I have written before about the importance of company culture as it relates to the success of a real estate agent and ultimately a positive experience for the consumer. If that fit is not mutual for both the company and the agent, it is akin to trying to fit a square peg in a round hole; it will ultimately have a negative impact on all parties. Not every agent fits with every company nor do all companies make sense for all agents. Some agents thrive in a large corporate environment with little support. Others prefer a mom and pop shop of just a few agents, where they know their colleagues intimately and receive personal attention from the broker/owner. Still, others find the medium or boutique brokerage most appealing. I’ve said it before and I will say it again, you often don’t know that you are in the wrong culture until you actually discover the right one.
As the Director of Sales at CORE, I am tasked with recruiting the “right” agents who will ideally thrive in our very supportive and collaborative culture. For every 20 people I meet, I may offer two the opportunity to join us. And maybe one actually does as most do–fear change even when it is the very best thing for them. In determining if an agent is a fit for CORE, and vice versa, the intangibles often come into play. Energy and spirit are huge factors in determining if someone will fit our culture; more often than not I get a gauge of that within minutes of meeting someone. Sometimes it is as soon as the handshake and the smile.
Last week, I had the sincere pleasure of meeting one such individual who has been in the industry around 25 years, just as I have. As is often the case, she was introduced to me by one of my favorite and top-producing agents who believed with every ounce of his being that this person was a “fit” for CORE. Two minutes into our meeting, I made her an offer. Our meeting continued for nearly 90 minutes in which time she solidified my early opinion of her. There is no doubt in my mind that she would thrive in our collaborative and supportive environment, and it would be a sincere pleasure to take an active role in helping her further develop and grow her business. She and CORE are a culture fit! That can only mean good things if we get the opportunity to work together.
