The Barrier of Fear
This week, while on a conference call, the conversation turned toward using video as a source to convey messages to other agents. One member of the conference call brought up the issue that some brokerages have blocked on-line videos in their firewalls. Thus, blocking their agents from on-line training, marketing and many other beneficial features necessary to increase knowledge and market using a fantastic tool. Even though I had heard of this issue, I haven’t put much thought into it till that moment.
Why would a Broker alienate both today’s technology and the emerging brand of practitioner? Is it the need for control, security, the lack of understanding or all of the above? What would possess a company to make technology a barrier?
The Broker’s Role
Whereas I am a firm believer in the Broker’s mentality and education setting the culture of the firm, I am also growing in my despair. I am simply not seeing Brokers growing as rapidly as their agents. The reluctance I see in Brokers being willing to lower their defenses against emerging trends and the evolution of the industry is very pungent. The need for Brokers is evident and important. Agents need someone they can depend on to mentor and train them. Pre-Licensing standards and the nature of the business combine to preclude elimination of the Broker, at this time.
Therefore, we need to keep moving forward and those who get “it” need to just progress until we outlive the mentality. Eventually Brokers will have no choice but to embrace the need for brokerage-evolution. No more home tours, no more floor duty, no more archaic and ineffective marketing and really, really no more hiring agents who can just fog a mirror. Progressive education, open-mindedness to new ideas and provision of resources, that meet the needs of today’s consumer are all important elements of long term development.
Where Do You Hang Your Hat?
Over and over again I hear agents muse about the antiquated modality of their brokers. And here’s my question – why are you still there? It takes virtually no effort, in most instances, to transfer your license to another shop, or to even become your own broker (even though I don’t think everyone is cut out to be the “boss”). I heard a speaker say “Brokers are only as good as the worst agent.” I am going to go a step further and say that an agent is only as good as the span of control and development offered by the brokerage. If you find yourself always frustrated by the broker, why haven’t you found a new home, yet? Is it your own fear, complacency or lack of motivation? If any of these answers are true; than you have what you deserve. Or maybe, just maybe it’s you and not the broker in the first place.
Wouldn’t it be nice if we could relocate all the social media agents on twitter, facebook and services such as AgentGenius together in one company? You’d own the world!
