This is not my entire staff that is pictured here, there are many more highly qualified individuals that are making this ship sail smoothly. Pictured is the OAR Senior Management Team and it is the village that helps run the Oklahoma Association of REALTORS®, also affectionately known as OAR.

I have always been told to surround yourself with people that are smarter than you. And that is what I did.

However, throughout my career, I have learned that managing people is hard. Not these people, but people in general. I have done it well in so many instances, and I have failed some too when it comes to communicating with people, loving on people, and understanding people that work for you, I mean WITH you.

So here are a few tips that I have learned from this group of people in leading them:

1. Empower them.

2. Admit when you are wrong.

3. Appreciate them.

First, you have to learn to let them do the job their way. If they aren’t smart enough to figure it out, then why did you hire them to begin with?

Second, you were smart enough to hire them for their expertise. While you may have to train them on some particulars, because that is what leaders do, you have to allow them to make some mistakes. They will be more accepting of your mistakes, as their boss, when you make them. And you will make them.

Third, appreciate them. I am not talking about giving them huge bonuses and a blank check to do whatever they want. (Although sometimes that will do the trick also!) I am talking about giving them a work/life balance. Two of the people on this team have very young children at home. Sometimes, the best thing you can do to appreciate your team member is to give them space to love on their family because that is the likely the most important thing in their life.