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Harcourts’ new CEO of WA has notched 10 achievements in his first 10 months in the role, showing how a network’s values guide its ambitions to expand.
Shane Kempton has a vast frame of reference for the job he’s currently doing — he held it for two years from 2006 to 2008.
In this iteration, which he and the network have dubbed “CEO 2.0”, Mr Kempton is calling attention to a lesser-celebrated but certainly important aspect of any network’s growth: retention.
“In my second stint so far, I’m very proud to say we have opened five new offices. Equally, if not more importantly, a further five businesses have shown their continued faith, trust, and loyalty to our brand, by renewing their commitment,” Mr Kempton said.
“Renewals that could have gone elsewhere,” he stressed.
Mr Kempton credits much of his success to the foundations laid by the brand and its core value: “people first”.
The point of difference he feels they offer is one of priorities: “It’s about getting the three P’s of business in the right order. People, performance, profits,” Mr Kempton said.
“When you get the order of the three P’s right, you will always have positive gains. This requires adapting to change, whilst remaining committed and protecting those things like culture and values, which provides the finest real estate experience.”
For Mr Kempton, putting the brand’s values into practice has meant a busy 10 months, indeed. The exec has made over 100 office visits since taking on the role. From his perspective, it’s what’s needed to show members that he’s serious about their success and keeping them on board.
“Leadership is better when it’s in action and inclusive. It’s shifting from ‘showing off’ to ‘showing up’ to assist with the team’s success,” he said.
Though, of course, he acknowledges that there does come a time when offices leave the fold, and that can have a bearing on numbers.
“Like all franchises and groups, people leave us too as they downsize and/retire, and we are grateful for their time with us, and proud that we have contributed to their real estate journey.”
But he firmly believes that by keeping their approach focused on the human resources at the centre of the business, growth will always follow.
Stressing “People First” as the company’s “number one value”, he advised that it’s the businesses espousing the “people first” culture “that assist team members with their performance and ultimately generate profits and grow”.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Juliet Helmke
Based in Sydney, Juliet Helmke has a broad range of reporting and editorial experience across the areas of business, technology, entertainment and the arts. She was formerly Senior Editor at The New York Observer.
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