Title: A qualitative study of real estate agencies: The importance of leadership within the real estate industry -The perceived impact of leadership style on the real estate agent's performance and work environment

Background: The real estate profession is demanding with high workload, irregular hours, and constant availability, leading to stress and poor work-life balance. Only one-third of real estate agents have a good balance. Stress, recognition, development opportunities, and work environment affect job satisfaction and performance. Leadership plays a central role in setting goals, providing support, and fostering motivation, which in turn strengthens performance and engagement.

Purpose and research questions: The purpose of this study is to examine how leadership styles are perceived to influence sales performance and the work environment among real estate agents. The two research questions that have been formulated are: "How are leadership styles perceived to affect real estate agents' performance in the real estate industry?" and "How do leaders perceive the relationship between leadership, work environment, and performance among real estate agents in the industry?"

Methodology: The study takes a subjective perspective to understand how individuals perceive the impact of leadership. Through interviews, respondents' personal views are interpreted, providing deeper insights than objective methods. A hermeneutic approach is used by the authors to analyze data, allowing for multiple interpretations of the collected data.

Frame of references: The leadership style affects the work environment, performance, and organizational success. Research shows that leadership behaviors impact employees' performance and perceptions of their work. Stress, often caused by relationships, obstacles, and high workload, is common. Engagement increases when employees feel meaning, responsibility, and feedback, while control through rewards can hinder motivation.

Method: The study uses a deductive approach based on previous research to examine how different leadership styles affect real estate agents, and the research strategy applied is case studies. A qualitative method is considered appropriate, as the focus is on individuals in leadership roles. The collected data is analyzed using thematic analysis to identify patterns and themes.

Conclusions: The study shows that leadership influences real estate agents' performance by creating supportive and secure work environments, where clear goals and individual adaptation promote long-term success. Effective leadership balances demands and support, fostering well-being and sustainability in the profession.