Mikaela Nikas is the Senior Director of Agent Divisions at DMS(Digital Media Solutions).
Q: As someone who guides two agent teams, how do you prioritize your daily tasks and objectives?
In order to make sure I am balancing it all, especially when work is high stress, I focus on structuring my day by setting time blocks. This ensures I devote time to the reps, complete my tasks and work on needle movers. I have been using AI tools such as Claude more than ever these days, leveraging it to analyze performance and complete tasks that would have taken me days to complete in the past. That has been a game changer for me!
Q: What's the key to building a successful team culture across your agent divisions?
Clarity, trust and accountability. I truly believe that people do their best work when they understand exactly what success looks like and believe that leadership has their back. I am direct about expectations and empower the team to be autonomous, but with that comes accountability. Working remotely is a privilege that is earned by results! On Agent Divisions, we share goals and we celebrate wins across teams, not just within them.
Q: Your teams own both sales and retention — what separates agents who grow with the platforms from those who don't?
The ones who grow treat it as a system, not a slot machine. They work their leads consistently, follow up fast, track what's converting and adjust. They also stay in contact with us – they tell us what's working best so we can help them do more of the same. Speed to contact and follow-through are the clearest dividing lines we see between agents who see growth and those that don’t.
Q: What's a book that has significantly influenced your life or career?
Radical Candor by Kim Scott. It influenced how I build and view relationships as a leader regardless of the industry.
Q: What is one personal achievement that you are particularly proud of?
I am proud of earning my Master’s Degree. It was something that took a lot of work to earn while working full time and trying to define my career. It seems like a lifetime ago but still something I am very proud of.
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