Written by Breakthrough Broker Staff Writers
As broker-owners, you may have noticed your office is a little less lively than in the past. Many real estate agents are working in the office less and less, and then coupled with the pandemic, in-office work may have officially been killed. While remote work is on the rise, company culture is disintegrating. If you’re looking for ways to achieve balance between remote work and in-office staff without sacrificing company culture, below are some ways to keep your agents engaged.
- Be cautious about insisting on
in-person events as the only time
agents can bond with the team. By
creating this type of mandatory
environment, agents may feel forced
or even alienated to show up to said
events. Team bonding shouldn’t feel
like an obligation; it should feel
like a freedom. Instead, offer a
variety of events to your team. Happy
hour, mini golf, brunch, pottery
class, yoga - these are all
activities some agents may enjoy
while others don’t, but offering an
assortment will allow them to select
which to attend and build camaraderie
among their fellow agents. In between
company events, encourage your agents
to seek out one another’s company on
their own terms. Provide each team
member with a gift card to a local
coffee shop or cafe where they can
meet up if desired. The takeaway for
this point is that forced events can
often feel exclusionary if they don’t
appeal to everyone, so just make sure
you’re thinking as a whole when
planning.
- Find ways to share stories, lessons,
and funny encounters from the field.
When in-office, this banter occurred
regularly. Now, there may feel like a
bit of disconnect where agents don’t
have the space or even make the space
to share these experiences with each
other. As a broker-owner, coach, and
often support to your agents, you may
hear these tales more often. It’s
important to keep the camaraderie
flowing beyond yourself. For example,
if an agent has told you a funny
story, as the broker-owner, take some
time to share it with the team via
email or in your next team meeting.
While not as natural as in-person,
it’s still a great way to maintain
the social aspect of your team.
Replicating this banter in a remote
world may feel a bit odd, but some
clever folks have found creative ways
of making it possible. Check out
discourse.org, where your team
can have discussions in a forum style
beyond chats and emails.
- Create small groups relevant to your
agents’ day-to-day duties, such as a
marketing, prospecting, community
involvement, or presentation/speaking
skills group. Purchase a few online
classes or webinars they can take
together like these from Udemy.
Initiated by you but voluntary and
self-managed, these groups are an
excellent way for agents to hone
their skills, learn from one another,
and grow together while benefiting
your brokerage.
Additional Helpful material
Discourse.org
Udemy Classes