Maybe it wasn’t “mentee” to be!
Throughout my life as I made my way through my education and then in different occupations, I figured out I am a “tactile learner,” which is a fancy way of saying I learn best hands-on or by doing tasks directly.
My first large project working for Chris was learning his client database and spending some scorching hot summer days dropping off bags of coffee from a local roaster out of my rust-bucket-mom-mobile to his clients as thank you gifts. At the time, I was overwhelmed but determined to make this new occupation work, and after two weeks of driving all over Southern Ontario I had a better understanding of his database, his client’s lifestyles, and had created relationships from some face-to-face interactions that would benefit all of us later when it was time to buy or sell their next home.
Everyone learns at their own pace and in their own way, so I was baffled to learn that a lot of brokerages don’t offer a coach, mentor, or brokerage buddy to any new agents signing on with their companies. For those brokerages, it was either sink or swim, where those agents with years of experience watched as some newer agents drowned and proclaimed, “Real Estate isn’t for everyone!”, and, conversely, when others flourished, they would cheer, “We knew they would be a good fit.”
Mentor programs are making their way into boutique brokerages as more and more companies start to open their exclusive clubs to collaborate with young guns entering the industry, something that most newer agents these days are looking for as they leave the school zone and enter the workforce, but who decides the pairing? What happens if your personality doesn’t work well with your mentor? Or, worst of all, what if your mentor SUCKS?
I am not a real estate agent, but I work for and with them all day long and I can tell you there is a BIG difference between those who are in it for their clients and those that are in it for their own glory, social media fame, and local celebrity status. I have watched as new agents shrink under their assigned mentors as they are mentally and verbally abused because their mentor was “stressed out” during a transaction or situation, or as their mentor “vents” about their frustrations with the people they have been assigned to teach has questions. Being a mentor isn’t for everyone, but in the real estate world, when you are a mentor, there is a monetary amount you are awarded for your mentee’s success, meaning the opportunity for a padded paycheck can attract some pretty terrible mentors who falsely explain the worries behind Kitec plumbing.
Entering into a mentorship program is like entering into a relationship and everyone, both mentors and mentees, should treat it as such.
Mentees should ask themselves, is the relationship working? Am I gaining valuable knowledge from my mentor? Is my mentor pushing me to thrive and better myself, or am I being used for my mentor’s personal work, listings, and ultimately, only their success?
Same goes for the other side – mentors should ask themselves if they are connecting with their mentee? Have I discussed my mentee’s goals with them? Have I spent time seeing how they best learn, gotten to know about their lifestyle, and understand how real estate fits into their personal as well as professional goals? You are, after all, responsible for their success, and if they fail, it could very well be seen as a direct reflection on you, the mentor.
At The Agency, collaboration is one of our rules that drive the company, which means that although there is not an official mentoring program (yet), our entire fleet of agents and admins are available for questions, help, and guidance, not to mention are on hand to ensure that all our agents are aligned and set up for success. From the admin team walking agents through required paperwork, answering board questions, providing marketing assistance, and more, to the amazing brokers that surround our offices and are always available for all of their agents’ questions and scenarios, The Agency provides a supportive environment where new agents can flourish! Where one agent’s learning experience is everyone’s opportunity.
If you are a new realtor joining the industry and are offered a mentor program as a benefit to joining a brokerage, remember that it must work for you as much as it works for your mentor and brokerage. The purpose of a mentor program is your success and giving you a boost in a very saturated industry (at least, as of late). If you are a seasoned agent approached about being a mentor, remember that your mentee’s success is your success! Treat your mentee as if you are trying to nurture this relationship and help grow their business, not get someone to run your errands and complete your paperwork (that’s where a bomb assistant comes in). Remember: how you treat your mentor or mentee may come back to haunt you or help you!