NORTH CAROLINA 3-8-21

NORTH CAROLINA EDITION

Tips on Being a Good Team Leader

By the Numbers:

Understanding the True Value of Square Footage

5 REASONS WHY YOU NEED A MENTOR

FEATURED AGENT

JOHN PEDONE

COVER STORY

CHRIS SCRUGGS

NORTH CAROLINA EDITION

JOHN PEDONE

uxury Home Marketing Specialist Throughout his years in the industry, John 6 hn Pedone relocated to North Carolina has built up a distinct11 passion for real om Florida. As an expert agent in the estate. He is deeply in tune with the curorida luxury market, John has found a rent state of real estate trends nationally eat deal of success in his new market, and locally, and has an informed outaking a name for himself as one of the look on what it means to be a successful ghest producing agents in the Charlotte Realtor. “It’s very important, especially ea. John is a Realtor who specializes in today’s market, to connect with a proluxury properties and knows his marfessional Realtor who really understands t incredibly well, and who cares about the pace of the market. It puts them in a aintaining relationships with his cligreat position to get peak market value ts. Those two elements combined have for theirCHRIS property.

From a buyer’s perJOHN PEDONE SCRUGGS ushed John to the top of the list of elite real estate spective, you want to know what your return will be ents in North Carolina. years down the road. Being knowledgeable, especially about your local market area, is key.” John knows hn’s wealth of experience in the luxury market how important it is for him to know what he’s doing. akes him uniquely capable of handling listings of His clients are putting a lot on the line, but he has no ose properties. Luxury real estate is a completely problem meeting their expectations every time with fferent ballgame, one that John is intimately familiar knowledge, hard work, and dedication.

CONTENTS ith, and he knows the ins and outs of both buying and lling within those parameters. From creating short John lives an active life outside of work. He’s a volovies for listings to building interactive property unteer soccer coach at the local YMCA, and he loves 4) target 5 REASONS BY toTHE NUMBERS: ebsites to running marketed ad WHY campaigns, traveling, boxing, 17) and going the beach.

If you’re hn goes the extra mile NEED to ensure A hisMENTOR listings look looking for high quality certified luxury real estate YOU UNDERSTANDING THE TRUE mmaculate, attract the right buyer, and sell for peak service in the Charlotte, NC area, look no further than VALUE OF SQUARE FOOTAGE lue. “I have a marketing background,” John says. “I John Pedone! ve to think outside and story-tell about prop8)the7box DEADLY SINS ties, making them more attractive to affluent buyers OF PERSONAL BRANDING 22) TIPS ON BEING A GOOD search of that distinctive home.”

TEAM LEADER

aking his clients comfortable is a top priority for hn, and he puts special effort into preparing them r the buying or selling process. John’s expertise d personal approach allow him to educate each clit individually so that they understand the pertinent Phone 310-734-1440 | Fax 310-734-1440 tails of how market trends will affect their business cisions within their transaction. “I love building mag@topagentmagazine.com | www.topagentmagazine.com lationships with my clients,” John says. “Customer No part portion of this issue may be reproduced rvice is a huge of our business.”

John’s ability in any manner whatsoever without prior consent of the publisher. Top Agent Magazine iswith published

by Feature Publications GA, Inc. Although precautions are taken to ensure the accuracy of published maintain a connection his clients provides a You can reach John Pedone by phone at materials, Top Agent Magazine cannot be held responsible for opinions expressed or facts supplied by its authors. ofessional experience that leads to efficient results.

(704) 975-9754, email jpedone@upgroupusa.com, To subscribe or change address, send inquiry to mag@topagentmagazine.com. his is a hallmark of his performance as a Realtor. or visit his website at upgroupusa.com Published in the U.S.

www.

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5 Reasons Why You Need a Mentor As great as it might feel to start your own business, and be solely responsible for its success, at some point, every entrepreneur reaches the limit of their potential, and needs a boost that only experience can provide.

But how do you get a lifetime of experience when you’re just starting out? Sure you can read countless books, but no book can replace the real life experience and advice of a mentor.

