Relevant or Redundant?

Aug 31
3 min read

**Shane Kempton, CEO Harcourts WA, on The Leadership Choice That Shapes Your Business**

At a recent charity event, I was “auctioned off.” The prize? A full day of coaching with me for the winning bidder’s business. It was a fun way to raise money, but it also made me pause.

If your leadership was put up for auction, would your people bid for your time? Would they see you as relevant, valuable, and worth investing in, or would your contribution feel redundant?

That’s the reality check every leader in real estate needs to face. Relevance is not guaranteed. It’s earned, nurtured, and protected. And if you’re not careful, redundancy creeps in, sometimes by design, sometimes by default.

The Thermometer vs Thermostat Leader

To explain this further, leadership styles explained using the following metaphor.

A thermometer reacts: it simply reports the temperature of the environment.
A thermostat sets: it determines the climate and controls the outcome.

Leadership relevance works the same way. Some leaders only measure and react to what’s happening around them. Others set the standard, shape the environment, and influence the results.

And when it comes to relevance, leaders usually fall into one of three categories.

Three Types of Leadership Redundancy

1. Redundant by Default - The Fading Leader

This is the leader who fails to evolve. They stop learning, stop listening, and stop leading from the front. Over time, they become a passenger in their own business. Their lack of relevance doesn’t just make them redundant, it causes the business to drift and lose relevance with clients, the market, and the team.

2. Redundant by Design - The Empowering Leader

This leader makes a conscious choice to build a team so strong that the business can run without them in the day-to-day. But here’s the difference: it’s not abdication, it’s elevation. They’ve stayed relevant enough to hire, train, and empower the right people. By design, they step back from operations to focus on strategy, vision, and growth, while the team confidently manages the execution.

3. Relevant by Intent - The Thermostat Leader

Then there’s the leader who chooses relevance as their craft. They remain a thermostat, not just a thermometer. They don’t simply measure the market, they set the standard, shape the climate, and ensure their business continues to deliver value to clients and the team. They may not be in every open home or staff meeting, but their influence is felt in the standards, culture, and strategy.

How to Stay Relevant (and Avoid Default Redundancy)

Here are 5 strategies you can use to stay relevant and the best value for your business and team.

Keep Learning - Stay curious about the market, technology, and leadership. Stale leaders create stale businesses.
Empower Your People - Hire well, delegate with trust, and build a business that successfully works without you. This is done by design, not by chance or default.
Stay Connected - Don’t lose touch with the front line. Spend time in the trenches, attend opens, talk to PMs, and stay close to the client experience.
Add Strategic Value - Use your relevance to look ahead, network with other thought leaders so you can spot trends, navigate disruption, and set the vision.
Be the Thermostat - Set the standards, model the energy, and create the climate for success by learning from both within and outside of the industry.