What Does It Take To Lead A Successful Real Estate Team? – Heather Shaun
On this episode of The Closing Table, we sat down with Heather Shaun!
To watch the full episode, check it out on YouTube below. In the meantime, here’s a summary of the conversation…
Here’s what you missed from Heather Shaun…
The conversation began with a word association icebreaker on capital gains, home equity loans, and more. Heather then shared a glimpse of her life outside of the real estate realm. As a mother of two college-aged children, she balances her career with her personal interests and passions. Heather deeply loves travel, art, architecture, and history. She cherishes quality time with her family and finds solace in the tranquility of the beach. Furthermore, she values moments of self-care and personal reflection.
Heather’s real estate expertise extends to the southeast region of Michigan. Her knowledge of the area is extensive, as she has lived in various counties and is well-versed in their unique aspects. While Heather’s services cover a wide geographic range, her recent focus has been on Oakland and Livingston counties. When examining these two counties, Heather consistently delves into statistical data to stay up to date. Days on the market tend to remain consistent, indicating a stable real estate environment. The average home prices in both counties currently hover around $380,000, presenting potential buyers and sellers with a clear understanding of the market’s financial landscape.
When establishing herself as a self-employed real estate agent in a competitive industry, Heather Shaun employed various strategies and approaches that proved instrumental to her success. Initially, Heather embarked on her real estate journey with a sense of naivety. Despite being licensed and working at a boutique brokerage in Florida, which she intended to serve as her foundation for entering the Michigan market, she quickly realized the extent of her knowledge gaps. The intricacies of inspections, lending, and other aspects of real estate transactions seemed overwhelming, and she felt inexperienced and even like a liability. This realization fueled her determination to immerse herself in the industry and tackle the challenges head-on.
Heather expresses her gratitude for the opportunities provided by Keller Williams, and for its extensive training, coaching, and mentorship programs. Recognizing the need for continuous learning and improvement, Heather sought guidance from a coach two years into her career. Spending an hour each week with her coach for two years proved invaluable, as it provided a structured environment for accountability and goal setting. Furthermore, Heather understood the importance of surrounding herself with successful individuals who were also building their businesses. By aligning herself with like-minded professionals, she gained insight, inspiration, and motivation to push herself further. She recognized that achieving success in the industry required emulating the habits and mindsets of those who had already achieved it.
Heather also emphasizes that the learning process in real estate is perpetual. Even after five years in the business, she acknowledges that there is something new to learn every day. While this may seem intimidating to new realtors, Heather encourages them not to feel overwhelmed and to understand that they don’t have to figure everything out all at once. Instead, they can focus on continuous growth and improvement, taking one step at a time.
Kevin then asked Heather about balancing her own real estate business while also helping others build theirs through coaching and training demonstrating a strong commitment to collaboration and growth. She understands the importance of managing time and energy effectively in order to provide excellent service to clients and valuable support to fellow agents. Heather acknowledges that achieving balance is not always easy for her, but she believes in finding counterbalances in every aspect of her life. To ensure she makes the most of her time and energy, she has adopted the practice of diligent time blocking. While she tends to be a multitasker by nature, she recognizes the need to focus during designated time blocks. By being clear and intentional about how she allocates her time, Heather strives to optimize productivity and effectiveness.
Additionally, Heather emphasizes the importance of prioritizing her own well-being. She understands that taking care of herself is essential for maintaining the energy and mindset required to serve her clients and support other agents. Leveraging teams and resources allows her to delegate certain tasks, freeing up her time to focus on high-value activities and personal growth.
Achieving recognition as one of the Top 20 Individual Agents in Michigan’s Top Brokerage is a remarkable accomplishment. When asked about the factors that contributed to her success and how she continues to differentiate herself in a field filled with talented agents, Heather shares her multifaceted approach. She leverages her experience in social media freelancing to enhance her marketing efforts, specifically in utilizing social media platforms to attract more attention to property listings. However, she emphasizes that there is much more to a real estate transaction than just marketing. Heather positions herself as a concierge, providing comprehensive support and guidance throughout the entire process. Whether it’s educating first-time homebuyers, assisting with budgeting, cultivating relationships with lenders, or staging properties appropriately, she goes above and beyond to ensure her clients receive exceptional service.
