As a manager or broker, what is the greatest gift you can give your agents? What would add true value to their lives? Is it a higher split? More tools? A better looking office? The answer is probably "no." The greatest gift you can give your agents is their own ability for "self discovery." When you create an environment for self-discovery you can inspire people to greatness.

And it all starts with you.

Do you have a conscious plan that you are currently executing which helps you to grow as a human being? Are you creating a culture that promotes your agents to look inside themselves to find the answers to their struggles?

The human experience is a complex one. As a leader, are you supporting your agents in recognizing they have the power to change the way their mind thinks, which creates different choices, which in turn creates a different life?

Most agents, people in general for that matter, are hypnotized by their environment and have a lack of awareness that they can be creators and not just responders. What about you? Your thoughts create your experience in life. What judgments do you pass? Great leaders are on a constant pursuit of knowledge, understanding that which inspires, and finding answers through the questions they ask.

Your agents' greatness starts with you.

Make a deal with yourself. Start today with an agreement to create a condition of self-discovery for yourself. And then as you continue your relentless pursuit of knowledge, take your agents along for the ride. Create a rapport with your agents that lends itself to their own pursuit. Develop your gift of intentionality, then watch them develop their own.

It's not only the greatest gift you can give them, it's also the greatest gift you can give yourself.

Published: May 26, 2005

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Rich Casto is the founder of The Real Estate Coaches, a recruiting and management solutions company that supports brokers, owners and managers in the management and recruiting solutions arena. He can be reached at 702 240-0908 or coach@therealestatecoaches.com. Visit his website at TheRealEstateCoaches.com.