Mentoring Your Path to Success
If you’re new to real estate or looking to energize your business, you may be considering a mentor. Do you know where to look and how to tell if he or she is the right fit for your needs?
We asked two industry professionals what they thought and here are some highlights from what they told us.
“In today’s technological age,” said broker-trainer Lee Davenport, “we have a typical pattern for vetting products and services. In real estate, this pattern even holds true for selecting a mentor…
- Hear about a prospective mentor from agents in your office, an article you read, a book on Amazon, or a wacky road sign (REALTORS® place lawn signs for homes, so that’s not a stretch for mentors)
- Google that person or company to see if his offerings and testimonials resonate with what you’re looking for in a mentor (Don’t forget, not everything you read online is true)
- Ask trusted peers, but scrub what you hear
- Decide whether or not to contact the mentor
“As an REALTOR®,” Davenport continued. “You need to be supported by someone who has greater real estate resources and connections than you do and is willing to deploy those resources on your behalf. That may include one-on-one mentoring with experienced agents at your own office.”
“A mentor is someone who provides guidance to someone less experienced and someone who wants to learn,” observed broker associate-trainer Carrie Bey-Little, CIPS. “If you are unwilling to learn it will be hard to work with a mentor.
“Many new agents need a mentor, but they also need a trainer and or a coach. A mentor is someone you can run things by, but is not available 24/7. So, before you ask someone to be your mentor, think about what you really need.”
Related Story: Companies Turning to “Reverse Mentoring” to Tap Millennials’ Knowledge (RISMedia)