There are countless ways to succeed in real estate and no two individuals take the exact same route—so, how then does a real estate professional confidently make their next move?
There’s so much to learn from other REALTORS® and those who have been in the industry for a long time or have taken a unique path to success.
Nicole Christy, CEO at the Ottawa Real Estate Board, and Rachel Gagnon, a REALTOR® and Top 35 Under 35 with Royal Lepage, join the latest episode of REAL TIME to talk about their experience with mentorship and how it’s helped their careers.
Mentorship doesn’t just benefit the mentees—mentors also have a lot to gain—like leadership skills, helping create a more vibrant industry, improved communication skills, insight from different perspectives, a broader network, and boosted confidence. “It can be as short and sweet as answering somebody’s quick and simple question or it can develop into a career spanning relationship that you build,” said Gagnon.
Christy stressed that mentorship is not a fixed task, but something that “ebbs and flows throughout your career”. Both women mentioned how more often than not, mentors/mentees organically become friends over time; whether that be close knit, daily communication friendships, or simply knowing the door is open to conversations down the line.
For mentees, guidance and knowledge transfer are invaluable, networking opportunities can help grow your business, and learning the ins and outs of the industry from someone who’s been through it already can help boost your confidence. But successful mentor/mentee relationships are a give and take when it comes to helping each other out. “I definitely think that you don’t always have to have it be reciprocal, but it definitely helps both sides when it is,” said Gagnon.
“I’d be looking for somebody who’s very transparent, who’s very collaborative, who’s very open, and who has the time to dedicate to it.” – Nicole Christy
If you’re in a mentor/mentee relationship make sure you have the right expertise before sharing guidance – it’s important to know when to defer to professionals in other verticals. “As a real estate agent or as association staff, we have a limited amount of expertise and we shouldn’t be bridging into some of the professional guidance or information that needs to be probably communicated,” said Christy. “Is this legal advice you should be seeking? Is this a different professional that should be weighing in here? I may not be the person that you need in this moment.”
Near the end of the conversation, both women shared the most significant lessons they learned from mentors.
“Keep a paper trail of almost everything. You don’t know when you’re going to need it and it makes for a lot of emails, but when you do need it, you are going to be very happy it’s there,” said Gagnon.
As for Christy, she said, “sometimes you must move out to move up. Sometimes you’ve outgrown the role.”
“When you find the right person, what they’re saying speaks to you and really just treat that relationship with respect.” – Rachel Gagnon
Listen to the full conversation for even more insights about being a good mentor, finding a good mentor, and being a mentee that gives back anywhere you listen to podcasts.
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