Mentors not only provides valuable insights, but they also have access to valuable connections as well. In fact a majority of the 4

most successful CEOs and entrepreneurs in the country have said that having a mentor early on was instrumental in their success.

Here are some of the reasons why.

1. They’re able to see where you need improvement, when you can’t When you’re working non-stop to get your business off the ground, you might feel sensitive to any criticism from people who aren’t going through what you are. A good

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Top Agent Magazine

mentor knows exactly what you’re going though, and has probably made every mistake. When you’re in the thick of it, you might not be able to see where the problems are. A knowledgeable outsider, who knows exactly where you’re at and has only your best interests at heart is just what you need.

When you have a trusting relationship with someone like that, you will be more willing to listen to that brutal honesty, even if that constructive criticism stings.

energy into it. They can see things in a completely logical way and guide you based on the facts rather than emotion. A good mentor helps you work smarter, not harder. They help you focus on your goals and how to get there, as well as setting boundaries for you so you don’t overextend yourself. They teach you how to say no and help you let go when you need to move on from a setback.

2. They will encourage you to think outside of the box

In addition to expertise, building a strong network is something that can only come with time. A mentor will most likely have that already, giving you access to people and resources that would take others years to gain. These connections will lead to opportunities that might never have happened otherwise. It’s also a great confidence boost knowing that your mentor trusts and believes in you enough to invite you into their inner circle.

Years of experience can give someone a great idea of what works and what doesn’t.

They’ve seen things first hand, not just in theory. At the same time, mentors recognize the importance of taking chances, calculating risks, as well as cutting losses and moving on. A good mentor isn’t trying to encourage you to be a carbon copy of them, they are trying to create the best ‘you’ possible. That includes encouraging you to take chances, and then being there pushing you to keep going forward if it doesn’t work out.

A good mentor knows that even failures can be opportunities.

3. They take the emotion out of decisions and help set boundaries Unlike you, a mentor has no emotional investment in certain business approaches that you might have decided to try. There’s nothing harder than admitting something isn’t working when you’ve put a lot of time and Top Agent Magazine

4. Networking

5. Encouragement At the heart or it all, a mentor offers you encouragement and motivation along the way, in good times and in bad. After a failure, it can be hard to get back on track and keep forging ahead. It helps to have someone who has spent year getting back up after being known down and coming out stronger than ever. It’s during those moments, when you feel alone and isolated, that having someone around offering you advice and positive feedback will be a much needed salve. They’re your cheerleader, they want you to succeed, and hopefully, you’ll pay it forward one day when you become as successful as them.

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5

JOHN PEDONE Luxury Home Marketing Specialist John Pedone relocated to North Carolina from Florida. As an expert agent in the Florida luxury market, John has found a great deal of success in his new market, making a name for himself as one of the highest producing agents in the Charlotte area. John is a Realtor who specializes in luxury properties and knows his market incredibly well, and who cares about maintaining relationships with his clients. Those two elements combined have pushed John to the top of the list of elite real estate agents in North Carolina.

John’s wealth of experience in the luxury market makes him uniquely capable of handling listings of those properties. Luxury real estate is a completely different ballgame, one that John is intimately familiar with, and he knows the ins and outs of both buying and selling within those parameters. From creating short movies for listings to building interactive property websites to running target marketed ad campaigns, John goes the extra mile to ensure his listings look immaculate, attract the right buyer, and sell for peak value. “I have a marketing background,” John says. “I love to think outside the box and story-tell about properties, making them more attractive to affluent buyers in search of that distinctive home.”

Making his clients comfortable is a top priority for John, and he puts special effort into preparing them for the buying or selling process. John’s expertise and personal approach allow him to educate each client individually so that they understand the pertinent details of how market trends will affect their business decisions within their transaction. “I love building relationships with my clients,” John says. “Customer service is a huge part of our business.” John’s ability to maintain a connection with his clients provides a professional experience that leads to efficient results.

This is a hallmark of his performance as a Realtor.

