Million Dollar Team Principle #10: Learn to Say NO Gracefully
The Pareto Principle, known as the 80/20 Rule — 20% of your actions drive 80% of your results.
Team leaders’ 20%:
- Recruiting
- Generating more listing opportunities
- Training their team
Let’s flip the principle around. It’s also about your problems.
- 20% of your clients will take up 80% of your time.
- 20% of your agents will cause 80% of your management headaches.
- 20% of your listings will never sell, no matter how much time, energy, or marketing you throw at them.
- 20% of your deals or relationships will make you question why you’re in this business.
Here’s the hard truth:
Success is about stopping the wrong ones.
Saying no doesn’t mean being rude; it is fundamental. A great leader protects their time, their energy, and their team.
- That client who belittles your team or refuses to follow your process? Say no.
- That agent who refuses to learn, ignores training, or brings negativity into every meeting? Say no.
- That listing that is overpriced, unsellable, and a drain on morale and marketing? Let it go.
The best leaders don’t keep what doesn’t fit. They prune. They edit. They create space for growth.
Protect the Culture, Protect the Mission
Your time is your most precious asset. So is your team’s energy.
When you keep people around who are toxic or tasks that are unproductive, you send a message to your team that anything goes, that culture doesn’t matter.
But when you learn to say no gracefully, clearly, and consistently, you send a different message:
We’re building something that matters here, and not everything gets to come along for the ride.
Ask Yourself:
- What—or who—is consuming disproportionate time, energy, or resources?
- What is not aligned with your values or vision?
Nick McLean
Co-Founder, The Reside Platform
Where leaders go to build their teams
PS.
Book a time to meet with me and the Reside team to learn how to build your team the right way:
