The good thing about bringing on an Executive Assistant is that you can plan for the benefits that you want to receive. Some leaders may bring on an EA so that they can spend more hours working in other areas of their business, while others may need an EA so that they can work less in the business and spend more time with family.
Whether a Leader wants to work more or less doesn’t matter, what does matter is the plan to utilize their EA in a way that helps the Team reach its goals before the deadline. I learned how to work with Executive Assistants the hard way; trial and error. I brought an EA into a business that I was still learning for myself with very little help from others.
I was talking the other day about how at one point I was searching high and low for a real estate mentor, and never found one that had my best interests in mind. Although I eventually stopped searching for a mentor, I continued watching and studying the Top Producers. I’d watch how the top producers worked with their EA’s and other team members. I started reading more and more about team building and Leadership. The more I observed and learned, the more I realized the importance of having a good EA. The following are the benefits that I personally look for in an Executive Assistant.
A Good EA will free up so much of your time if you train them right.
A Good EA will generate new business for the company, which can turn into increased profits.
A Good EA will keep you from having to come up with so many solutions on your own.
A Good EA will become a leader within the company that other Team Members can turn to for guidance.
I can recall the time that I joined Keller Williams Livonia. During that time I was sick and tired of being a Team Leader. I was so burnt out that I decided to stop focusing on my own team and join someone else's team. After connecting with a few people that I had known, I went with a recommendation of a broker by the name of Nakia.
I became Nakia’s buyer’s agent; he and I worked out great together. He’d always say that “I’ll catch the fish as long as you will fillet and fry them”. And fillet and fry I did. I was his buyer’s agent; he’d send me buyer leads and I handle them from there. I was a Great EA because my Team Leader didn’t have to worry about anything regarding the buyers.
My Team Leader knew that I would follow up with the buyers similar to how he would follow up with the buyers. My Assistance helped him grow his business and freed him up for other ventures. Our relationship ended when he got out of the real estate business for a while, it was disappointing for me at the time because I found myself forced to be Team Leader again and I really wasn’t ready.
The experience was a good one because I learned a lot from Nakia during that time. The following year I had one of my best sales years ever; and after that I brought on my first Executive Assistant. My first EA (Tyraa) didn’t have any real estate experience other than marketing for land contracts I believe.
What she did have was drive, her and her husband followed up with me like crazy before I made her my EA. In the course of less than 2 years she went from getting lock box codes online to drafting contracts and working with buyers.
Today Tyraa has her own property management company and is doing very well. Nakia and I still do business together. To this day he still sends me buyer and seller leads; he even gave me the honor of selling a piece of land that he owns. We got it listed and under contract for just under $900,000.
Whether you're an EA or a Team Leader, as long as your heart and mind is in the right place and you’re putting your goals and your team first, you won’t lose. You might experience some hard times, setbacks, difficulties, long days, etc, but you’re going to come out a winner as long as you keep fighting the good fight.
When you have a Good EA on your Team, the fight becomes easier because you have someone fighting with you and for you. Knowing the value of A Good EA leaves me energized, empowered, and more confident.
Hopefully “The Good EA” series will help both the Team Leader and the EA better understand the importance of both of their roles. Without the Team Leader, the EA wouldn’t have the opportunity. Without the EA, the Team Leader will have too much work, extra stress, and long days which may lead to a failed business.
Until next time, make it a great day!
~Matthew