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Throughout his years in the industry, John has built up a distinct passion for real estate. He is deeply in tune with the current state of real estate trends nationally and locally, and has an informed outlook on what it means to be a successful Realtor. “It’s very important, especially in today’s market, to connect with a professional Realtor who really understands the pace of the market. It puts them in a great position to get peak market value for their property. From a buyer’s perspective, you want to know what your return will be years down the road. Being knowledgeable, especially about your local market area, is key.” John knows how important it is for him to know what he’s doing.

His clients are putting a lot on the line, but he has no problem meeting their expectations every time with knowledge, hard work, and dedication.

John lives an active life outside of work. He’s a volunteer soccer coach at the local YMCA, and he loves traveling, boxing, and going to the beach. If you’re looking for high quality certified luxury real estate service in the Charlotte, NC area, look no further than John Pedone!

You can reach John Pedone by phone at (704) 975-9754, email jpedone@upgroupusa.com, or visit his website at upgroupusa.com www.

TopAgent Agent Magazine Magazine Copyright Top

Lorri Hoffman is proud to congratulate

JOHN PEDONE

on being featured for the State of North Carolina in Top Agent Magazine!

Lorri Hoffman | Branch Manager | NMLS 105066 HOFFMAN Lending Team (704) 609-5206 | lorri.hoffman@movement.com hoffmanlendingteam.com www.

19725 Oak Street, Unit 11, Cornelius, NC 28031

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and they don’t care for sudden changes in procedure or lifestyle. They also like activities they can start and finish.

Compliants are thinkers. They’re always wondering how things work.

They want practicality, logic, fairness and a systematic approach. When talking to thinkers give facts, documentation and data. They seek accuracy.

They’re motivated by standards of high quality, limited social interaction, detailed tasks and logical organization of information.

7 Deadly Sins of Personal Branding

some personality assessment tools can cost thousands of dollars, but at Corcoran Coaching, we’ve opted for a much more affordable offering: a free DIsC assessment. Just visit www.corcorancoaching.com/behavioralstyle. php and you’ll be guided through a quick questionnaire to learn your own What is a style ‘personal Just likeothers com- as sistently dominant andbrand’? how to read well. (across all marketing platforms), pany or product branding, it’s built around a well-defined brand can elevate agent recimaging and messaging that is designed to ognition and help to establish credibility Yes, understanding people, listening to their needs and wants and responding create a feeling. And in the case of personal and authority. However, when executed appropriately all takehow work But because realare estate is a people branding, it influences you and wantattention. others incorrectly, the effects lackluster at best, business, it’s simply a must.

And the better at it you become, the to feel about you. From your photos to other and harmful at worst. To help you better avoid living as an or broker. brandyou’ll images,make elements andagent even content, theI promise. pitfalls of personal branding, we’ve there is a lot that goes into creating your compiled a list of what we feel are the 7 unique brand.to Displayed Best of luck you! correctly and con- deadliest sins.

Copyright©, 2015 BubbaNO Mills.

All rights reserved.

DIFFERENTIATION Branding about being known forvicereal estate agent who expressed to us that Bubba Mills isis not co-owner and executive president of Corcoran Consulting and Coaching Inc. (www.corcorancoaching.com/programs, 800-957-8353), an in international your profession.

It’s about being known she was already well branded her area. consulting coaching that performance coaching and for being and different in yourcompany profession.

If specializes She stated,in“When I walk into a restaurant theallimplementation sound systems Real Estate Companies, Mortgage agents were the of same, howbusiness would your in into my community, people already know Companies and Small Businesses. Bubba Mills is a nationally recognized inspirational customers know who to choose? Lack of I’m a real estate agent.” And while that and education speaker, coach and mentor to the top real estate agents and mortgage differentiation is out by more far the #1 personal is a great start, it’s nowhere close to succompanies.

To find about Corcoran Consulting & Coaching, call 1-800-957-8353 We love to tell the story of a cessful branding. Let’s assume I walked or branding visit us at sin. www.CorcoranCoaching.com.

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into that restaurant and noticed her. But I also noticed two other agents in the same restaurant. Now, who do I choose? Which

‘brand’ stands out to me? What lets me know that one of them is uniquely positioned to serve my needs?

and they don’t care for sudden changes in procedure or lifestyle. They also NO FOCUS like activities they can start and finish.

