Is your staff set up to succeed - or are they just surviving?
- Mark Cadesky
- Sep 23
- 3 min read
Your admin staff might be your brokerage’s most underutilized asset - or your greatest operational risk. In many small to mid-sized brokerages, the team behind the scenes is undertrained, overwhelmed, or unclear on expectations. And when systems break down, it’s often because the people running them weren’t set up for success in the first place.
Let’s be clear: your staff can’t deliver exceptional support without proper training, clearly defined roles, and processes that make sense.
So the question is: have you built a business that supports your staff - or are they just trying to keep their heads above water?
The Hidden Problem: “They Should Know This”
Many brokers assume that their admin team should “just know” how things work - especially if they’ve been in the industry before. But even experienced real estate staff need clear direction in your brokerage’s systems. Without it, they’ll guess, improvise, and sometimes make costly mistakes.
Signs your staff might be struggling without support:
Constant questions about simple tasks
Repeated errors in deal paperwork
Delays in onboarding new agents
Missed compliance steps
Over-reliance on the Broker of Record for decisions
If you’re always being pulled in to fix or double-check admin work, the problem isn’t your people — it’s your structure.
What Staff Really Need to Thrive
Through years of helping brokerages across Ontario, AskMark has identified the five foundational elements staff need in order to succeed:
1. Clear Job Descriptions
Each role should come with a scope of responsibilities, expectations, and KPIs. Without this, tasks get missed or duplicated - and accountability disappears.
2. Step-by-Step Procedures
From deal processing to onboarding to MLS uploads, there should be standardized workflows. This ensures consistency even if team members change.
3. Training & Cross-Training
Too often, brokerages rely on one “go-to” admin - which is fine until that person gets sick, takes vacation, or quits. Cross-training protects your business and empowers your team.
4. Tools That Actually Help
Are your staff using the right software - or fighting with clunky systems? Mark helps brokerages assess which tools are helping (and which are just adding friction).
5. Support From Leadership
Staff need access to mentorship and feedback - but they shouldn’t need to ask you about every detail. We build systems that support autonomy and confidence.
The Cost of Undertraining
What’s the price of a poor admin structure?
Deals falling apart due to preventable errors
Agents losing confidence in the brokerage
High staff turnover and constant retraining
Compliance violations (and possible RECO penalties)
Broker/Owner burnout
If you’re working evenings fixing someone else’s paperwork, you’re not running a business — you’re patching holes in a broken one.
How AskMark Transforms Admin Teams
Mark doesn’t just consult - he dives deep into how your team operates, helps redefine roles, rewrites procedures, and trains your staff to become confident, capable professionals. Whether it’s a solo admin, a part-time receptionist, or a multi-person front desk, he brings clarity and structure to your operations.
Empowered Staff Create Powerful Brokerages
Your brokerage can only grow as strong as the systems behind it. If your staff feels lost or unsupported, your whole business is on shaky ground.
Let’s build the foundation your team needs to thrive. Book a consultation with AskMark today and give your staff the tools to succeed - so you can finally step back and lead.
