- Real estate coaches might not be your first line of defense but perhaps they should be part of your arsenal if you are struggling.
- The first step to figuring out if you need a coach is to gauge your tenacity.
- An effective coach can serve as your adviser, accountability partner, champion and supporter.
Is real estate coaching worth it? It depends based on your personal answers to the following two considerations. These items should be included in your decision-making process.
Identify how you can reach your business development objectives
It’s the time of the year that we typically reflect on the past several months and what we need to do to accomplish more for the new year. So if you are contemplating a real estate coach, ask yourself these questions:
- What are my short-term and long-term goals for my real estate business?
- What are the best resources to help me meet these objectives?
Your second answer might be shadowing a top producing Realtor, joining or leaving a team or firm, getting a specialized certification or designation — or even having your peers hold you accountable in your lead generation activities.
Let’s be real — you can work with your broker, another agent, a roommate, your spouse and even your children to achieve your goals. If these are viable options for you, then you likely do not need a real estate coach. Connect more with your support system to nail it in the new year.
But what happens when your broker is pulled in multiple directions, other agents are putting out fires of their own, there is no training course coming in the next few weeks that speaks to your dilemma and your roommate, family and friends barely have time to hear about your day, let alone attempt to help you problem solve?
Then a coach might be just what you need to get over sales hurdles and achieve the next level of success in your business at your moment of need. Effective real estate coaches are worth their weight in gold when you are at a loss for how to thrive in real estate sales and you do not have other adequate resources to turn to at a particular time.
Thus, real estate coaches might not be your first line of defense, but they should be part of your sales arsenal when you are confused, uninformed, disenchanted or discouraged.
Gauge your tenacity
Are you willing to see your commitment to coaching through until the end come hell, high water or high-interest rates? It’s all about work ethic, baby!
Whether you are joining CrossFit, building a home with Habitat for Humanity, counting calories with Weight Watchers, signing up to mentor young adults or committing to daily lead generation activities to grow your sales, you must have moxie and persistence to complete the program you started. This is especially vital if you pay your hard-earned money for a real estate coach.
If Michael Jordan was known for not finishing the drills given to him by his coach and only doing the bare minimum to appease the coach, he likely would not be a well-respected basketball legend.
He completed his assigned tasks and then exceeded expectations by continuing to practice, train and improve. Likewise, if you are given various assignments by your competent real estate coach, and then you pick and choose what you want to do, you might never experience business growth like you desire.
Persistent work is the ultimate price that has to be paid, whether or not you employ a real estate coach.
Honestly, if you want to reserve the right to do what feels good when you feel like it, then no, a real estate coaching program is not for you.
If you want a one-hit wonder, I’m sorry, but coaching (designed for longevity) is not for you either. But if you are driven and committed to diligently following the tasks and assignments given to you by a trusted real estate coach, then you will more likely experience the fullness of the coaching program’s worth.
Remember how the Karate Kid (in the movie of the same name) was able to incorporate all of his training (the heinous wax on and wax off drills) into his repeated championships?
Although that was a movie, you know in your heart of hearts that in life when you have consistently followed the advice of your competent (emphasis on competent) instructors and mentors, your results were impressive. Powerhouse real estate coaches are no different when you put in the time.
Effective real estate coaches can serve as your adviser, accountability partner, champion and supporter. Who doesn’t want an advocate to help identify resources to propel your sales career forward?
But the bigger issues are: do you already have other resources that serve the same purpose, and if not, are you willing to doggedly follow the guidance of another professional?
Your responses will determine your very personal final answer of whether a real estate coach is worth it for you at this point in your sales journey.
Lee Davenport is a licensed real estate broker, business doctoral student, trainer and coach. Follow her on Google+ and Facebook.
