By Matthew Rathbun, CRS
Brokers who have started their own companies are accustomed to success. They have earned the respect of their peers and they have established themselves as leaders—but no one ever teaches a broker how to create an educational program for agents who need development.
RRC is offering a new course called the Agent PLAN Program. Brokers who have rookie agents—or even more seasoned agents who are looking to rebrand their practice—might want to recommend this online coaching and mentoring course designed to give agents the grounding they need to become top producers, lessening the burden on brokers who need to bring team members up to speed.
The “PLAN” in the course name stands for four important strands that will give agents a foundation for success: professionalism, leadership, achievement and networking.
In the 12-week program, agents are taught by trained coaches and expert instructors. We’re offering coursework at a very high level—brokers get quality training for their agents at a reasonable price, and the agents get a quality education. Because it is self-paced, the program is flexible enough for a full-time agent to complete the work outside of business hours, but it is also rigorous, with one key topic offered each week.
E-learning takes students through a structured education program, where they access content online and view videos of coaches and instructors who bring life to the topic. There are recorded “micro-sessions,” during which the instructor engages with all participants. Each agent must complete certain tasks and homework, and there is one-on-one time scheduled with the instructor as well, so there is a steady stream of instruction and feedback on content and student projects.
Participants can also take advantage of a dedicated Facebook group where they can engage with one another. We take the participants through the kind of business planning that every good entrepreneur should do. And we go from business planning and owning to mastering listings, self-branding, marketing and negotiations.
In a nutshell, the program provides the following skills:
- How to understand the client’s budget versus the agent’s value proposition. Agents will learn why they’re unique and valuable to consumers and how to convey that.
- How to be good marketers. How agents can establish their own brand, create new client opportunities and work within their sphere of influence to continue to build their business and engage new business.
- Core business skills, such as negotiations, that help the agent be a strong advocate for their consumer.
Another great aspect of the program is that it is offered with a rolling start, so agents have routine opportunities to begin the program.
By the end of the course, participants will have completed their mission and vision statements and their business plan. And even more importantly, completion of the program fulfills the academic requirements for the CRS Designation—all that remains is for the agent to complete the production requirement.
Those who complete this course have the potential to become excellent agents and an asset to their brokerage.
Agent PLAN is designed to help REALTORS® of all skill levels hit the ground running on their personal and professional real estate business goals. For more, go to CRS.com/broker-solutions.
Photo: iStock.com/nazarkru
