Business View Magazine | Volume 8, Issue 11

19 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 8, ISSUE 11 them to be a salesperson, a real estate agent, or a manager; help them become consultants, collaborators, and trusted advisors. That’s how you can deliver the value that keeps clients coming back and the reputation that keeps candidates lining up to join the team. • Value partnership. True expertise means that people can turn to you for all things related to your industry. That doesn’t mean you have to be the expert in every single detail of your niche, it means you need to build and rely on partnerships that let your team create that ongoing value that brings clients and candidates to your door. Potentially meaningful connections are everywhere; build mutually beneficial partnerships with vendors and you can simultaneously bring new value to clients and team members and show a propensity for trust-building that gives prospective talent just one more reason to join your team. • Be human. At the end of the day, every business transaction boils down to one thing: an interaction between people. Focusing on the human factor – from team members to customers to job candidates – has positive ripple effects at every level of your company. Take a people-first approach to your employees and help them do the same for their clients. Give them the support and resources needed to thoughtfully nurture relationships with clients over time, from training courses on network-building to strategic guidance on permission marketing efforts. The way your company interacts with clients is a reflection of the way you interact internally; if prospective candidates see an approach that’s genuine and personal, they’ll feel encouraged about the employer- employee relationship as well. Focusing on the Long-Term The pandemic changed the way we think about most everything in life; for many, that includes the role that their career plays in their long-term happiness. People have never been hungrier for connection and support, and as business leaders we can provide workplaces, careers, and cultures where those are the characteristics around which success is built. Focusing on the long- term and the relational makes both emotional and business sense; it will help you attract top talent, give them a job they’re eager to bring their best to each day, and build long-term success for your entire company. About Jill Butler After holding executive and team leader positions at high-profile real estate agencies, in 2012, Jill Butler founded RedKey Realty Leaders St. Louis—an independent real estate agency created on a foundation of love, service, and fun. RedKey is now one of the largest independent real estate agencies in St. Louis. Jill was named 2012 Entrepreneur of the Year by the state of Missouri and St. Louis Chapters of the Women’s Council of Realtors. She has held an Officer position for the Women’s Council of Realtors and serves on the St. Louis Association of Realtors Board of Directors. www.redkeystlouis.com