn’t even sure that you WANT to hire them. Be assertive and friendly – and try Judy’s classic handshake close that has helped brokers worldwide hire people on the spot.  (You can learn more about that in the interview skills section of your 7+ hours of audio training.)

These powerful steps are a great way to create the kind of dramatic momentum you are looking for. The right tools, strategies, and of course – perseverance as a recruiter is a win-win-win combination.

Stay positioned with the agents you are eager to recruit!  Join us today and take advantage of our special offer of 50% off with the promo code 50OFF any membership.  That’s 50% off everything you need to be in the right place at the right time when the agents you want are ready to make a move – including SEVEN HOURS of recruiting audio training!  What are you waiting for? When you join – you and up to 10 managers can access your account! Try it for a month and see what it can do for you.    

It’s NOT Just a Numbers Game

Posted on by The Profitable Recruiter
18 Apr

It’s a PEOPLE Project

by Real Estate Recruiting Coach and Speaker Judy LaDeur

Since the dawn of recruiting, we’ve all been told, “it’s a numbers game,” and “it’s a contact sport”.  While a portion of that is true – you do have to contact a number of people CONTINUOUSLY to recruit new agents and build your company, it’s not JUST about numbers – or contact.  It’s about PEOPLE.  And RELATIONSHIPS. Because that is the business you are in really.  Not real estate – but those hard working folks who list and sell every day that are people.  Getting to the heart of what makes them tick, what makes them successful, and what makes them think of you when it’s time to make a change is the biggest job you have.

So there are a three truths you should know…

  1. It’s not about the money.  Almost every time an agent leaves a current broker it doesn’t have anything to do with money.  It’s usually a lack of trust, a breakdown in the relationship, or a shift in culture in the company.  So keep this in mind – both for staying in touch with those you want to recruit – and maintaining a great relationship with those current agents you want to KEEP.
  2. Salespeople don’t like to be SOLD.  If every contact you make with the folks in your pipeline is about pitching them to move to your office, save yourself time and money now.  It won’t work. What does work is CONSISTENT interaction? Non-threatening, non-salesy interaction with something of value.  Something that makes them WANT to hear from you.
  3. It’s not about the first contact or the last.  It’s about showing up time and time again in a supportive and positive way.  Agents who are looking to make a move don’t go with the first broker that tried to recruit them or even the last – they go with the one who is rock-steady and always there.

Our brokers are loving the way we help them stay consistently in touch and build those relationships.  And our Monday Morning Wake Up Call eNewsletters are not only getting the job done for bringing on new recruits – but for helping their agents build their book of business too.  As motivational messages with a clear story to tell, valuable information to share, and inspiration that kick starts the week off right, it’s become a tool that allows brokers to stay in touch, share a real estate success strategy, and keep top-of-mind with both their recruiting prospects and their current team.  The side benefit?  Is the agents then share that message with their sphere and farm and your branding and positive impact on the market spreads.

Picture this:  Let’s just say, for easy math’s sake, you are a broker with 50 agents in your office.  (Multiply the math for your current numbers.)  You send your message every Monday to your current agents.  You deliver the agent version of the Monday newsletters (that we provide to our members) and invite them to tweak it, make it their own, and send it to their sphere and farm. If each of your agents has 200 in their sphere or farm, you’re then reaching 10,000 people each week (and helping your agents do the same.)  Add to that a recruiting hit list of 50 agents, and you invite them to also tweak and make it their own and share with THEIR sphere or farm. That’s 20,000 each week you are touching.  That’s going a long way towards making a serious impact on your market, your communities, and the agents who service it.

Will they all do it?  Of course not.  But will it stick with the ones who are eager to take the lead?  Absolutely.  Will it make a difference to those agents who are ready to make a move and wondering who to turn to in terms of a new company, culture, and broker relationship?  You bet it will.  Position yourself today to be THE broker to talk to in your market.  Actively. Consistently.  Positively.  Your bottom line will thank you for it.

