23 Feb Paying It Forward

Mentorship is an invaluable resource for real estate professionals. Those who are overly ambitious may be able to excel in their careers on their own but there’s no doubt that most people will do better with an involved advisor by their side. With so many talented young professionals starting their careers in real estate, CREW Atlanta and other organizations are making mentorship programs a top priority.

Developing a successful mentoring relationship requires more than just rubbing elbows at networking events. Both the mentor and mentee should work to establish relationships based on similar interests, compatible personalities, professional skills, and future goals. Finding like-minded support networks is especially important in the real estate industry. In a survey conducted by the Texas Association of Realtors, over 20% of the agents described difficulty meeting people and lead generation as two of the toughest parts of the business. Mentorship enables mentors and mentees to connect with larger networks of industry professionals and share valuable information that can lead to potential customers.

It’s not just individuals that benefit from mentorship. Organizations that invest in job training and relationship building programs establish themselves as leaders in their field. UCREW for example, is a CREW Atlanta sponsored program that connects real estate-bound undergraduate and graduate students with industry professionals. Through the program, students are given unique opportunities within the commercial real estate world. By facilitating and nurturing these important relationships, CREW helps to guide the successful trajectory of the next generation and makes its mark as an educational and value-producing organization.

In the wise words of Benjamin Franklin, “tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” Mentorship offers experience-based guidance that can determine the course of an individual’s career. Involving up-and-coming professionals in the diverse opportunities and challenges of commercial real estate while providing insightful support is a great step towards fostering a strong group of newcomers and an even stronger real estate industry.

Sibet Freides and Cathleen Clayton are co-chairs of the mentoring program at CREW Atlanta. If you are interested in being a mentor or mentee, contact Sibet at sfreides@ideaassociates.com.