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Provide Strong Feedback to Your Clients, Even if It's Tough Feedback

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Blue Olive Properties, LLC RE License # 039425

               The mark of a strong leader is the ability to give your employees and followers tough feedback.  This is an essential skill in business, and many people tend to shy around negative feedback.  They may attempt to soften the blow by sugar coating the facts, but this is unnecessary if you follow three easy steps for giving high-impact feedback.  Working in Highlands Ranch property management, we only need to dish out negative feedback when a home is not renting.  This feedback is for our owners and they require an update on how the rental process is going.  A situation like this does not benefit from skirting around the truth and instead powerful direct words will allow both parties to arrive at the situation.

                Feedback should always be viewed as a developmental opportunity.  This isn’t a session designed to let them know why they are wrong.  The conversation must allow them to absorb and reflect on what is said.  That way they can learn from it, and take the best course of action to solve the issue.  Of course tone must maintain a professional edge and there should never be any shouting.  Phrasing the conversation deliberately should erase feelings of misconception.  You are not sugar coating things but you are also not just putting them down.

                Begin these talks in a positive attitude.  That allows the receiving party to begin to mirror the tone you set.  This helps the feedback conversation from ending in discomfort.  The more careful and firm you are the less likely they are to be defensive or frustrated.

                The main thing is that you should always consider turning feedback into a problem solving process.  Keep your statements brief, ask questions, and try to discover what they have gathered from this conversation.  These feedback sessions are beneficial for both parties as you may see something you previously did not.  They will be educated as to why the approach they are taking now is not the best way.  Next time are you delivering bad news, try these simples steps and really focus on not making the other party feel unwelcomed.  Instead tackle the issue and achieve the solution together and see them become an empowered contributor in your business future.

 

                Blue Olive Properties offers Highlands Ranch property management throughout many neighborhoods, including Firelight, West Ridge and Canyon Ranch. Please call our office today to ask any questions you may have. 

Posted by

Kevin Mackessy

(cell) 303-956-3507

(office) 303-683-2526

kevin.mackessy@blueoliveproperties.com

Blue Olive Properties

Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Excellent advice!  Feedback is so important in real estate. Sometimes it's the only thing that will get through to sellers. They may not take their agent's suggestions for improvement seriously enough and they may not be willing to pay for a stager's advice, but once the negative feedback from potential buyers comes in....their attitude changes!

Aug 24, 2015 05:06 AM
Dan Hopper
Dan Hopper - Gold Way RE - Westminster, CO
Colorado Broker / Referral Services

Thanks Kevin, great information.  As much as we try, providing valuable feedback is very helpful to other listing brokers.  Constructive comments about value, condition, showing process of that home... all things to assist in getting the home sold.

Aug 25, 2015 12:44 AM