Consistent communication is one of the most essential elements of running a successful real estate business. Agencies with multiple locations, large teams, and remote workers need to prioritize long-term internal communication strategies to keep corporate, brokers, and agents on the same page.
But fostering internal communication isn’t always easy especially when workers have flexible schedules or work remotely. Luckily, it’s simple to address communication challenges by creating a supportive work environment and investing in effective communication software.
Real estate teams look significantly different than other industries of their size. For one, organizations tend to be much looser. A brokerage might consist of an owner and a team of independent contractors who are not part of a corporate IT system or intranet for central communication. While an agent may have an email with the name of their agency in the domain, the infrastructure of a real estate firm often differs significantly from other types of businesses.
Second, most real estate brokerages function as franchisees of a larger company. Internal communication is segmented into two separate branches, leading to even more potential for missed messages.
Without a centralized IT system in place, real estate brokerages have plenty of opportunity to build their internal communication, particularly in situations where it is nonexistent. Here are our top tips on how to practice stellar internal communication so your real estate team can thrive.
Every real estate agent knows how important it is to listen to clients, but it’s easy to forgo the same listening skills when it comes to your fellow team-members. Effective internal communication starts with active listening. By practicing active listening, you encourage others to communicate by signaling your interest in the conversation.
Active listening skills include:
Active listening may sound like a basic solution, but it’s an integral part of forming a strong foundation for team-wide communication.
Although it’s possible to overcommunicate, it’s far more common to under-communicate. Terse emails or vague messages are recipes for team-wide confusion. To avoid miscommunication, practice clarity and transparency and keep everyone on the same page.
Hold yourself and others accountable. Accountability doesn’t need to be punitive, rather, it’s a foundation of trust and mutual respect. Offer constructive comments when applicable, and be open to feedback from others. Sometimes the real estate business is stressful and competitive, so it’s vital to remember that at the end of the day, everyone is on the same team.
It’s difficult to feel connected to others without the central hub of an office space. Successful internal communication relies on a team-oriented mindset, so it’s essential to facilitate team building activities. By prioritizing team building, you encourage connectivity and synchronicity.
Team building activities for remote or in-person settings might include:
There is no growth without learning from your mistakes. When you’re working in a fast-paced industry and interfacing with lots of clients, you’re bound to make some mistakes.
Use failures as an opportunity for team-wide growth. Instead of focusing on the negative aspects of a situation, encourage questions about alternative strategies and make space for open sharing. Try to kick judgement to the curb, and challenge team members to engage in constructive discourse.
Give team members the tools they need to facilitate strong communication. Intranet tools that integrate multiple channels, like messaging and emails, are ideal for strong team-wide dialogue. Communication software allows team members to view and receive messages anywhere, at any time. This way, no one is left out of the loop, and projects are able to be completed efficiently and without any mix-ups.
At Konverse, we offer team-oriented and integrative communication software. Our goal is to unite deskless workers by offering a productive platform designed for collaboration and real-time communication. From task management, to event planning, to team-wide announcements, Konverse allows you to quickly and efficiently communicate with your employees without hassle or confusion. Plus, when you use Konverse you can rest easy knowing that you own all your data, and everything is protected with the latest in cybersecurity.
Konverse goes beyond the “Intranet” to function as a broader umbrella of communication. Franchisors can easily communicate with brokerages, brokerages can disperse information to agents, and the entire system of communication can be looped together one centralized platform or segmented as needed.
What makes Konverse unique?
Why wait any longer? Sign up for a demo today and experience how Konverse can transform your internal communication.