I'm trying to listen more. Every now and then I read a blog by someone who points out that we should do a lot more listening than talking. Makes sense. Too often I yap, yap, yap trying to be the expert I am supposed to be. I need to ask more questions and ponder the answers.
Intuitive thinking plays such a large part in how we work with others. There are those occasional moments of insight when we can suddenly see with others' eyes and say, "I get it. I HEAR you. I think now that I know what you need/want." There is something in what was said, in the body language, in putting two and two together that endenders an intuitive insight. Often what real estate buyers SAY they want is not what the REALLY want.
Can intuitive thinking be developed? I don't know, but I do know that without remembering to really listen to others, it doesn't stand a chance. I miss the boat when I think I am the expert and try to make others fit into what I have planned for them. (This is, of course, true in interpersonal relationships, as well. Working on it. Doing better. It's a life-long process.)
I was reminded of this the other day when I was preparing to show property to someone new to the area. As is often the case, they weren't really sure what they wanted. They just sensed that the Upper Connecticut River Valley area offered a the kind of lifestyle they were seeking. And, as is also often the case, they wanted it all - solitude, beauty, in-town convenience, views, quaintness, contemporary amenities, bang for the buck. It was hard to prepare but, I thought, if I can really listen and gain insight into their thought processes, I can be most helpful. I'm trying to do this more often, which means throwing out my pre-conceived ideas and scripts and starting from the premise that I must listen carefully, trying to place myself in their shoes rather than forcing their feet into the shoes I have set out for them.
Sitting in my Century 21 Energy Shield Realty office in Hanover, New Hampshire on this crisp fall morning, I decided to take a little break from the mundane for a little self-analysis and am sharing it with you.
Cheers to you.
Hal Sheeler
http://www.HalSheeler.com http://www.Homes-In-Hanover-NH.com
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