In business, you can’t be all things to all side of your specific focus. That would be people. Many have and failed.

In or- always quite difficult.

It does mean over work. time Compliants are tried thinkers.

They’re wondering howthat, things der to have business and brand, doneacorrectly), you approach. will do moreWhen and They wanta successful practicality, logic, fairness(ifand systematic you must define yourfacts, ideal custommore ofand the data. exact They kind ofseek business you talking toclearly thinkers give documentation accuracy. er and how you will super-serve that cus- want, and conversely, even stop doing They’re motivated by standards of high quality, limited social interaction, tomer. In other words, declare and develop the kind of business you don’t want. And detailed tasks and focused, logical itorganization of information. a specialty.

By being does NOT that’s what a great brand is designed to mean that you stop doing all business outaccomplish.

some personality assessment tools can cost thousands of dollars, but at Corcoran Coaching, we’veNO opted for a much more affordable offering: a free AUTHENTICITY DIsC assessment. Just visit www.corcorancoaching.com/behavioralstyle.

Recognizable personal brands can be very You should be able to ‘breathe your brand’ php and you’ll be guided through a quick questionnaire to learn your own clever and memorable, but if your brand in everything that you do. This is importdominant andlast. how to read as well. isn’t ‘you’,style it won’t If you try toothers put ant not only for your customers, but perout a persona that is different from your haps most importantly for you. There is Yes, needs and wants responding ownunderstanding and the way you people, live yourlistening life, peo- to their a tremendous amount of and confidence that ple will take notice overwork time. and The attention. most comes knowing youisare who appropriately all take Butwith because realthat estate a people incredible it’s personal brands weaveAnd pro-theyou portray, that become, you have the business, simply a must. better at itandyou thehabits, better fessional and personal intoorone. inspiration, knowledge and expertise to living you’ll make asqualities an agent broker.

I promise.

Your brand becomes an extension of you. back it up.

Best of luck to you!

NO CONSISTENCY

You can have a2015 recognizable memocards, postcards, brochures, etc. Other peoCopyright©, Bubbaand Mills.

All rights reserved.

rable brand, but if you don’t display those ple don’t see them nearly as often, so don’t branding correctly consis- viceapply or compare your own habits and Bubba Millselements is co-owner andand executive president of Corcoran Consulting and Coaching Inc. (www.corcorancoaching.com/programs, 800-957-8353), an international tently across all of your marketing plat- exposure to theirs. Repetitiveness in marconsulting andyou coaching company in only performance coaching and forms, it does little good.

In orderthat to specializes keting is not a good thing, it’s essenthe implementation sound systems Real Estate Companies, Mortgage accomplish this taskofwell, youbusiness must step tialinto for retention.

Once you determine the Companies and Small Businesses. Bubba Mills is a nationally recognized inspirational back from your marketing and see it the overall messaging and look of your brand, and education speaker, coach and mentor to the top real estate agents and mortgage way others To do.find Youout seemore yourabout socialCorcoran media Consulting that look should continuecall across literally companies. & Coaching, 1-800-957-8353 every day. You see your business every marketing platform you touch. orchannels visit us at www.CorcoranCoaching.com.

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NO CONTENT The ultimate goal of personal branding is comfortable producing is the key to keeping to become known as an authority in your it simple. No one wants to be bogged down andchosen they niche. don’t That caremeans for sudden or lifestyle.

They also withprocedure producing content.

But on the flip side, that youchanges must in likedemonstrate activitiesthe they can start and finish. knowledge, expertise and/ no one knows how much you know until or experience to back up your position. you share it. Great content demonstrates your knowledge and how helps your customers Content that are best expresses youThey’re and your always Compliants thinkers. wondering things work. at the same time.

In addition, it serves anbrand could be as simple as a series of They want practicality, logic, fairness and a systematic approach. When other purpose with search engine optimizaphotos, quotes, e-books, video shorts, etc. talking to thinkers give facts, documentation and data. They seek accuracy.

Choosing the type of content you’re most tion and attracting prospects online.

