I think all of us have either read or heard something that on face value appeared non-offensive, but there was something about it that was a little off. More often than not, it's the tone behind it. What someone is saying to you is greatly affected by the delivery. Whether you are writing or speaking, a message is more than just the words used to convey it. Even messages that contain manners can end up sounding incredibly rude!
In real estate, communication is vital. I've said this before. And in real estate, you're going to encounter a lot of people with a lot of different opinions. Because you're dealing with buying and selling property – property that belongs to someone – the process can become quite emotional. This can affect communications and interactions, and not always for the best.
Of course, there are times when it's totally okay and warranted that you voice your opinion. Depending on whom you ask, it's also okay to go off at someone who deserves it, but it still needs to be done with a certain level of eloquence and decorum. Chances are if you boil over and start shouting your opinion immediately when another wasn't immediately swayed by your opinion, or dared to disagree with you entirely, you're probably not going to get very far. As much as you may sometimes want to have an all-out tanty to try and get your way, you'll probably find you'll do much better with an improved presentation.
When it comes to real estate, situations where the involved parties don't see eye to eye often arise. There are details to be discussed that may not be particularly pleasant or fun, and some of the decisions made may not be all that popular, but to achieve the best outcome possible, sometimes these things have to happen. And they need to happen in a certain way, and things need to be said in a certain way to keep communication lines open and achieve the desired outcomes.
The next time you're on the verge of exploding and are almost ready to give up on diplomacy, ask yourself if the message you need to give can be given another way. Is there a way to make your point without offending anyone or possibly losing future business due to your manner? At the end of the day, what you say may be important, but how you say it is more likely to be what's remembered.
Disclaimer: The opinions posted within this blog are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of CENTURY 21 Australia, others employed by CENTURY 21 Australia or the organisations with which the network is affiliated. The author takes full responsibility for his opinions and does not hold CENTURY 21 or any third party responsible for anything in the posted content. The author freely admits that his views may not be the same as those of his colleagues, or third parties associated with the CENTURY 21 Australia network.