According to Travis Kessler, RCE, CAE, who is retiring this year after serving as president and CEO of Texas REALTORS® for 15 years and leading associations for nearly 48 years, success in leadership, particularly as a chief staff executive, depends on fostering an atmosphere where openness, trust, and support enable teams to perform at their highest level. These are the five most important things he has discovered thus far:
1. Adopt Adaptation And Flexibility
Adaptability is essential in an industry that is continuously changing due to member expectations and market upheavals. Being adaptable and flexible enables you to maintain concentrate on the important things, which keeps your company strong and proactive.
2. Have A Strategic Plan To Keep You Grounded
A well-defined strategic plan serves as your roadmap. It drives the priorities of your group, coordinates resources, and shapes the budget. Your team will be ready to carry out significant change and fulfill the association's mission if you can match the organization's budget with long-term objectives.
3. Give Relationships Top Priority
Long-term success is built on solid connections with brokers, members, staff, and leaders. Open communication and trust foster resilience in trying times and create opportunities for development and innovation. Never undervalue the importance of connections when negotiating the challenges of leadership.
4. Encourage A Sustainable Culture
The sustainability of your association will be strengthened by fostering a culture that places a high priority on member participation, relevance, and value. In the views of members and stakeholders alike, such a culture not only protects your organization's reputation but also encourages performance.
5. Create In Enduring Legacy
Legacy is about visionary thinking that produces long-lasting value, not just about quick wins. Your beneficial influence will last beyond your tenure if you concentrate on long-term projects and make decisions based on data. Making decisions should always be guided by ethics, empathy, and rationality in order to leave a legacy of integrity and long-term success.