They’re motivated by standards of high quality, limited social interaction, detailed tasks and logicalNO organization of ACTION information.

CALL TO

You’re spending money to market across using other people’s money’. Your call some personality assessment tools can cost thousands of dollars, but at multiple platforms, so why not take the to action may change with different marCorcoran Coaching, opted for more affordable offering: keting channels or purposes, buta free you opportunity to extendwe’ve an invitation fora much DIsC assessment.

Just visit www.corcorancoaching.com/behavioralstyle. your prospects to engage with you? It can should always, always have one. If you want people to do something, tell them a simple call be to action, such as ‘call me phpbeand you’ll guided through a quick questionnaire to learn your own you’d like them to do. That’s how you first’ or more ‘contact me others for a aswhat dominant stylespecific, and how to read well. free home staging assessment’ or ‘download my e-book and learn how to invest

move prospects one step closer to becoming customers.

Yes, understanding people, listening to their needs and wants and responding appropriately all take work attention. But because real estate is a people NOand FOLLOW-THROUGH business, it’s simply a must. And the better at it you become, the better with hundreds of agents, folWhyyou’ll is this included in branding, living make as an agentyou or may broker.munication I promise. ask? Because your brand is your bond. It’s low-through is at the top of the list when it comes to customer complaints. You don’t your handshake. When you say you’ll do Best of luck to you! something, how can people trust you if want to be that person. Putting an incredible you don’t follow through with your prom- message and image out there isn’t enough. must live up to those standards with ise? This is often elementMills. that people Copyright©, 2015theBubba All rightsYou reserved. forget altogether. And in fact, in our com- every customer, every transaction

Bubba Mills is co-owner and executive vice president of Corcoran Consulting and Coaching Inc. (www.corcorancoaching.com/programs, 800-957-8353), international ® Tonya Eberhart is the Branding Agent to Business Stars and founder ofan BrandFace , LLC. ® consulting andMichael coaching company that specializes in performance coaching Carr is America’s Top Selling Real Estate Auctioneer & BrandFace partner. and the implementation of they sound systems into Real Estatedesigned Companies, Mortgage Together, focusbusiness on personal branding and marketing to help real estate ® professionals become theBubba face of their & a star in their market. BrandFace Companies and Small Businesses.

Millsbusiness is a nationally recognized inspirational Real Estate Professionals is a book, speaking and and an exclusive and educationfor speaker, coach and mentor toprofessional the top real estateseries agents mortgage workshop for agents, and is currently active in 18 U.S. states, Canada and New Zealand. companies. To find out more about Corcoran Consulting & Coaching, call 1-800-957-8353 For more information, visit www.BrandFaceRealEstate.com. or visit us at www.CorcoranCoaching.com.

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CHRIS SCRUGGS Top Agent Magazine

11

Top Agent Chris Scruggs works with his wife Stephanie on the We Sell WNC Team at Keller Williams Mountain Partners in Hendersonville, North Carolina.

After working for 18 years as a licensed building contractor in Florida, Chris Scruggs set out on a new adventure.

“I moved to western North Carolina to work for a local builder, but ultimately I decided that wasn’t what I wanted to do anymore,” he says. “I always had an interest in real estate, so I finally decided it was time to pursue it.” It ended up being one of the best decisions he’s ever made, as he’s been able to utilize skills from his previous career to help buyers and sellers make the best decisions possible. Chris works with his wife Stephanie on the We Sell WNC Team at Keller Williams Mountain Partners in Hendersonville, where they provide exceptional service and guidance throughout each transaction.

“My construction background has helped us stand out in this industry,” Chris explains. “Being able to walk 12 Copyright Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine

through a home and point things out to my buyers is so valuable.” He is often able to tell on his initial visit to a property if things will come up in inspection, so his clients are better prepared. “I’m not focused on the sale, I’m focused on the client relationship.

I don’t want my client to spend thousands of dollars on inspections and due diligence Top Agent Magazine

when it’s obvious to me that something was going to show up in an inspection report.”

