Admin

Is Your Empathy Just an Excuse in Disguise?

By
Real Estate Agent with Modern Broker

I can't overstate the importance of empathy in life and in business.  At all levels people want to be understood.   It's important that you understand your clients' wants and needs.  Just about all agents would agree with this, but shockingly, this is still one of the biggest complaints Realtors get from their clients...that they didn't listen.  Or worse, that they did seem to listen and understand what the client wanted but proceeded to show properties way off the mark or otherwise act in a way that seemed to show no regard for the clients interests.

I could say a lot more about the importance and value of understanding and empathizing with clients.  BUT, a recent snafoo with a local agent has inspired me to post the following caution about why you shouldn't mis-use or overuse empathy! 

Is Your Empathy Just an Excuse in Disguise 

Don't get lazy and water down your expression of empathy by using it as a stand-in for excuses for not getting the job done.  There are few things more annoying than someone telling me they are going to do something, then not doing it, and skipping right to trying to express some empathy for the bind I'm now in.  

If you messed up, apologize don't empathize.  If you're too quick to empathize with someone regarding a problem that you caused, you are just revealing yourself as powerless and irrelevant.  Take responsibility first.  Acknowledging your mistake goes a long way toward re-establishing your credibility and trustworthiness. It sets the stage for you to make things right and continue toward a positive and successful relationship with your client.  

Would you want to work with someone who made a mistake, caused some obvious hardship or inconvenience for you, and then didn't own up to it or even seem to be able to tell that there's a problem.  I don't want to work with that person...and I certainly don't want to be that person.   

Show All Comments Sort:
John Pusa
Glendale, CA

Preston - Thank you for sharing a very good blog.

Jun 23, 2010 07:04 AM
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

We invite you back to ActiveRain.  Much has changed since your last blog post.  We would welcome your return!

Aug 12, 2017 07:42 PM