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on Yacovetta, Director of Mentoring at Guide Real Estate in Aurora, Colorado, credits his background in education and leadership with helping him develop a successful mentorship program for new agents. The company's rapid growth in 2020, driven by an influx of new agents, prompted founder Bret Weinstein to task Yacovetta with creating a formalized mentoring system. After its initial success, the program became a magnet for attracting top talent and helped agents gain confidence and clients.

    A well-executed mentorship program can make a significant difference in both agent and brokerage performance, according to Yacovetta. It not only fosters growth but also creates new opportunities for producing agents to earn and expand their expertise. Mentorship programs have become a key recruitment tool, attracting motivated individuals who want to learn and be led.

    Ahmed Islam, a commercial real estate specialist at Prime Realty Services in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, credits his mentorship experience with bridging the gap between residential and commercial sectors. After struggling for seven years to enter commercial real estate, Islam found a California agent willing to teach him motivational skills beyond just work. This guidance helped him become a successful partner.

    To create a successful mentorship program, Yacovetta emphasizes the importance of assigning someone to run it, investing in leadership, and recruiting motivated agents who want to be mentored. Potential mentors should be allowed to voice their interest, and those selected must agree to provide supervision as stipulated by regulatory agencies. Mentors also need to guide both trainers and mentees, requiring regular meetings for accountability and goal tracking.

    A mentorship program's success relies on providing the right resources, including access to educational materials, systematic tools, and a clear network of support. Yacovetta advises that mentors should ensure mentees have a CRM, know where to seek out classes, and understand their continuing education requirements.

    The benefits of mentorship extend beyond individual agents, with Islam noting that successful brokers grow as a result of agent advancement. Mentorship can also foster friendships within the industry, connecting experienced agents with new talent and encouraging knowledge sharing across generations. Yacovetta's brokerage sees mentorship as a natural fit for boosting agent success, which in turn drives business growth.

    A good mentorship program offers incentives for both mentors and mentees, with Yacovetta citing his own personal growth as an agent, mentor, and leader. Successful programs create a win-win situation where everyone benefits from the investment of time and resources.