It's human nature to want to belong somewhere. I think one of the best words to describe this idea is belongingness, which Merriam-Webster defines as "a sense of belonging."

I believe this inherent need for belongingness is a major reason why social media has become so popular. In our busy, physically disconnected yet technologically connected society, we feel a sense of belonging through being friends with those we know virtually, no matter the physical distance, via social media or online.

This whole idea of people wanting to be a part of something is very important when it comes to leadership. You can see this concept clearly in the many published works that discuss the differences between managing people and leading people. Through all of my reading, the best way that I can frame this concept for myself is, "when I am leading people, I am making them part of something where we are collectively working towards common goals."

As I'm typing this article in early December, I think of how I've been contemplating the subject of leadership, the upcoming year, what 2023 may hold for the industry, the current state of the residential real estate industry, and what all of this means for me and the people that trust my leadership.

Yesterday I had a meeting with my business coach and he asked me, "What do you see 2023 looking like for Delta?" I told him, "I think 2023 will be similar to 2022 for the real estate industry, but honestly for me, I am not sure it really matters." He wanted to know more, so I went on to explain the revenue growth we are expecting, that even if the real estate market is down, regardless of what the market actually does, all we have to do is tweak our plans and make adjustments as needed. I went on to say to him, "I believe in 2023 there will be winners and there will be losers, and we will be a winner." 

Following this conversation I had with my business coach, I want to share more about my perspective on leadership as I look ahead to the future. 

There are billions of Google search results on the subject of being a leader. As I'm sitting at my desk at home typing this in my office, I have bookshelves surrounding me filled with hundreds (yes, hundreds) of books regarding the subject of leadership. However, I want to focus on the four key areas of leadership that will be critical for me in 2023 that I believe will resonate with you.

1. Great leaders communicate effectively, and they communicate more in challenging times. This seems to be the most frequently discussed topic in leadership training, but if leaders are honest, and if I'm honest, this is one area where I believe we could do more. You must communicate effectively with those you lead regularly, and even once you believe you are communicating enough, communicate more. If you think back to the idea that people want to be a part of something, and if 2023 is going to be a tough year for some in business, I would rather those I lead see me as someone that knows what's going on and is executing a well thought out plan to navigate the tough year effectively.

2. Great leaders are honest and share the plans and options they have as an organization with those they lead. Nothing can be more frustrating than to feel like someone is not being honest with you, so you need to be honest with your team. If the budget is tight, tell your employees and associates that it is, along with the options you have. It's amazing to see how a team comes together in tough times to accomplish unimaginable things. This all starts with honest communication and planning and ends with execution by the team.

3. Great leaders watch their business metrics closely, but they watch them even more closely during tough times. I saw this clearly at the CEO Exchange where countless CEOs admitted that over the past couple of years as the business grew, they did not keep as close of an eye on the profits as they should have. They were all making more money, but not as much as they thought. Pay close attention to your numbers and most importantly, your leading indicator numbers.

4. Great leaders get back to the basics when times get tough. This can be an expansive topic that ranges from purpose to customers, competitors, business goals, etc. For the sake of the real estate industry, I want to ask, how many of you have re-focused and gotten back to the basics of your training? And by "basics," I mean skills such as prospecting, listing presentations, marketing, and social media. All the things that your salespeople need to be successful. Great leaders empower those they lead, and one of the best ways to empower those on the front lines of your business is to recommit to training. 

Don't let 2023 just happen. Have a plan, be a leader to those that trust you, and give your team a sense of belonging to something special.