Crazy Sh*t In Real Estate Episode 106: Clint Skutchan

Summary:

Clint Skutchan, recovering association CEO, consultant, and podcast show host, digs deep into the struggles of association life, including having to deal with people who seem to just be “riding it out.” Whether it be unmotivated volunteer leaders or members that fear change and use their power for the not-so-good, Clint seems to have dealt with it all. Tune in to hear what it takes to create real change and shift the minds of the people who have the power to make it.

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Time Stamped Show Notes:

01:15 – Clint’s background

01:20 – He was an association CEO for 10 years, spent 10 years in talk radio, and he now consults
01:45 – He combines his association and media skills to nationally consult and speak

02:11 – Why should people be interested in association life?

02:19 – If you aren’t paying attention, others can take advantage of leadership roles and relationships
02:52 – Local, state, and national associations leadership tips; a woman called Leigh to ask for advice on her incoming local presidential role

03:50 – Leadership is all about what you can do for the association and its members; it is about serving and understanding your role and process

04:45 – Leigh asked the woman how the CEO/association executive is, because that’ll give insight into what advice to give
05:22 – Leigh asked why the woman labeled the person as “bad to medium;” they don’t communicate, value the members, or have a clear and positive view of the future

05:58 – What would Clint tell an incoming leader who’s dealing with a staff person who isn’t energetic or shoulder-to-shoulder with their volunteer leaders?

06:07 – Asking the question: “Why are you here?”
06:20 – What is their motivation? Are they just riding it out?
06:45 – Figure out how to manage that or how to move away from that kind of executive

07:00 – If you are an executive that has lost your motivation, you should change personnel or change your perspective

07:21 – “My Year:” One person’s legacy that may not encompass the whole
07:52 – Ask the staff what they need; sometimes it’s the volunteer’s problem

08:09 – Some volunteers are used to running their own business; an association is very different because it is a collective experience

08:43 – There isn’t any real formal training in most cases for association leadership
09:02 – When you rise to leadership you are no longer just focusing on one thing; you must oversee it all and the whole team

09:20 – Are volunteer leaders provided the correct education to succeed and understand what they’ve said “yes” to, since the role is entirely different than their day-to-day life? Does Clint think that realtors are responding to threats in a personal way because they must move fast in their business life and associations typically move slowly? Have associations failed to respond because they don’t educate their volunteer leaders correctly?

10:18 – The good organizations are doing it right; there is a big difference between those and the ones just finding their way through
10:33 – The ones geared towards flexibility and change work in a change-based world; the ones stuck on status quo get stuck

11:02 – How can volunteer leaders push their associations to have a mindset that embraces change rather than resists it?

11:28 – It comes down to the association’s culture which consists of strategic focus, repeatable processes, consistent outcomes, and mutual passion
12:15 – With those things, you’ll identify the self as an entity; it starts with a good staff and good leadership

12:47 – If you have a forward-thinking leader in an association but the volunteer leaders fear change, resist listening, and eliminate staff, how do you get past that?

14:00 – When you are an executive you hire and fire volunteers that make decisions based on whims, are too comfortable, don’t want to follow processes
14:53 – Ultimately it’s a matter of how much attention the general membership pays to those who are their leaders and their decisions
15:00 – Their actions show if the leadership is ready to lead and represent

15:35 – What Clint thinks will happen in real estate life within the next 3-5 years

15:55 – He looks through the lens of the association
16:08 – 5 trends he sees in the association world: leadership shift impacts will find their way to the local organizations
16:50 – Consolidation shifts will continue (regionalization) and will impact day-to-day agents
17:28 – Advocacy must start to adapt; the way advocacy is approached and delivered needs to shift; if you aren’t going to adapt you are going to struggle
18:00 – As markets settle in, we are going to see agents have extra time on their hands; there will be more volunteers coming back to the association

18:50 – Even new realtors can have the knowledge and expertise to make good positive changes in the association world
20:00 – When does Clint think we will see a National Multiple Listing service that is backed by realtors?

20:19 – He doesn’t see a national one happening, he thinks regional ones that revolve around true markets are more likely

21:54 – You can read Clint’s columns on Inman or listen to his podcast called The Association

3 Key Points:

Leadership is about serving and understanding your role and processes; know what you can do for your team and members.
Get involved in association life but be adaptable and accepting of positive change and future-driven leaders.
Both in association life and in your own business, the keys to a solid culture are strategic focus, repeatable processes, consistent outcomes, mutual passion, and identifying the self as the entity.

Credits:

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