President Franklin Roosevelt in 1933 during his First Inaugural Address said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” He understood how fear can immobilize us; to keep us from moving forward; to stop us from doing what we need to do and to secure the results we need and want.
Years ago, I learned this very appropriate acronym for FEAR – False Evidence Appearing Real. How many times do we react to false evidence that we believe is real? Another acronym is False Emotions Appearing Real. Possibly a new acronym could be constructed FE²AR – False Emotions x Evidence Appearing Real.
When we consider both the emotions and the evidence, the experience becomes even more potentially tainted and the truth is buried deep beneath all those emotions and evidence. What further happens is we ignore the evidence as the emotionally reaction increase because of our flight or fight response.
The FEAR regarding the Corona Virus (COVID-19) is not new. In 2009, there was FEAR about H1N1 or the Swine Flu which killed an estimated 12,000 plus US citizens per the CDC. Fear usually starts as natural emotional reaction from our internal flight or fight response.
Yet every day we may experience fear in one way or another. And everyday we have the choice to face the fear or embrace the fear. Yes there are ways to face and overcome fear your own fear and the fear others may have.
President Theodore Roosevelt said “No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care.” Caring helps to ease the fears of others as well as our own internal fears. We are no longer focused on us, but our focus is on others.
By leveraging our emotional intelligence, we can help others to overcome their fears and demonstrate we are truly listening and understanding their current situation. Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize and understand the emotions of others (interpersonal); to recognize and understand the emotions of ourselves (intrapersonal) and then to manage both.
A colleague of mine, Mike Weinberg posted in LinkedIn a great article about the current situation respective to the COVID -19. He stated “We must continue to sell because PROFESSIONAL SALESPEOPLE drive the economy.”
By facing your fears, he goes on and believes “it’s not just your job; it’s your duty…to yourself, your company, your customers and possibly even your country.” This is the time to lead, not follow. Another great observation is “We are going to be operating in a ‘New Normal” for a season…we must adapt our approach.” Weinberg is speaking to you about your real estate sales and ultimately your real estate success.
Weinberg suggested this adaptation approach when communicating with clients/customers. “I realize things are a bit chaotic right now, but when you’re ready let’s visit so you can see how we’re solving (insert problem A) and driving (insert Result B) for (position type or company type).”
Again, return to your strategic plan. Start planning as to how to adapt to this “New Normal” in the short term. I remember giving a speech to 100 business owners shortly after 9/11. I asked this question “How many of you have returned to your strategic plans, reviewed and made the necessary course corrections (adaptations) to what is happening in the marketplace?” Unfortunately, if I remember correctly only 5 people people raised their hands and they were all my clients. These other 95 business leaders were either in procrastination or even full denial thinking.
Remember, we, Americans, are resilient!
Americans have weathered many storms because we have learned to face our fears and to move beyond our failures toward our desired results.
Graphic Courtesy of Pixabay
Comments (18)Subscribe to CommentsComment