Team building is important for any organization and this is just as true in real estate as it is in any other industry.

Team building has many benefits such as improving morale and leadership skills, finds the barriers that thwart creativity, clearly defines objectives and goals, improves processes and procedures, improves organizational productivity, identifies a team’s strengths and weaknesses, and improves the ability to problem solve.

To learn more about team building for your real estate business purchase Power Teams: The Complete Guide to Building and Managing a Winning Real Estate Agent Team at RIS Media.

If you want to get started right away, RIS Media has a list of team building activities for real estate agents which can get you started in your next team meeting.

Last week, I wrote about the Commission Advance Program for Brokers/Owners and received quite a bit of feedback.

The management team of eCommission Financial Services created the commission funding industry over a decade ago. Our experience and knowledge, along with a sophisticated approval criteria, can be a great addition to your recruiting and retention efforts. Your Sales Associates will have greater control and predictability over their finances.

Here are some of the questions I received from Broker/Owners:

What are the Broker’s responsibilities?

The Broker must authorize each eCommission application that is made by a Sales Associate. This ensures that you have total control over all of the transactions for your office. If a sale does not close, the Sales Associate is responsible for repayment or replacement with the proceeds of future commissions. The Broker is not responsible for repayment or replacement and does not bear any financial liability.

When can a Sales Associate apply for an eCommission?

When they ahve an accepted purchase contract for a single family, residential home, town home or resale condominium. The closing date must be within 120 days and if financing is a contingency, the buyer(s) must be pre-qualified by a lender. Commercial or vacant land does not qualify.

How much can a Sales Associate need to supply?

The maximum eCommission available is 90% of the Sales Associate’s net earned commission (up to $10,000 per transaction). Should you prefer less than 90% or $10,000 for your office or any individual Sales Associate, you can adjust these amounts at any time.

How does a Sales Associate get started?

By creating their account either online at www.eCommission.com or by calling us toll-free at (877) 882-4368.

What is the accounting process for my office?

eCommission is a simple bookkeeping entry under “miscellaneous adjustments” and does not affect the Sales Associate’s gross commission income on their 1099 form.

With market conditions changing rapidly, many Brokers/Owners are looking for creative ways to ensure their Sales Associates remain productive. One such solution is eCommission. We provide advance payment of commissions within 24 hours on sales closing up to six months in the future. And best of all, you can offer eCommission with no risk or liability for you, the Broker!

You may have knowledge of other advance companies that will hold the Broker responsible to repay a defaulted advance. eCommission does NOT agree with this policy. Our contracts are clear: In the event we advance funds on a sale that falls through, it is the agent’s responsibility to repay the advance or replace it using another sale. The Broker is not held liable. We see you as our business partner and require you to approve EVERY advance request BEFORE funding takes place. With eCommission, you’re always in the loop.

Endorsed by the top five national real estate brands and having advanced over $300 million since 2000, eCommission is the proven industry leader.

With inventories of unsold houses on the rise and pending sales delayed with financing issues, more and more brokers are presenting eCommisssion to their Sales Associates as a solution to gaining control over the timing of their commissions. Register your company with eCommission today. There is no cost or liability involved.

RIS Media recently conducted a survey on what people considered necessary for being a good boss. The response was:

1. Communication/listening skills
2. Effective leadership skills
3. Trust in their employees to do their jobs well
4. Flexibility and understanding
5. Intelligence
6. Teamwork skills and even temperament
7. Interest in employee development
8. Ability to share credit
9. Successful in finding and retaining new talent
10. Presentation skills

And according to Yahoo! Hotjobs’ annual job satisfaction survey, more than four out of ten employees (43%) blame either dislike of their boss’ management style or lack of mentorship at their company as the reason they would be willing to leave their current job.

Fortunately, there are many ways that you can improve your development in being a good boss.

You can read a book like How to Become a Great Boss by Jeffrey J. Fox or What To Do When You Become The Boss by Bob Selden.

You can also learn from articles like Become a Great Boss, 10 Tips for Becoming a Great Boss, and How to Be a Great Boss

As a real estate broker, one of your toughest jobs is keeping the talent that you’ve spent money on to train and educate. Make sure you keep those people by being a great boss.