A Leader is Only as Powerful as their Team and Supporters

Society’s interest in leaders and leadership characteristics is profound. No matter where you look, on social media, conference agendas, or in a library or bookstore, one can easily find videos, articles, podcasts and other forms of media as source material. Let’s face it: we all admire leaders but too often we forget the fact that teams and supporters, working hand-in-hand, are a crucial part of producing results and advancing organizations forward.

As a small business owner, I lead by example and set the motivational tone and caring attitude, but the most important competitive advantage we have at PueoKea Farms, an olive farm on the slopes of Haleakala (HI), is our exceptional talent and ability to attract, and grow, supporters. Same holds true for my real estate offices and a career that spans 40 years in residential, commercial and property management.

Looking ahead, our campaign for 2024 NAR First Vice President shines a bright light on these vital parts to the leadership equation: we have a team and a growing number of supporters who are as powerfully driven to follow as I am to lead. Our mission is our foundation: “Unite in Order to Progress” – and our four core pillars provide the framework-- Advocacy, Inclusion, Innovation, and Service.

It’s a unique way to enhance the relevancy of our great Association. To earn trust (and votes), we will project my experiences and knowledge on our supporters and the growing team we’re building, but equally important is for them to feel welcome enough to project theirs onto me.

Choosing to handle our collective business like it has been done in the past is not enough to keep our members at the center of the transaction. In fact, that sameness will eventually erode member loyalty, consumer trust and diminish the desire for elected officials to hear and act on our issues today, and well into the future.

My view as a leader for today and tomorrow is to put in the time and effort into developing reciprocal relations with teams and supporters to result in some of the best investments and outcomes ever produced for individual REALTORS® and NAR as a whole.