Communication | Brevity vs. Brilliant Explication
Success in this business truly boils down to mastering two key components of our jobs - beyond principles (honesty, integrity, etc.) -
1. Impeccable 'Project Management' skills
2. Excellent communication skills.
Project (transaction) management mastery goes without saying in this business - simply stated, this IS what we do! Oftentimes we have to pull the weight of someone on the team for various reasons but, for the most part, our job is focused on educating our clients and pulling all parties of a transaction together for one successful Closing. The happy ending, if you will!
Communication skills aren't necessarily inherent to everyone. Don't despair though - if you are keenly aware that your communication skills are lacking, this habit CAN be learned...and even mastered. Taking the time to do a little self-reflection may help as well -
- Are you receiving multiple voice mails requesting the same things from the same party to your transactions?
- Are your brokers being contacted because they other party can't seem to 'get ahold of you?'
- Are your deals falling apart because the other party never heard back from you?
- What about your emails? Are recipients of your emails responding in a hostile fashion?
There's something to be said for billiant explication; most of us are so busy, we respond with brevity rather than providing a detailed, polite explanation in an email.
Twice this week, I've received comments about others 'responses' to their emails - thinking that the sender was angry. I've also had to personally respond to emails that were so abbreviated that I couldn't even decipher what the sender's email meant. I'm sure you've forwarded an email to a friend or co-worker to ask them if they thought the sender was angry, condescending or some other form of 'emotion' that you have read into the tone of that particular email.
When composing an email, take a minute to not only run spellcheck but, re-read your written request or response. Ask yourself -
- How will the recipient 'read' the email?
- What tone will the recipient be using when reading your email?
- Ask yourself what message you are TRYING to convey and do you feel you did a good job of conveying that very message in the tone/manner in which you intended.
Ask these things BEFORE you hit send! It truly takes only seconds to do and you'll save yourself time and energy in the long run. Your assistant may be able to read your mind but, others can't! Details are MOST helpful in clear, concise email communication.
Master the art of emailing - skip the brevity! And, hey, if you aren't sure how to interpret an email, pick up the PHONE!
©Debe Maxwell | www.AtHomesCharlotte.com | SavvyBroker@me.com
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