Appreciation and Communication

Here we are already into the second month of another glorious year full of potential. How are your resolutions, goals and action plans, or intentions going? Do you need a moment to regroup? Remind yourself what your desires and dreams are all about and who they’re for?

I’d like to chat about communication this month. After all it is the month of love and what better way to show you love someone than to communicate with them? There is an excellent book on love that teaches us how to love on someone how they want to be loved on. It’s the platinum rule: Treat everyone they way they want to be treated.

Not only are there ways to communicate appreciation that a person relates to such as spending time together, touching, serving another, giving gifts, and speaking words there are different modes of communication, such as texting, calling on the phone, emailing, writing letters or note cards, and body language. In real estate we use personal meetings, calling on the phone, texting and emailing and each of these has it’s benefits and shortcomings. There are times when each method is most appropriate and times when the shortfalls can cause less than moments of appreciation.

Everyone has a preferred method of communication and in real estate we honestly try to honor that preference, but there are times when only one or another method will suffice for the extent of information shared or requested or needed. The one thing that is always imperative and that is acknowledgement of receipt of the communication. I’ve been guilty myself of responding telepathically (in other words responding in my head instead of electronically), and I always appreciate a gentle reminder if I seem to have forgotten.

I am reading a business book and the chapter I’m on is all about appreciation. And who doesn’t want to have their efforts in making the world a better place to be appreciated? I certainly do, but not just any old way of showing appreciation will be truly meaningful and impactful. Making the effort to know someone’s preferred method of communication is a primary goal in my business of helping people buy or sell homes.

Have you or do you find when you reach out to someone with information you need to reach your dreams and goals that there’s no response? I know when I make a decision to achieve a dream and I come across a resource, I want the information as soon as possible so I can make intelligent and responsible actions toward achieving my dream. It is my sincere business practice to reach back with either questions for clarity or responses that move others forward in as timely a manner as possible. Even if my response is, “I’ll get back to you with an answer.” When I don’t hear back from my personal inquiry it speaks volumes that the source I checked in with isn’t interested in me or in a mutually beneficial transaction.

I appreciate business from all sources, and especially from personal referrals-someone I’ve already helped and developed a relationship with. It tells me that client appreciated the service I gave them and the relationship we built during that transaction. It also tells me we communicated in a productive way.

True confession: I have missed the mark on communicating recently: just because I communicate what I think is a clear statement, doesn’t mean it was heard with the intent or the meaning I though I communicated it with. Caveat is to always check in, make sure the other party is listening and hears what you say and what you mean. I know I am supposed to ask questions and clarifying questions, and be open to modifying what I’ve said to make sure the intended meaning is grasped. In the heat of the moment-relaxed and happy or excited and intense, a moment is filled with all kinds of distractions and possibilities to misread or misunderstand the conversation.

This month, as most months, has flown by, so although books and courses and essays have been written over the years on communication and love I encourage all of us to be lifelong learners and students of improvement when it comes to communicating with each other and expressing loving appreciation.

I appreciate you, let’s communicate!

Lori Zurcher, 602-689-2354