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Internet...Boon Or Bane...!!!

By Fran Gaspari

Title Insurance with Patriot Land Transfer, Inc.

June 21, 2008 05:23 PM

I'm a lover of new gadgets, electronic devices, and neat new toys...especially time and energy saving ones! But I got to thinking recently about how in some ways all this new fangled technology was messing up and infringing on my lifestyle!

I'm a rather efficient kind of guy...matter of fact...no nonsense...yes, with a sense of humor, but not sacrificing professionalism or pride in workmanship...if something is worth doing, then it's worth doing right... follow me here...

Remember when computers first came on the scene...we referred to 'artificial intelligence'...well they're still 'artificial intelligence', but only faster and more complicated and more exotic...

But you know what we gave up most...THE ART OF COMMUNICATION...we need to recapture and redevelop that skill...!!!

Communication, in order to be complete and meaningful is trinitarian, three parted...you have an initiated word...a heard word...and most importantly, acknowledgement of agreement...not agreement on principle, but agreement on understanding...a word I like to use to describe this process is 'CLARITY'...meaning we're all on the same wavelength...the same page...

Without all three of these qualities of communication present...communication fails...there is just chaos of speech and chaos of hearing...

I find that the 'artificial intelligence' aspect of technology is the missing link...the fly in the ointment...the rabbit in the hat...the challenge we must overcome in order to achieve complete communication...

Just one small example...how does one achieve 'perfect communication' on an automated phone call system...artificial intelligence may be getting better, but it still falls far short of person to person...where is the assent to understanding in an automated 'conversation'???

Now, I'm not trying to 'blame' computers or negate technological advances...I'm merely trying to point out the need for extra diligence in the area of communication...to insure that before we agree to disagree we are all on the same page... and this is the area in business which I think deserves additional scrutiny and care...

In fact you can see the phenomenon of which I speak alive and well right here on our Active Rain blogs and comment threads...be on the look out for it...and when you see it...aim for clarity in communication...you can agree or disagree on principles and opinions...but just make sure you 'understand' what each communicator is really saying!!!

Make this a 'work in progress'...and a goal to achieve...we'll all be better off as a result!!!

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Lenn Harley

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA

Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

Funny. Have you ever been caught in the "automatic phone message trap"?

They give you the choice of "press 1" or "press 2" or "press 3". Unfortunately, neither 1, 2, or 3 responds to the purpose of your call.

You can go round and round and not get an answer, the right connection or any help.

That automatic phone system will cost that broker business.

Jun 21, 2008 10:18 PM

Sally K. & David L. Hanson

EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI

WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

Until we can click and choose to hear everything..the intonation,t he manner it was said, the people for whom it was meant, etc. we are at the mercy of the "one sentence fits all" kind of communication...a sad state of affairs.

Jun 21, 2008 11:09 PM

Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239

Real Estate One - Commerce, MI

Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com

Technology can sometimes get you going around in circles and never stop.

Jun 22, 2008 12:20 AM

Fran Gaspari

Patriot Land Transfer, Inc. - Limerick, PA

"The Title Man" - Title Insurance - PA & NJ

Jamie: Yes...and what used to take us minutes, now takes seconds!!! :)

Christine: Right...nothing like a good old down home eye to eye contact conversation!!! :)

Katerina: Befor I pay someone tens of thousands of my hard earned dollars in commission, I want to 'know them' personally!!! :)

Thanks, Fran

Jun 22, 2008 01:25 AM

Fran Gaspari

Patriot Land Transfer, Inc. - Limerick, PA

"The Title Man" - Title Insurance - PA & NJ

TC: "The top producers know what to say when and when saying nothing can mean everything."...pure wisdom...did you learn that from me!!! :^)

Jason: I find that many people are not good listeners...I think they lack self confidence and are preparing their response before they have listened and understood! :)

Pedro: Todd is the man! :)

Thanks, Fran

Jun 22, 2008 01:30 AM

Fran Gaspari

Patriot Land Transfer, Inc. - Limerick, PA

"The Title Man" - Title Insurance - PA & NJ

Jesse: In fact, I'll dedicate this 'star' to my new Granddaughter, Marin Rachel Gaspari!!! :)

Adam: And we can't hide our honesty and ethics behind our e-personna!!! :)

Susie: True! If we are to communicate effectively through print or blog, we must develop the skills to meet that challenge...for an Italian/American like myself, facial expressions and hand movement is important...when we lose that opportunity, we must make up for it in other skills!!! :)