The key to making recruiting easier – and even more fun is to dare to be different. To set yourself apart from your competitors.  Our members tell us that we make that so much simpler by providing the creative how-to’s each and every month so they can focus on getting face-to-face with new recruiting prospects.  Every month they can choose from new lumpy letters (for top rung recruits), seasonal letters (for B & C lists), and they stay positioned with all of their recruiting lists by using their Monday Morning Wake Up Call eNewsletters and social media tools. Then they use the training they get from the 7+ hours of audio training and 35+ webinars on-demand to feel confident, competent and ready for anything when they have that recruit on the phone or in an interview.  

You can too!  Join today and take advantage of our special offer of 50% off with the promo code 50OFF any 6-month or annual membership.   We’re taking the guesswork out of recruiting for brokers — and they are loving it.  We can do the same for you! Questions?  Email us today.  

The Top Three Reasons People Leave (And How to Avoid Them)

Posted on by The Profitable Recruiter
30 Mar

Keys to Retaining Your Best PeopleJudy 1

By Real Estate Recruiting Coach Judy LaDeur

The top three reasons people leave their jobs – are lack of recognition, poor working environment, and they’re not making enough money.

Here’s the truth:  Negative agents can scare off every customer they speak with, for good. This means that how your agents feel about the company has a direct impact on your profitability.

Did you know?

  • 65% of Americans received no recognition in the workplace
  • 9 out of 10 people say they are more productive when they’re around positive people

There is a great quote in the book: Open Your Big, Bold, Beautiful Mouth by Alphonso Belin and A.J. Polizzi that says, “The highest achievable level of service comes from the heart, so the company that reaches its people’s hearts will provide the very best service.“

The Keys to Retaining Your Best People

Having a good time is the best motivator there is.  When people feel good about a company, they produce more.  In a study of more than 1,500 employees in scores of work settings by Dr. Gerald H. Graham, professor of management at Wichita State University, the most powerful motivator was personalized, instant recognition from their managers.  “Managers have found,” Graham adds, “that simply asking for employee involvement is motivational in itself.”

Graham’s study determined the top motivating techniques:

1. The manager/owner personally congratulates those who do a good job

2.  The manager/owner writes personal notes about good performances

3.  The organization used performance as the basis for promotion

4.  The manager/owner holds morale-building meetings to celebrate successes

People today are looking for much more than a paycheck.  They want to be treated like human beings.  That may sound obvious, but a lot of employers and managers still don’t get it.

Here are some great examples of ways to make your team feel appreciated, valued, and recognized: 

When employees at Douglas Aircraft in Long Beach, California, hit their goals, they ring a large brass bell.  Why not put a bell in the office and let the agents ring it when they get a listing or sale?

The Pinellas County, FL public school administrative offices have designated a small area where employees can drop off clothing for dry cleaning in the morning.  A local dry cleaner picks it up and returns it by the end of the workday.  Many real estate offices offer this service to their agents as well. It does not cost you anything but offers a great service to busy agents

Mary Kay Ash, founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics said, “Every single person you meet has a sign around his or her neck that says, ‘Make me feel important.’  If you can do that, you’ll be a success not only in business but in life as well.” She was known for the way she made people feel. Did you know that when she was talking to people, she kept eye contact with them the entire time, even though people around her were always trying to get her attention?Check yourself – when you are speaking to a team member, are you REALLY present?  Are you checking your phone? On the computer?  Distracted?  One of the easiest (and free) ways to making someone feel valued is giving them your undivided attention when you are speaking to them.  Listening, more than speaking.  Eye contact.  Handshakes.  It all matters!

During the busiest times of the year, executives at the Cigna Group, personally push coffee carts around the office, serving drinks and refreshments to their frontline partners.  As they serve, the executives coach and encourage their colleagues as well as hear about real consumer issues from those who know customer concerns the best.  Consider ‘open office’ hours where agents can come in to speak with you at any time.  Make the rounds at least once a week and check in with each and every member of your team.  Find out how their week is, if they have any needs, questions, or great news to share. Even 10-15 minutes of your day once a week can make a huge difference in building and sustaining those relationships.

Herb Kelleher, CEO and co-founder of Southwest Airlines, has discovered that by becoming personally involved in the workplace, and in the jobs that his employees do, he can unleash a tremendous amount of energy among his workers.  For example, Kelleher often helps flight attendants serve beverages to customers when he flies on his airline.  Get hands on.  Ask what you can do to make an agent’s week go smoother.  Help with a difficult client.  Celebrate a win. Offer a little coaching.