By educating his buyers about a property’s flaws or potential issues upfront, they are able to make an educated decision on the next step. Throughout it all, Chris is there ready to answer questions. “We’re always there for them, we respond quickly 13 Copyright Top Agent Magazine

“I’m not focused on the sale, I’m focused on the client relationship. I don’t want my client to spend thousands of dollars on inspections and due diligence when it’s obvious to me that something was going to show up in an inspection report.” and many people choose to work with us because we are so responsive.”

His sellers receive the same great service, with their properties being advertised all over the internet. “We make sure it’s in magazines, Facebook and all the top real estate websites.” When it’s time to review offers, he ensures his clients receive the best price possible. He uses professional Copyright Top Agent Magazine 14

photographers to make sure each property is presented in its best light. In turn, this will yield the most interest and the best sales price.

After the transaction, clients leave glowing reviews about their time together.

One recently said, “I work with lots of real estate agents, and I chose Chris to help me buy my home. His knowledge of Top Agent Magazine

the area, combined with his construction background make him my top choice. He talked me out of several homes because he saw issues that may not be in my best interest. He was patient, listened, negotiated...and got me a heck of a deal on a nicer home than I thought I could get. I am very grateful, and I highly recommend his service.”

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When Chris isn’t working, he’s staying involved in the community through Shriners Hospital. He’s also a board member with SafeLight Hope & Healing for Families where he supports fundraisers and donates frequently. He is a board member of the Small Business Committee at the Chamber of Commerce, and looks forward to joining another board through the Copyright Top Agent Magazine 15

Chamber. He and his wife donate and attend various fundraisers and events throughout the year as well. During any free time, he’s hanging out with family and friends or staying active outdoors.

In the years to come, Chris plans to grow the business even more, and eventually hire and train team members to operate as he does.

Wherever his path leads, he will be enjoying every minute of it. “I love helping people.

That’s what it’s all about.”

For more information about Chris Scruggs, please call 828-772-6437 or email chrissellswnc@gmail.com

Copyright Top Agent Magazine 16

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By the Numbers:

Understanding the True Value of Square Footage Measuring the square footage of a property may seem like an objective and straightforward task, but you’d be surprised at how many agents and homebuyers misunderstand this pivotal figure.

True square footage provides homebuyers a concrete understanding of their prospective domain, but here’s the problem: the rules to determine a home’s square footage are not always uniform across the board. What’s more, much of Top Agent Magazine

a home’s value is determined by its size, so accuracy is certainly important. While many real estate agents have their own systems for determining or confirming a home’s true square footage, it doesn’t hurt to update your practices and become an expert on the subject. After all, you may learn a few techniques that could add value to a listing, or better prepare you in guiding house-hunters on the lookout.

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1. Do your due diligence Most towns and cities have a local records department where floorplans and blueprints are kept on file. It’s worth noting that these records don’t typically include any subsequent additions or remodels on a property, but they still give archive hunters a legal baseline when outlining a property’s square footage. Oftentimes, a straightforward online search of a city or county’s records office can pull the information necessary, or else agents can poke around in person to uncover informative blueprints at the records office. Either way, access to original blueprints or floorplans is a great tool for determining livable square footage. As a bonus,

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original blueprints and floorplans—especially in historic properties—can be intriguing visual aids for prospective buyers, as well.

2. Know the rules While there aren’t universal standards when it comes to measuring square footage, there are general guidelines that can help determine square footage in an authentic way. Per the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), here are the official recommendations for measuring a home’s real square footage: n

Called “below grade spaces,” basements and sunrooms beyond a home’s typical

Top Agent Magazine ®

Top Agent Magazine

living quarters do not count toward a home’s true square footage. According to ANSI, even big draws like finished basements don’t count toward a property’s Gross Living Area. Of course, even below grade spaces have their own desirable value and should be outlined as such on listings. n

n

Did you know the space inside closets and on stairways counts toward a home’s square footage? Even if these areas are relatively small, they still add to a property’s calculable square footage.