Thanks, Fran

Jun 22, 2008 01:37 AM

Fran Gaspari

Patriot Land Transfer, Inc. - Limerick, PA

"The Title Man" - Title Insurance - PA & NJ

Lenn: Those are insults to a person's intelligence...further they are totally undignifying...almost abusive!!! :)

Sally & David: Yipes...perhaps SKYPE is on the right track! :)

Russ: You mean like the tail wagging the dog!!! LOL

Thanks, Fran

Jun 22, 2008 01:41 AM

Linda Tremblay

Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc, PA License #AB065488 - Doylestown, PA

Associate Broker - Bucks County, PA Real Estate Services

Fran, I love technology, but could not agree with you more. There is nothing worse than calling a company and getting the automated computer respose "For customer service push 1, for billing push 2" etc. You can push almost every number and still not get to talk to a live person.

Jun 22, 2008 02:16 AM

Brad Snyder

Sierra Vista Realty - Sierra Vista, AZ

Interesting post and I think you make some good points. Have agreat weekend.

Jun 22, 2008 03:01 AM

* Rate A Home

Rate A Home - Saugatuck, MI

Fran, I wasn't sure if I had to press 1 for English or 2 or 3 or 4. Looks like I'm in the right category because I can read my writing, lol. I too dislike the automated phone systems, if I had 10 minutes to waste going through a menu before finding out what button I needed to chose on each call, I would never get on AR....grin

Jun 22, 2008 08:37 AM

Fran Gaspari

Patriot Land Transfer, Inc. - Limerick, PA

"The Title Man" - Title Insurance - PA & NJ

Linda: If a company is large enough to need an extensive automated customer service phone system, maybe they're too large!!! :)

Brad: Interesting comments also! :)

Duane: You know what you're in for before you even dial on some of those systems!!! :)

Thanks, Fran

Jun 22, 2008 09:11 AM

Anne Hensel

South Beaches Real Estate Professionals - Saint Petersburg, FL

Realtor - Broker - St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island

Yes, we need it, we love it and we do not want to live without it, but it will never take out the person to person contact (I hope) because this is the fun part for me

Anne Hensel

Jun 22, 2008 11:28 AM

Fran Gaspari

Patriot Land Transfer, Inc. - Limerick, PA

"The Title Man" - Title Insurance - PA & NJ

Anne,

Technology is a tool...it can never replace a skill!!! Thanks, Fran

Jun 22, 2008 12:34 PM

Diane Bell, Hilton Head Real Estate, Bluffton

Charter 1 Real Estate, Hilton Head, Bluffton, SC - Hilton Head Island, SC

I agree 100%---even in my house, I find my husband and I spend way too much time on the computers instead of conversing.

Jun 22, 2008 12:43 PM

Fran Gaspari

Patriot Land Transfer, Inc. - Limerick, PA

"The Title Man" - Title Insurance - PA & NJ

Diane,

You're not alone! Most families are in the same boat! Little communicating...little interaction...many directions under the same roof! This is what we need to work at...and this is what is meant by 'preserving family values'!!! Thanks, Fran

Jun 22, 2008 12:59 PM

Gary Woltal

Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX

Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Fran, congratulations on the Feature Post. Another great topic and well written.

Jun 22, 2008 02:37 PM

Glenn Sanford

eXp Realty & Working The Magic, LLC - Bellingham, WA

The Internet allows us to share a message with those who are looking for your message in a way that we haven't been able to communicate before. If you have a message that resonates with a large percentage of the online populuation then its certainly much more efficient then trying to communicate via personalized letters or belly-to-belly presentations.

The internet is about marketing vs. sales. Marketing gets the phone ringing from interested prospects while sales is about trying to convince someone who didn't know you needed your product about the benefits of your product or service. If they already know about the benefits and you offer a great service and make it available online and you are findable then your business will grow...

My business is a product of the Internet... It's my Boon and other people Bane.

Jun 22, 2008 03:19 PM

Fran Gaspari

Patriot Land Transfer, Inc. - Limerick, PA

"The Title Man" - Title Insurance - PA & NJ

Gary: Thanks as always for your input!

Glenn: I'm more concerned with 'clarity' in communicating than sales or marketing in this post! If you can't communicate on the most basic levels, forget about sales or marketing!!! It ain't gonna happen! :)

Thanks, Fran

Jun 22, 2008 03:51 PM

Anonymous

piya

i agree. it's really right.

May 08, 2009 11:57 PM

#40

Fran Gaspari

Patriot Land Transfer, Inc. - Limerick, PA

"The Title Man" - Title Insurance - PA & NJ

Piya,

Thanks for dropping by...!!! Thanks, Fran

May 09, 2009 12:55 AM

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