At Hewitt Associates, new employees are made to feel special. “I joined the firm about six months ago as a writer/consultant in New Jersey,” said a new-hire. “I was surprised at the level of detail that had gone into the preparation for my arrival.  One of the more experienced writers left a welcome note on my desk, along with a ‘survival kit’ (including a candy bar)…and everybody came by my office to personally welcome me to the team.  For the first two weeks or so, every day somebody made a point to stop by and ask me to lunch.”  What Type of reception do your new agents get when they join? Are their names on a welcome sign as they come in?  Do you leave a special welcome gift for their first day?  Do you encourage other team members to make them feel welcome?  Do you send out press releases or share kudos for them on your site and social media?

Here are some great ways to show you care and that you are paying attention:

  • Call an agent into your office just to thank him or her; don’t discuss any other issue.
  • Post a thank-you note on the agent’s phone.
  • Volunteer to do an agent’s least desirable work task for a day.
  • Have the President of the company or the regional manager call an agent to thank him or her for a job well done.
  • Have someone wash the agents’ cars in the parking lot during lunch.
  • Carry a supply of cards with you and as you ‘catch people doing something right,’ immediately write ‘thanks,’ ‘good job,’ ‘keep it up’ and what they specifically did in two to three words.  Put the person’s name on the card and sign it.
  • Have lunch or coffee with a group of agents that you don’t normally see.
  • Write a recommendation on LinkedIn for every member of your team. You can break it into a small number day if you need to – but make this the month that you recognize them professionally in that platform.

In the book, The Leadership Pill, Blanchard and Muchnick explain profit this way: “Profit is the applause you get for taking care of your customers and creating a motivating environment for people.”  As brokers your ‘customers’ are your agents.  Create an environment where they can be creative. Collaborative.  Respected.  Valued.  Cared About.  When you do? You’ll see your team flourish and grow in the best possible ways.

Now, as to the not making enough money part of this equation, it is imperative right now that you provide powerful, timely, SKILL-BASED training for your agents weekly as they navigate all this new market change and information. We partner with our friend Darryl Davis who provides free weekly sessions for agents that is helping them not only work with more confidence, but close more business! You can share this link with your team members to help them do the same: www.PowerAgentWebinar.com. 

Profitable Recruiter Members, please login to your platform today to get all of your April recruiting tools, and review your powerful webinars on demand!  

For more great ideas on giving your agents the best resources possible, while attracting awesome new agents, join The Profitable Recruiter.  Take advantage of our special offer!  Make any Profitable Recruiter Pro Membership part of your business plan, and take 50% off with the promo code PLAN50 — PLUS, have the ability to add up to 10 managers or admins to your account at no extra cost!  That’s 50% off everything you need to be in the right place at the right time when the agents you want are ready to make a move – including SEVEN HOURS of recruiting audio training, more than 30 webinars on demand, scripts, letters, social media tools and more!  What are you waiting for? Register today! 

DISC for Recruiting & Retention

Posted on by The Profitable Recruiter
01 Mar

The Link Between Personality Profiles and Recruiting

by Judy LaDeur

I love this tool! The DISC tells you how agents are motivated,  how they will respond when they are unhappy, and what it takes to recruit and retain them.  I have always used a DISC test when hiring new agents into the real estate industry. I also use a test when hiring team members, admin staff, recruiters, and managers. Why? Each of us has specific natural strengths that allow us to do our job easier, which increases the odds of success.

As a Broker, Manager, or Recruiter, using a behavior test makes your job so much easier!

