When Is It Necessary to Counsel?

Kathy Baker

Let’s step away from the real estate industry for a moment and look into the world of medicine…after all; don’t you sometimes feel that you have to hang out a shingle with the many roles you play as Broker/Owner/Manager/Recruiter/Team Leader?  Which role will it be today?  Coach? Mentor ? Counselor? Trainer?
 
With that in mind, I want you to think of yourselves today as a General Practitioner…I want you to consider that you’ve completed medical school and that you are practicing medicine.  AND your patients are your agents.
 
The purpose of this exercise is to help you determine which role you should play.  The goal is to move you from being a GP to becoming a specialist.  Without this expertise your M.D. may stand for “Managing Disorder”.
 
In the field of medicine, what happens when you have a health issue?  You make an appointment, sit down with your physician and talk through the symptoms you are experiencing. Under this scenario, you are performing the role of a Counselor. 
 
Let’s look at the symptoms of a struggling real estate agent or team may include:

  • Reluctance to execute a business plan or complete goal setting exercises  
  • Unable to maintain a healthy level of discipline & motivation  
  • Difficulty in conflict management and resolution  
  • Inability; unwillingness to solve problems

In the role of the Counselor, it’s important to use the following systems/tools and techniques to determine the diagnosis and give the right prescription to get them back on track.  We recommend the following: 

  • Ask probing (open ended) questions…explore use the PLSS method  
  • Use the 3-1-3 Method  
  • Consider executing a behavior profile 

Your role as a counselor is not to “fix” the problem, but to guide your agents down the right path. 

Your role is to enable and encourage them to seek the right solution for their current challenge. As you identify the appropriate role for the current solution, you will better facilitate the change and them with strength, confidence and the ability to handle similar situations as they arise in the future. 


Profitable Recruiting System: Your Green Light to Success

Now, more than ever, recruiting and retention of quality sales associates is vital for your business’ continued success. Judy’s new audio Coaching System is a complete work book based program for implementing the most successful recruiting system in North America in terms of actual results. The Profitable Recruiting System: Your Green Light to Success will show you how to find the right agents, promote teamwork, increase your market share and achieve your personal business goals.
 
As you adopt this system you’ll see that it is designed to assist you in developing the strongest skills possible whether you’re a broker, manager or full time recruiter.   For more than 17 years, Judy LaDeur has set the standard for results in the recruitment of the best agents which is why her system is the industry's leading program. And its those industry leading results that set Judy’s training and coaching apart from every other similar offering. 
 
Why are her programs so successful? Because they are based on years of her practical experience as well as the successes and experiences of thousands of Real Estate Leaders from across the United States, Canada and the world.

View Other Management Articles