Coach, Mentor, The Helpdesk or a Trainer!

You are a new agent, and you need a jumpstart in your business!

When you decide to get into the real estate business, the first thing an agent wants is usually a paycheck.  The second is often a mentor or a coach. Hiring a coach as a brand-new agent is really update to you. If you know you are ready for a coach because someone must hold you accountable, then go for it.  If you can wait while you take classes and learn the business you be prepared when you start working with a coach. Knowing the business is extremely important so you can speak with buyers and sellers with competence and confidence. Therefore, I think you need to learn the business first. 

But I would ask you this question?  If you must be told what to do, “Are you really ready to be an entrepreneur?”  Someone that is self-driven and motivated to act, will have an easier time in the beginning of their real estate career. Then a coach is added value.   The goal of a coach is to keep you on track, give you a list of things to accomplish based on your income and business goals. 

There are more days than none, where I receive a DM (direct message) from a new agent or someone seeking mentorship, the ability to shadow or wanting a coach.   A Mentor “is a relationship in which a more experienced or more knowledgeable person helps to guide a less experienced or less knowledgeable person. The mentor may be older or younger than the person being mentored, but they must have a certain area of expertise.” (Wikipedia) Mentorship works better when you have a relationship with or someone you personally know in the business.  I wish I had the ability to help everyone.  A mentor will often be your company broker, instructor, or an agent in your office.  I recommend building a relationship first, before going in for the ask on mentorship.    Mentors are people that can help you think through a scenario.  Not necessarily someone that tells you what to do, like your coach.

  

Definitions to NOTE:   

Coach – A coach is someone that keeps you on task, may be able to help you walk through the steps to a marketing campaign. A coach is simple someone that instructs, guides you through the process and often training.  This is someone that more accessible than a mentor. 

Yes, there are days when I feel like the help desk.  I try to encourage agents to send an email, but my phone rings throughout the day, my email cannot get below 200 in my inbox and my text messages are hitting my phone every 30 minutes. A help desk is where you call to get specific answers to you questions and they are open during regular business hours.  If the help desk is open during non-business hours, you are getting a voicemail, a skeleton call center or you are emailing to get an answer the next business day.   And in some cases, you may have to learn via their online portal.  On demand.  Take advantage of the help desk.

The Help Desk – the place you call to get quick answers.  You already use the technology or the tool, but you are stuck, the functionality is not working, or you just need a quick answer.

Mentor – Someone that provides guidance to someone that is less experienced.   This person mentors someone that WANTS to LEARN.  If you are unwilling to learn it will be hard to work with a mentor.

Trainer – A person that teaches a skill to another.  (Webster)

Coach – “Coaching is a form of development in which a person called a coach supports a learner or client in achieving a specific personal or professional goal.” (Wikipedia)  Coaching often differs from a mentorship.  A coach often provides tasks and objectives to the person being coached.  A coach can also follow up to keep an individual on tract to reach their goals.

So, who do you need help from?  A Mentor, Trainer, the Help Desk, or a Coach?  You may need all three.  However, as a new real estate agent training is extremely important in your real estate career.  Learn the tools, learn how to generate leads, create a market report, how to negotiate and close on a sale.  Then once you have a working knowledge of the tools find a mentor.  Your sponsoring broker may recommend a mentor from the office.  Then, when you are ready, hire a coach.

Always remember, the person you may want as a coach just might need to be your mentor.  The person you want as a coach may need to be your trainer.  And the person that you want as a mentor may be an awesome coach.  And maybe you simply need to call the helpdesk.