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REALTOR® ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE
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|  Multistate Training, Leadership Academy By Aydee M. Kozak When Steve Francks, EVP of the Washington Association of Realtors, and Andrea Bushnell, EVP of the Oregon Association of Realtors, decided to create a leadership training program, it seemed only natural to pool their resources. Inspired by the long-time warm relationship between the associations at the staff and leadership levels, the executives saw an opportunity to create a high-caliber leadership development program, far beyond what each one of them could produce individually. Modeled after the Mississippi Association’s leadership program, Leadership Institute Northwest consists of three-day retreats scheduled three times a year. The curriculum is intensive, covering the NAR leadership structure, team building, leadership in a volunteer organization, ethics, practical aspects of leadership (prioritization and delegation, to name two), work-life balance, and group projects, such as community service initiatives. The inaugural class of 14 students (seven from each state) met Dec. 11-13, 2002, in Cannon Beach, Ore. Participants were chosen from a range of business specialties and represented various parts of each state. Tuition for the program was $600, which included training sessions, meals, and instructional materials. Participants also paid for their transportation from home to the retreat site, overnight accommodations, and expenses. “The most unexpected benefit is the camaraderie this group of future leaders established from the very first day of the kickoff retreat,” says Bushnell. “Whatever reluctance and skepticism some of the participants might have felt at first quickly melted away.” Washington practitioner Sue Pauley called the Institute a “gift” and the single greatest experience of her real estate career. “The information, self-examination, and training can be applied not only to our Realtor organizations, but to all facets of our interpersonal communications. And now it is our legacy to pave the way for future leaders.” Institute graduates now want to help the two state associations find ways to promote leadership training and development at the local level, Francks says. “ So we now have 14 committed evangelists for the cause of leadership development within our respective associations, as well as a group of future leaders who see the value of shared programming.” At their third retreat, in June 2003, the graduating class was able to benefit from the two associations’ relationship with regional brokerage John L. Scott Real Estate. The brokerage developed a training course for its salespeople on maintaining a work-life balance and agreed to share it with the institute. This program, co-developed by real estate trainer Claudia Wicks and Lennox Scott, fits well within the leadership curriculum because it focuses on overcoming the sometimes-unforeseen challenges of volunteering to lead. The Leadership Institute Northwest experience has led to other joint efforts between the associations. In April, the two associations together hosted an IDX/virtual office Web site workshop presented by Gar Anderson, NAR’s vice president of leadership development. The associations are also co-sponsoring a Certified International Property Specialist Institute together with the Hawaii Association of Realtors in July. Members see a huge benefit in partnering with other state associations, says Bushnell. The relationships and trust built through these joint efforts and programs will have a lifelong benefit for everyone involved. Aydee M. Kozak is the president of AMK Consulting, a real estate leadership development and event company for real estate association and brokerages. She can be reached at Aydee@aydeekozak.com or www.aydeekozak.com. Click here to Send feedback on this article. |
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