This week's guest is Melanie Barker.
Melanie is co-owner of Gemini Real Estate Group a boutique brokerage located in the Sierra Foothills outside of Yosemite National Park. She is an engaged community-minded leader having served as president of both her local chamber of commerce and boys and girls club. She continues to serve on both boards of directors. Melanie has been involved in organized real estate for almost 15 years and has served in a multitude of capacities. Uniquely, as soon as she was licensed, she was involved. She likes to let people know she doesn't know any better. Melanie's life of service started when she enlisted in the U.S. Navy many lifetimes ago. Melanie does on average $8 million in production annually. In an area with an average sales price of $290,000 that's a few transactions a year. She and her business partner have been a team for over 13 years and are still going strong.
Click the image below to watch the replay.
Prefer to watch it on YouTube? Click here.
Leading Through a Crisis with Melanie Barker
Q1: What do you believe is the biggest opportunity for leaders in this time of crisis?
Meaningful engagement utilizing multiple platforms for reaching out. A time to slow down and remind ourselves as to why we serve our clients, communities and organized real estate. There's a lot of talk about the fact that we get our energy from the physical engagement with each other, and that is scientifically proven, so there's no denying it. The reality is that this is not likely the last time we will experience something like this. this is an opportunity to learn how to thrive in this environment or one similar to it.
Q2: What do you see as the biggest challenge for leaders in this time of crisis?
Remaining optimistic and moving forward. Just as something positive starts to happen another crisis smacks at us. There is real polarization in our country right now. At least that's what the media wants us to believe. We need to remind ourselves that we have the greatest impact in the groups we form, or belong to, to effect change. That's our local communities, places of worship, book clubs, organized real estate, etc.
Q3: What advice and resources are you sharing the most?
Creating, and participating in, collaborative activities. (This might require more thoughts. LOL)
Q4: What tips do you have for leaders on how to communicate effectively during a crisis?
The most effective form of communication is listening. Allowing the time and space for those that you engage to express themselves. If there's an opportunity to conduct some research ahead of a particular conversation, then do it. Remember to use it as background only. People really need to feel heard right now.
Q5: What is your advice for leaders who are struggling?
Find space/activities/a friend to process the stress and move through it. This crisis may be on a magnitude greater than what someone has experienced before, and one doesn't become a leader without having experienced difficulties in the past. Dig deep to find those healthy coping mechanisms again and build on them. Financial uncertainty is a personal situation. The advice can be as simple as look at all your expenses, to contacting your financial advisor to filing bankruptcy. For REALTORS NAR has the center for financial wellness to help out.
Q6: What are your final words of wisdom?
(Books everyone should read? Podcasts? Quotes that inspire you? Something that got you through this year?)
Be kind to yourself!
Did you miss a past episode of our Weekly UPdates + Wisdom show? No worries, we've got them all HERE.