What is DISC? It is a “personality profiling system”. A DISC Profile utilizes a method for understanding behavior, temperament, and personality. It provides a comprehensive overview of the way that people think, act, and interact. It is the most widely used tool of its kind. The DISC Personality Profile is based on the work of renowned psychologist Dr. William Moulton Marston, and was introduced in his 1928 book Emotions of Normal People. William Marston, a contemporary of Carl Jung, developed the DISC Personality Profile after studying the personality traits, behavioral patterns, and instinctual reactions of thousands of individuals. As a result of his work, Marston developed the DISC assessment as a tool to measure four primary behavioral traits:

Dominance (D)
Influence (I)
Steadiness (S)
Conscientiousness (C)

By understanding a person’s behavior pattern, you can:disc

  • Strengthen communication skills
  • Build or identify leadership abilities
  • Diffusing interpersonal conflict
  • Boosting performance and productivity
  • Increase motivation
  • Strengthen workplace skills and relationships
  • Make smart hiring decisions

Personality is the basis of who we are and what we do. Here is a quick overview of each personality type.

With Dominant people

  • Build respect to avoid conflict
  • Focus on facts and ideas rather than the people
  • Have evidence to support your argument
  • Be quick, focused, and to the point
  • Ask what, not how
  • Talk about how problems will hinder accomplishments
  • Show them how they can succeed

With Influential people

  • Be social and friendly with them, building the relationship
  • Listen to them talk about their ideas
  • Help them find ways to translate the talk into useful action
  • Don’t spend much time on the details
  • Motivate them to follow through to complete tasks
  • Recognize their accomplishments

With Steady people

  • Be genuinely interest in them as a person
  • Create a human working environment for them
  • Give them time to adjust to change
  • Clearly define goals for them and provide ongoing support
  • Recognize and appreciate their achievements
  • Avoid hurry and pressure
  • Present new ideas carefully

With Conscientious people

  • Warn them in time and generally avoid surprises
  • Be prepared. Don’t ad-lib with them if you can
  • Be logical, accurate and use clear data
  • Show how things fit into the bigger picture
  • Be specific in disagreement and focus on the facts
  • Be patient, persistent and diplomatic

We are including a chart that covers many different areas of each personality type, and how each type responds differently to the same situation. If you are not familiar with the DISC test, one of my favorite sites is http://www.alessandra.com/tahome.asp. Dr. Tony Alessandra has developed several different tests with extensive reports attached. If you have never taken a DISC test, I would recommend that you take one for yourself, as well as the key members of your team. As you get more familiar with the various different personalities, you will be able to quickly determine the behavior patterns of those you manage, live with and are recruiting.

Continue to learn how to be the master recruiting skills and be the broker to join in your market. If recruiting is a challenge for you, we can help.  

Is recruiting a challenge for you?  We can help.  Join The Profitable Recruiter and gain access to 7+ hours of audio training via downloadable links, powerful recruiting letters and notes, emails, social media tips, over 70 webinars for recruiting and retention, and opportunities to network with the best of the best. Take advantage of our special offer and save 50% on YOUR New Membership with Promo Code: 50OFF.

Judy’s SEVEN HOURS of recruiting audio training covers:

  • interview skills
  • objection handling
  • phone calls
  • recruiting strategies
  • handling stalls
  • recruiting to specific personality types
  • and so much more…

Not sure if this is the right thing for your company?  Contact us to learn why brokers across the country are making it their turn to way to stay positioned for recruiting success in today’s market — and putting the fun back into their recruiting.  (Which is way better than dread – right?) We’re taking the guesswork out of recruiting for brokers — and they are loving it.  We can do the same for you! Questions?  Email us today.  

 

Get a Step Ahead of the Competition

Posted on by The Profitable Recruiter
25 Feb

Refocus on Recruiting Now

By Judy LaDeur

If you’ve been biding your time to kick your recruiting into high gear, it might be time to re-think your game. Put systems in place NOW to attract, connect, and engage with the recruits you want, and you’ll be the broker to beat in this competitive market.

Here are five guidelines for recruiting the experienced agents that you want:

#1: Remember that it is not what you do that makes the agent move; it is what their broker or company does or does not do that makes them move or motivates them to look at their options. It is what you do between now and then that causes them to call you when that day comes. That is why it is so important to keep your mailings going out on a regular basis. You never know when something will happen to make them unhappy. With regard to your mailings, keep in mind that your marketing pieces are designed to educate them as to what your company has to offer.

