True.  I think it makes people sound bigger than they are.  My team is my broker and my office manager, plus my title and escrow and lender.  They all pull their weight.

Good question.  I hate to say it but as a Lender, sometimes "team" operations can be difficult to deal with because like other teams; it is only as good as its weakest link.  When I need something and the broker is unavailable, the lead agent is out of town , the backup agent has a family issue, the newbie won't call me back and the desk agent is clueless;  it causes a problem for me and unnecessary delays for THEIR client.  A weak team damages EVERYONE involved in the transaction.

Are YOU the weak link on your team ?   If so, step it up.  YOU have the power to change YOUR reputation through performance !

Do npot get me started.

Yep! And don't forget: "Does all the work for top producer, gets a few hundred per deal and no recognition or advancement, leaves to work solo, taking TP's clients (being their POC thru entire deal) with them." :)

Jack,

The wrong people on the team.  The one who does 99% of the work plays hero ball, and doesn't let other do their work because no doubt he micromanages...or he has the wrong people on the team and does not have the guts to fire them.  A

Your guess is as good as mine. I will admit that two of my most difficult sales last year were on listings where a buyer's agent on a big team brought me buyers.

Thank you for the chuckle. It depends on the team members.

Jack Lewitz I believe one issue with teams is the team leader takes all the bows and takes all of the credit. Other team members feel slighted and soon leave.

It depends on the who's on the team. The wrong people, and the wrong structure, and the team will fail. I know a number of very successful teams

It takes a strong leader to make them work, they cannot be equal partners.

I still remember all the group projects in college that had all the players in your graphic.  Fortunately those were all short term irritations.

A good leader will however delegate tasks to the correct member and make sure all of the tasks are completed on time and up to the required standards.

Lack of leadership would be my answer and having people in the wrong spots for their strengths and talents.

When everyone works together you get much more done.

well I think some team leaders get overly confident about conquering the real estate world and becoming a behemoth.  Only very few of us have the leadership skills to manage 10+ team members different personalities and needs.  

Oh please.  Our team is a huge part of the reason we are successful.  If you don't get it, that's okay, but don't knock it until you've tried it.  

If the head of the team is a true leader, then it might work.  I'm just not a team player, so it wouldn't work for me.  I've seen a few teams that really clean up though.

My current "Team" is myself and two office assistants. No hassles, I'm the only licensed Realtor/Broker and they know exactly what they have to do to generate income. Years ago I had a female "partner" and it worked good when working with couples so no one felt threatened but I did 90% of the work.

Yes but those guys had fun.

IMO 

Teams are popular as a young in the buisness  person can make some early money,,,, and the  team leader  only has to pay an advertising bill. 

lol, Jack, this is a great find! I'd love to be on the team like that doing nothing and still get paid, where to find it? I'd sign for as many as I can. The teams I was on, I was the middle 99%.

I think most teams are set up wrong in real estate.  I see many talented agents with a lot of potential get hooked on the drug of 'free business' from their team lead --- buyer leads that allow them to be comfortable, but fail to help them reach their potential.  That said, in the right situation, a team can take things to a higher level than an individual can.  In the mortgage world, I NEED a good team to run a good business.

That is so true and so funny at the same time.

The idea sounds like a good, until the work isn't getting done.

Makling more money is the incentive.

My team pulls their weight. They wouldn't last if they didn't. I'm a power-performer so I don't expect everyone to work as fast as I do but I do require that they perform.

Good morning Jack. I have two full time assistants, that allow me to be the rainmaker and they make sure all my files are moving toward closing.

Stuff happens.

Sounds familiar

Actually in my market most seem to be working out

Interesting replies.  I'm solo, except my newbie hubby.  

I think teams are a great idea, but watch who you team up with. I don't want to be sharing some of the ways I do business and then have a team member take off and go out on their own with my information. So I'm not a member of a team. 

This is why I work alone!

I don't know.  I just won a listing over the largest team in my area.  The client didn't want to work with multiple points of contact. 

For the same reason so many who sleep under a roof decide they would be good at real estate. Real information is not accessible to them in the places they are looking.

The prophet of doom has not been enlightened to expose the team trap. Are you hearing the 'voice' to proclaim the truth?

After all the club rules makes that really hard, perhaps dangerous, to do. After all, they are now a part of the FAILURE SYSTEM.

Back in the day, I did work with a team, but each person's vision was different. Now, I work alone, and am happy as a team of one. Things get done the way it should be done. My standards are way to high to hire anyone to work with, which is just great for me.  Now I just have to worry about my outside team of customers, agents, title companies and lawyers. But they find out my rules of professionalizm early and get on board quickly. They are my friends only after the business is done.