When recording square footage, ANSI actually suggests performing measurements from a property’s exterior—though this method does not account for the

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thickness of exterior walls, which could skew square footage numbers. n

Just like below grade spaces, a garage, a pool house, or even a guest house should not be included in a property’s Gross Living Area. The rationale at work here is this: if you must go outside to access additional living areas, then they are beyond the square footage scope of the primary dwelling and should not be included in a home’s Gross Living Area.

3. Double-check by doing the dirty work Buyers and sellers have or will make a sizable investment in a property, so isn’t it fair to double-check all the relevant facts and figures

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when it comes to true square footage? If you want to take on the endeavor yourself, here are a few helpful steps to take. n

First, you’ll need a few things to get started, including a tape measure that can measure at least 100 ft., graph paper, and a pencil.

n

Next, choose a room to start measuring wall-by-wall. Measure Wall 1, then proceed to assign each square on the gridded paper a corresponding measurement, rounding to the nearest tenth of a foot for the sake of clarity.

n

From there, draw out the wall you measured and measure the remaining walls in the

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room. Once you’ve completed the room’s measurements, multiply the room’s length and width to determine its square footage. n

As you go measure throughout the home, using your own system to scale, you will construct a failsafe floorplan.

Mastering your craft is everything, and the real estate industry is no different. Every now and again, it’s worthwhile to update your well of information, take matters into your own hands, and continue to innovate with the industry. While square footage may not seem like the juiciest starting off point for such a venture, never forget: mastery of technical knowledge is a sure sign of expertise.

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Tips on Being a Good Team Leader Your business is booming, so much in fact, that you’ve finally made the decision to start a team. You’ve made sure it’s financially feasible, and you’ve found the right people, but there is still one other component of a successful team. And that’s an effective leader. It’s your job to not only generate business, but to motivate your team, which in turn increase productivity. Here are a few simple tips on being a good team leader.

1. Evaluate each team member, making sure to utilize their strengths Hiring the right people is one of the first steps in creating a successful team, but once you have those people it’s really 22

important to figure out where they best fit into the operation. Having every team member be an ‘expert’ in their part of the process leads to seamless transactions and a business that runs like a well-oiled machine.

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Of course it’s also important to create a supportive atmosphere that allows team members to stretch beyond their comfort zones, under your guidance. It’s to the whole team’s advantage when people take initiatives to up their game by taking additional training or mastering a new and innovative technology that can improve productivity. The key is to constantly evaluate not only your systems but the people running them. It’s your job as a leader to encourage that personal growth while making sure to always protect against any major misfires. Which leads us to…

2. Always reevaluate what is and isn’t working It’s a good idea to have a weekly meeting where the whole team can convene and go over any snags they may have hit in the systems that you developed when starting your team. Your team is in the trenches with you and since everyone probably focuses on a different aspect of the transaction, it’s important to make sure things are working on every level. Make sure copious notes are taken during these meetings so you have a track record of what was suggested, as well as a history of things that may have been tried and the results.

Another good thing to focus on in these meetings is goal setting. Set weekly and monthly goals, and use the meetings to discuss what’s being done or needs to be done to meet them. When goals are met, it’s a great bonding experience for everyone. When they aren’t, it’s a moment to learn how you can do better in the future.

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Don’t forget to always take in what you can do to be a better team leader as well.

3. Stay connected and in communication These are your team members! There’s more to that than just a label. Be connected to them on a daily basis. Clear, open and honest communication is important on a busy team and that’s much easier if you actually like and trust your co-workers.

Sure you want to succeed for yourself, but knowing that other people you respect are counting on you, is an additional motivating factor, that is certain to lead to everyone going above and beyond creating a wildly successful business.

4. Be inspiring and supportive If you’re enthusiastic about what you’re doing, it really will be infectious. Encourage innovation and creativity. Yes, systems and consistency are great but don’t let your team get in a rut either.

Support their individual careers, always encourage them to go for more, let them rely on you for mentorship. If they sense that you want each member to succeed as much as you have, you won’t find more loyal employees. And perhaps most importantly focus on what’s being done right. Don’t be the boss that just points out things they don’t like. Let them know when they’ve done an amazing job and be specific about what it is. Make them feel valued and they will become a valuable asset to you and your business.

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