By Craig Witt, CEO, US Division
People don’t follow titles, they follow leaders. A true leader is someone willing to stand up and say, “We’re going this way, and here’s how we’re going to get there.” When that happens, people naturally fall in behind them. Leadership isn’t about control, it’s about clarity, confidence, and commitment.
But that raises an important question: how do we encourage people to want to lead in the first place?
Not everyone is wired to seek responsibility. Many people are passive by nature. They’re comfortable being accountable only for themselves, not for others and that’s okay. But in real estate, leadership matters more than ever.
If you’re familiar with the DISC personality profile, you know that most leaders in our industry tend to come from D (Dominant) and I (Influential) personality types.
- D personalities are driven, disciplined, decisive, and action oriented. They get things done.
- I personalities are inspirational, social, energetic, and motivating, the life of the party.
These two types often rise into leadership roles because they’re willing to take initiative and rally others. The other profiles, S (Steady) and C (Compliant) tend to lead in a different way. They’re often detail-driven, thoughtful, and deeply important to any organization’s success.
The most effective leaders combine drive with empathy, organization with adaptability, and confidence with self-awareness. They can push forward, but they also know when to slow down and consider how decisions affect others.
Empathy matters. Understanding people matters. At the same time, leadership also requires rejecting the “woe is me” mindset. Circumstances don’t define your ceiling, choices do. A good leader finds a way forward and brings others with them.
And here’s the interesting thing: once you decide to lead, something shifts. Suddenly, you’re not just accountable to yourself. You have people depending on you. That responsibility builds confidence, self-esteem, and purpose.
So, who leads the leader? Every leader needs a coach. There is always someone to learn from. The best leaders stay hungry, feeding their minds through reading, learning, and surrounding themselves with other strong leaders. And then they turn around and teach someone else to do the same.
Leadership starts with who you are, how you show up, and how you treat people. When you get that right, others won’t need to be told to follow, you’ll already be leading.