#2: Your marketing pieces should also create curiosity and desire to know more about your company, your results, and your systems.  Testimonial letters from your agents make great recruiting letters. Do not try to sell them the entire company in just one letter. Each letter should focus on one unique thing about your company and should show the benefit to the agent, as well as the results that your agents have had by utilizing that system. Your marketing pieces should appeal to the emotional agents as well as the logical agents. Emotional agents like things that are cute, fun, humorous, and emotional in content. They also relate to success stories about other agents. Logical agents like their letters to be factual, business-like, and to the point.  You should alternate between emotional and logical letters so that you are relating to everyone. You should have a marketing piece that goes out one time every two weeks. The marketing piece can be a letter, postcard, email, company newsletter, or anything that educates the agents in the marketplace about what you have to offer. Look to your Lumpy Letters and seasonal letters in your system for done-for-you pieces.

#3: If your results are slowing down, look at your hit list. With new agents coming into the real estate business every day, your hit list should constantly be updated. At least 30%-40% of your names should be agents who have been in the business for less than one year. Statistics show that most successful agents make their first move during their first year in the business. I believe that is because they do not know what to look for in a company when they are newly licensed, but the good ones learn quickly who the best companies are for them. Those same studies show that most agents are with three companies in their real estate careers and stay with the second company for an average of 7-9 years. That is when they are building their career. So, if you do not get them before their first move, you may be waiting a while. The majority of the agents on your list should be agents who sell an “average amount of real estate for your area.”  Averages vary quite a bit, but usually, an average agent is someone who sells 1-3 million per year. An average producer is usually more willing to look at their options somewhere else. You should have 30%-40% of your hit list as average producers.

#4: You must follow up on your letters with phone calls. If you make the calls, the agents will come in. I recently held a class on developing phone skills with managers who did not regularly call the agents in their area. In just two hours of calling for appointments, the managers booked over 50 appointments. The challenge these days is finding the agents and not getting the appointment. For this reason, I recommend that you call the agents in the morning. You should talk to at least three agents per day to keep your pipeline full.

#5: In addition to sending out letters and making phone calls, you should do whatever possible to stay face-to-face with the agents in your marketplace. That includes Open Houses, Broker Tour and Luncheons, Broker and Realtor Functions, invites to special events that your company is holding, or just stepping out of your office and saying “Hello” when an agent stops in for a key.

Remember that recruiting is a contact sport. The more contacts you make, the more recruits you will have. Need help? Join The Profitable Recruiter.

In addition to the weekly emails, the recruiting platform is loaded with scripts, lumpy letters, seasonal letters, notes, social media content, and various other recruiting tools each month. We also have seven and a half hours of intense recruiting training and articles with some of the top brokers in the country and industry experts sharing their tips for success on our blog. Check it out at www.TheProfitableRecruiter.com

Join today and take advantage of our special offer of 50% off with the promo code 60OFF for any 6-month or annual membership.  It includes up to 10 manager seats per membership. That’s 50% off everything you need to be in the right place at the right time when the agents you want are ready to make a move! In addition, you can add up to TEN managers for each membership. Questions? Contact us today at 813-957-2989. 

 

How Not to Get Raided by Your Competition

Posted on by The Profitable Recruiter
12 Feb

And Stay on the Winning Side of the Agent Tug of WarBusinessman in tug of war concept

By Real Estate Recruiting Coach Judy LaDeur

Recruiting competition has skyrocketed. And during this time of great chaos and change – there can be even more vulnerability. Right now, agents are edgy and unsure about what all the industry change means to them, and they are looking to you to help them navigate it all.

My research has shown that if you consistently show your agents that they are valued and appreciated on a regular basis, and they know that they, and their needs, are your priority — you probably don’t have much to worry about. If not – let’s examine why an office becomes vulnerable.

Change is the #1 reason for vulnerability. When you implement change, a certain number of agents will be unhappy with the change, and therefore you could lose a few. In addition, if you lose a good agent, you can easily lose another one in the next 10 days. You could be in trouble if you lose 2-3 agents in a few weeks.  Why? The grass always looks greener on the other side… (But most agents forget that it is just as tough to mow!) You are most vulnerable if you lose an emotional agent. They usually leave if they are hurt or angry. Unfortunately, they will want their friends to follow them. You must always take proactive steps when an emotional agent leaves. You should have a one-on-one meeting with the agent who is leaving. If you can not correct the problem or convince them to stay, let them know that they are always welcome if they want to return. Keep it businesslike and professional. Do not get angry with them. You would not believe some of the stories that I hear, such as the managers who threw an agent’s belongings into the parking lot while demanding that they leave in front of their peers.

