What does good leadership look like in 2022? How can you put your best foot forward where you work, whether you’re managing a team or an entire company? In March, we’ll plumb the topic through Q&As from top-tier industry leaders, contributions from Inman columnists (the leaders in their field) and more. Then we’ll keep the leadership conversation going in person at Inman Disconnect in late March in Palm Springs, California.
Pulse is a recurring column where we ask for readers’ takes on varying topics in a weekly survey and report back with our findings.
In an industry with so many big personalities, it’s perhaps inevitable that we sometimes get entrenched in our various camps, judging others for doing things the right way, the wrong way or simply in a way that’s different from what we would have done. That can lead us to make snap judgments and come at each other with a variety of preconceived notions and biased assumptions.
Last week, we asked readers: When it comes to gender, what stereotypes prevail on both sides? What do we assume about women in real estate? About men in real estate? About either, or both, in leadership? How can we get past old-school assumptions and see each other as individuals? What can we do to make the way a little smoother for everyone in the industry, male and female?
Here were your observations:
- [That] men have made up the vast majority of Realtors in the past.
- That men are less honest with clients and other agents
- That women have an advantage over men
- That men are more efficient, and women are more easily distracted. I’ve seen women plan circles around men efficiently and men go on crazy tangents. It’s about personality, not gender.
- Clients have different expectations from male and female brokers and as brokers we have different expectations about how a transaction may play out when working with brokers of the same or opposite sex. Though much is determined by an agent’s style of doing business, gender stereotypes exist. Simple example, men are commonly expected to be better “versed” in building construction and inspection aspects. As a guy, I do not expect a female broker to have been as attentive in following an inspector nor is she expected to have as intricate a knowledge of the inner workings of systems as a man might be expected to have. Our relationship styles with our clients is certainly colored by gender stereotypes, as well. Women and men are simply are not going to have the same style of relationships as “trusted real estate advisors” when we work with and for our clients. We must balance our expertise in all aspects of our business and client relationships while learning to be ever more proactive in keeping awareness and espousing fairness and equality.
- Try being a transgender agent with clients and colleagues who automatically have misconceptions about abilities. Trans people are stereotyped into an entirely different category and I’ve even been told they thought I was weird just by looking at me.
We want to hear from you. Tell us about the stereotypes you (still) see around gender in the industry, and the solutions you’ve identified in the comments below.
Editor’s note: These responses were given anonymously and, therefore, are not attributed to anyone specifically. Responses were also edited for grammar and clarity.