In her interactions with clients, Heather emphasizes the importance of personal care and attention. She approaches each transaction with the mindset of advising and caring for her clients as she would for a close friend or family member. By fostering strong relationships and offering personalized guidance, she sets herself apart from others in the industry and continues to differentiate herself as a trusted and dedicated real estate professional.
As the Culture Ambassador for the Michigan and Northern Ohio Region, Heather plays a vital role in promoting a positive and thriving environment within the real estate community. Her focus lies in cultivating relationships with the external community and organizing events that foster camaraderie and support among agents. Heather recognizes the importance of a strong internal culture within the organization. She draws from her own experience as a new agent, feeling overwhelmed and isolated. Understanding that a healthy internal culture translates to a stronger representation of oneself outside the organization, Heather is committed to creating an environment where agents can thrive.
As the Culture Ambassador for the Michigan and Northern Ohio Region, Heather Shaun plays a vital role in promoting a positive and thriving environment within the real estate community. Her focus lies in cultivating relationships with the external community and organizing events that foster camaraderie and support among agents.
Heather recognizes the importance of a strong internal culture within the organization. She draws from her own experience as a new agent, feeling overwhelmed and isolated. Understanding that a healthy internal culture translates to a stronger representation of oneself outside the organization, Heather is committed to creating an environment where agents can thrive.
To achieve this, Heather and her team organize a variety of internal events aimed at networking, mentorship, and personal development. They bring in trainers who provide valuable insights and guidance to help agents enhance their skills and knowledge. Currently, they are placing a particular emphasis on mental health and wellness, acknowledging the prevalence of burnout within the industry. Heather’s initiatives as the Culture Ambassador are centered around fostering a sense of community and providing agents with the resources and support they need to succeed. By addressing not only professional development but also mental well-being, she creates an environment where agents feel valued, supported, and motivated to excel. These efforts contribute to a positive and thriving real estate community where agents can collaborate, learn from each other, and ultimately provide exceptional service to their clients.
Transitioning to the role of Assistant Team Leader at KW Metro in Royal Oak presents an exciting opportunity for Heather. In her new position, she plans to leverage her experience and skills to support and empower the team of leaders within the office. Having been a part of the culture community, Heather already had some involvement with the leadership team. She believes that her leadership personality and understanding of the needs of new agents will be valuable assets in her new role. The team already practices daily gratitude meetings and collaborates effectively, which sets a positive foundation for their work together.
Heather’s goal is to foster a collaborative and successful environment within the office. She draws inspiration from her team leader, who has set a goal of achieving $30 million in sales for the year. Heather greatly admires her team leader’s approach to business and aspires to run a business like her in the future. Heather also values the unique qualities that each member of her team brings to the table, recognizing that collaboration and leveraging individual strengths are key to creating a successful environment.
Mentoring other agents and helping them build their careers is also another rewarding endeavor for Heather. When it comes to mentorship, she believes it is essential to meet agents where they are in their journey. Regardless of the industry, there is often a lack of education on how to handle various aspects of life, such as finances. Heather and her team emphasize the value of work ethic, savings, investing, and more during their mentoring sessions. They even have a monthly investor club where they teach agents how to handle their finances, especially in an unpredictable market with its highs and lows. Additionally, they emphasize the importance of ongoing education, such as understanding how to view houses like an inspector and staying up to date with interest rates and market trends. Through providing support, resources, and guidance in areas beyond real estate transactions, Heather aims to ensure the success of her mentees. By addressing both professional and personal development, she helps agents build a strong foundation for their careers and navigate the challenges they may face along the way.
The conversation wraps up with Heather sharing her sources of motivation and inspiration. She emphasizes the significance of embracing self-belief and acknowledging personal greatness. Heather encourages individuals to recognize their own worth, talents, and capabilities, letting go of any limiting beliefs or insecurities that may have held them back in the past. By claiming one’s rightful place and acknowledging the inherent greatness within, individuals can harness their full potential and propel themselves toward success. Heather also mentions a podcast titled “The Awakening Her,” which has recently captured her attention.
Check out Heather Shaun:
Facebook Business Page: https://www.facebook.com/heather.shaun25
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathershaunrealestate/
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