Next, have one-on-one meetings with their close friends and get their feedback on why the agent left. Ask how you can create a more favorable environment for the agents who are there. If the agent who left insists on calling your other agents, confront the agent who left. Let them know that you supported their decision to leave, but you are hurt that they would intentionally try to harm or disrupt your office. Emotional agents usually back off if confronted.

Also, you need to remember that about 70% of all agents are emotional in nature, so they make emotional decisions. For example, If you do something that they feel hurts them emotionally or betrays their trust, you can lose them. You can also lose them by not giving them the recognition they feel they deserve. The bottom line is this: If they are hurt, they might leave. The good news is that they usually do not leave for money.  They will say it is for more money, but that is rarely the case. Most agents do not worry about the money. They know that if they are happy, the money will be there. Here are a few tips:

With regard to change: It would be impossible to implement a change and have everyone happy with that change. When implementing change, try to involve your agents whenever possible.

Location: If you are changing locations, ask a few of your agents to help you locate a new location, then go out with them to scout out the options.  Let your agents sell the group on the new location.  You could also set up a committee to determine the new colors for the office and ideas for office design.

Compensation: If you are changing compensation, or implementing a new fee, try to time that change with the implementation of a new service. Such as: We are implementing a transaction fee of (dollar amount) but you will no longer be charged for (service). You can also “grandfather” the existing agents when you are changing the compensation.  Or, you can grandfather all agents whose production is above a certain amount. You could say, “If you are generating GCC of $90,000.00, you will be grandfathered with regard to the new changes.” You can also grandfather agents who have been with the company a long time.  For example, you can say, “If you have been with our firm for 10 years, or your production is (dollar amount), you will not be subject to the new changes.” Keep in mind that emotional agents will leave, not because of the money, but because they are hurt that after so many years, or at their level of production, that you would take money out of their pocket.

Management:  A management change is also risky. Whenever you change managers, you should consider the personality of the manager that is being replaced. If the manager that is being replaced was very friendly, emotional and well liked by the agents, you could be vulnerable if you put a logical manager in that office. Better to use an interim manager, or yourself, while they go through their mourning period over the loss of a manager they liked.  If you can keep the personality the same, that’s the best option.

My research has shown that 70% of agents are emotional in nature. What that means is that they need to feel appreciated, they need to like you, and also believe that you like them.  The competition is always “courting” the good agents. They enjoy the attention, but they like you best. If you suddenly get angry at them for talking to the competitor, you could lose them. When I knew that my agents were going to lunch with the competition, I would always say, “If you are not getting at least one call, letter, or invitation each week from my competitors, then you need to look at your production. The best agents are always being courted!” I would then ask them where they were going to lunch. If it was not an expensive place, I would say, “Are you kidding? You are one of my best agents! Call them back and tell them to meet you at (fine restaurant name).  Order something expensive! You’re worth it.”  I knew that if I worried about them going to lunch, or became defensive or angry, I was far more likely to lose them.

Bottom Line: I have discovered over the years that what it takes to get them is what it takes to keep them. They just want to be appreciated and know that you care about them, and their success.

Start today by sending three notes a week to your agents. Think of something nice to say about them and let them know who much you appreciate them.  If you always practice retention, the competition will have a tough time raiding your office.

Continue to learn how to be the master recruiting skills and be the broker to join in your market.  Bookmark our blog, and join The Profitable Recruiter today.  We have a full spectrum of membership benefits with all the tools, strategies and solutions you need to position yourself to win this year and every year. Our goal is for you to become the “turn-to” broker in your area for every agent.  

Join today and take advantage of our special offer of 50% off with the promo code 50OFF any 6 month or annual membership.  That’s 50% off everything you need to be in the right place at the right time when the agents you want are ready to make a move – including SEVEN HOURS of recruiting audio training!  What are you waiting for? When you join – you and up to 10 managers can access your account! Try it for a month and see what it can do for you.