The new guidelines for leadership.

When it comes to leadership, there’s no sitting on the sidelines. You’ve got to be in the thick of it, every single day.

At our inaugural LEADER VIP lunch, former Facebook CEO for Australia and New Zealand, Stephen Scheeler, shared a powerful reminder: the leadership game has changed.

And it’s changed faster than most of us ever expected.

He shared stories of billionaires who ignored the warning signs, of CEOs caught off guard by new competitors, and of companies so busy focusing on the “98%” of their business, they completely missed the 2% that could take them out.

"Your profit is my opportunity… I’m coming for your business." That one hit hard.

It’s exactly the mindset every real estate leader needs to consider today. The market’s moving fast, your competitors are moving faster, and if you’re not keeping up — well, you’re falling behind.

So, here are my biggest takeaways from Stephen’s presentation and what they mean for us as leaders in real estate.

You need to be the company everyone is talking about

Stephen shared his advice without sugar-coating things. He said if you’re waiting for a case study to tell you what to do next, you’re already too late.

He described it as standing on the beach waiting for the tsunami to hit — and by the time you see it, you can’t outrun it.

The best businesses aren’t waiting for inspiration. They are the inspiration.

In real estate, this means being the agency that others talk about.

Set the standard. Lead with originality. Build your brand so strongly that clients, prospects and competitors alike can't help but notice you.

The goal? To be the agency others are scrambling to keep up with.

Move faster. Then faster again

One of the standout moments from Stephen’s talk was this reminder: “No matter how fast you’re moving, it’s probably not fast enough.”

It was an eye-opening statement. Time is a fixed resource — you can’t create more of it. But you can learn to move faster.

Speed, as Stephen said, is a learned skill.

In your business, this means focusing your time and energy on what actually moves the needle. We can all fill our days being ‘busy’, but leaders prioritise impact over activity. They learn to delegate, automate, and cut through the noise.

Your competitors aren’t waiting, and your clients definitely aren’t. If you’re not speeding up, you’re slowing down.

The power of youth (and curiosity)

Stephen shared his experience as “the oldest guy at Facebook” and the critical role youth played in the company’s explosive growth.

There’s a lesson here for us all: stay curious, no matter your age or experience. Don’t lose the habit of asking, “Why do we do it that way?” And just as importantly, surround yourself with people who challenge your thinking.

Stephen’s story about the media mogul who’d never even opened Facebook on his phone before it became his biggest threat was a stark reminder of what happens when curiosity fades.

In our businesses, we need fresh perspectives and diverse voices at the table. Bring in the hungry, ambitious people who will push you to see things differently.

Pick your players wisely

Stephen spoke about the different roles people play in your business — and it really resonated with me.

Sometimes, you need people to tell you what’s happening. Other times, you need people to ask the right questions, decide the next move, or brainstorm new ideas.

No single person can do it all.

As leaders, our job is to build teams where each person knows their role and plays it well. Real estate is a team sport, and success comes from understanding your people and putting them in the right positions.

Lead from the top

This one’s non-negotiable. Culture, speed, curiosity — it all starts with us as leaders.

Stephen described how Mark Zuckerberg worked at a stand-up desk in the middle of the world’s biggest open-plan office, alongside thousands of engineers.

He led from the front, modelling the behaviour he expected from his team.

In our industry, it’s exactly the same. Whether you’re the principal of an agency or leading a high-performing sales team, you need to set the tone.

Be visible.

Be engaged.

Show your team what ‘great’ looks like.

The game has changed

Finally, Stephen’s words were clear: the rules of business have shifted. Entire industries are being redefined. AI is reshaping how we work, data is the new oil, and customer expectations are evolving by the day.

In this environment, the status quo isn’t safe.

The good news? Opportunity is everywhere for those willing to grab it.

So my challenge to you is this:

Don’t wait for the perfect moment. 

Don’t wait for the case study. 

Don’t wait for your competitors to make the first move.

Be the leader who drives change. Be the agency everyone else is watching.

And remember - your future success depends on the speed, curiosity and leadership you bring today.