Once upon a time, in a land before Zoom and live virtual classes, I had to travel out of town to physically attend all three of Arizona’s mandatory Broker Management Clinics—twice—just to be approved by the Department of Real Estate to teach them myself.
The first five experiences were terrible. But nothing could have prepared me for the torture of the sixth and final BMC. In a nearly empty room, with just one other student in attendance, a shoeless instructor perched himself on a stool and spent what felt like the longest three hours of my life reading statutes directly from a law book.
Granted, compliance clinics (even the name is joyless) are prone to boredom. But that doesn’t mean they can’t be lively and valuable.
Behind every great learning experience is a skilled instructor who is well-suited to both the topic and the delivery format.
If we’re committed to Elevating Professional Development Beyond Compliance as one of our 10 Strategies for Advancing Member Education and Engagement in 2025, delivering content in a way that resonates and drives action is essential.
This article outlines how we can implement Strategy #3: Prioritize Skilled Instructors and Engaging Delivery.
Summary
Recognize the importance of skilled instructors and program design that emphasize practical application and active engagement. Ensure speakers in live virtual environments are capable of engaging effectively, as virtual and traditional delivery require distinct approaches.
Why This Strategy Matters
Member Retention and Engagement
Great presenters make even the driest topics memorable and actionable. On the flip side, disengaged presenters don’t just waste time—they erode trust in your professional development program. Members who feel their time is valued and their learning is relevant are more likely to engage with the association and its other offerings.
Adapting to Changing Learning Environments
Virtual delivery is here to stay, but it demands unique approaches to maintain interest and interaction. Traditional in-person formats also need a refresh to captivate modern learners.
Strengthening the REALTOR® Brand
Skilled instructors don’t just teach—they reflect positively on the association and elevate the perception of REALTORS® as knowledgeable, professional, and trusted advisors.
The Core of the Strategy
To elevate delivery, we need to prioritize instructor quality and continuously refine their techniques. Let’s break it down:
- Invest in Instructor Development
- Provide robust training for both virtual and in-person delivery techniques.
- Equip instructors with resources to design interactive, member-focused sessions.
- Example: Host Instructor Development Workshops to build confidence and refine delivery skills.
- Design Member-Centered Learning Experiences
- Focus on interactive learning formats:
- Role-playing real-world scenarios.
- Small group activities for peer collaboration.
- Polls and Q&A segments to ensure participation.
- Move beyond lectures to hands-on, application-focused sessions.
- Focus on interactive learning formats:
- Leverage Technology for Better Engagement
- Train instructors to use tools like breakout rooms, live polling, and whiteboards for dynamic virtual sessions.
- Emphasize storytelling, visuals, and energy-driven techniques to keep learners connected.
- Evaluate, Celebrate, Collaborate
- Conduct post-session surveys and one-on-one conversations to assess content relevance and delivery effectiveness.
- Recognize instructors who consistently transform learning into impactful experiences.
- Share their success stories to inspire and mentor peers.
A Real-Life Example: Turning Passive Learners into Active Participants
Those grueling Broker Management Clinics taught me the risks of failing to involve the learner in the learning. When I was later invited to present the same courses to top brokers at a state convention, I knew I needed a better approach than sitting shoeless on a stool reciting statutes.
Yes, brokers are required to attend these potentially boring clinics on rules and statutes. But you know what isn’t boring to a room of brokers? Avoiding mistakes that can get them into trouble.
Here’s what I did:
- Statutes became stories: Instead of reading chapter and verse, we shared real-life scenarios tied to the statutes.
- Slide decks became discussions: Wordy slides were replaced by small group discussions where participants shared tips and takeaways.
- Passive learners became active participants: A boring subject turned into actionable insights.
Plan for Success
- Audit Current Instructors and Programs
- Assess the effectiveness of your instructor roster in both virtual and in-person formats.
- Gather member feedback to identify strengths and areas for improvement.
- Review program designs to ensure they prioritize interaction, relevance, and practical application.
- Launch Instructor Development Initiatives
- Offer targeted training to help instructors master both engaging delivery and interactive teaching methods.
- Pilot development programs with a small group of instructors and scale based on their success.
- Incorporate peer mentoring, where experienced instructors share best practices with newer ones.
- Showcase Success Stories
- Highlight exceptional instructors and share testimonials about their impact.
- Use newsletters, social media, and events to inspire others.
- Measure and Iterate
- Collect post-session feedback to guide continuous improvement.
- Monitor participation trends to evaluate program success.
- Use feedback to identify which techniques resonate most and adjust accordingly.
- Regularly update instructor training to address evolving member needs.
Next Steps
Great instructors don’t just deliver content—they inspire action and confidence in their learners. By prioritizing skilled instructors and engaging delivery methods, associations can ensure every member leaves an educational session feeling empowered, informed, and ready to succeed.
Here’s how you can take the first steps::
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Evaluate Current Programs: Identify gaps in delivery quality or opportunities for more greater engagement.
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Start Small, Scale Fast: Pilot instructor development initiatives and refine them before rolling them out broadly.
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Collaborate and Celebrate: Recognize and elevate the work of your most effective instructors to inspire others.
How are you prioritizing instructor quality and engagement in your programs? If you’re looking for fresh ideas or tailored solutions, let’s connect. Whether it’s developing instructor training or delivering member-focused programs, I’d love to help.