Hi everyone, and welcome to this week’s Zebra Report. This week I want to talk about Covid Communication. Specifically, how our regular, comfortable ways of communicating with each other are really pressed right now because we are in the middle of an epidemic.
I’ve had a number of agents that have contacted me this week with concerns about continuing the “new normal.” To summarize and paraphrase, they have told me, “Denise, I’m not used to this way of doing business. This feels weird. I’m not used to not being face-to-face and spending hours with my clients. I don’t know if I’m representing them correctly because I’m doing everything over the phone and I can’t see their expressions. I’m not even spending as long on listing presentations and everyone is nervous about me coming into their home. What do I do?”
What I’ve told my clients and what I’m telling you is this: Covid is going to provide you with a benefit that you will carry in your business long-term. That benefit is learning to communicate with your clients in new ways.
You can no longer rely on those perfect interpersonal skills you have to do all the heavy lifting in your client relationships. Now you have to rely on other mediums of communication like email and Zoom meetings. Maybe you have to send more data and information, and then follow up more. Maybe you need to learn to be more expressive in how you talk about showings. Maybe you have to learn how to use video to show homes.
Were you thinking about starting virtual open houses or pushing yourself to make a virtual listing presentation? Maybe even a virtual buyer consultation? Do it right now. Reach out for help if you need it. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can wait-out the pandemic and not adjust with the rest of the industry.
This is a great time for you to experiment and learn new technologies. You will find that you will come out on the other side of this experience with some new skills and experiences that will benefit your business for years to come.
Here is a great example: My business as a coach and trainer used to involve a lot of talking on the phone. Since Covid, we’ve been doing more video calls on Zoom and I love it! Why? Because it means I get to see your face and get a better sense of what you are feeling. I didn’t have that with just the phone calls. Now, I don’t want to go back to phone calls when I can have better conversations over a video service like Zoom.
What I’m taking away from Covid is that there is a new way to do things, a better way to do things, and even a more authentic way to do things. Don’t look at Covid communication with fear. Look at it as a big opportunity to improve the way you run your business.
Until next week, take care.
By Denise Lones CSP, M.I.R.M., CDEI – The founding partner of The Lones Group, Denise Lones, brings nearly three decades of experience in the real estate industry. With agent/broker coaching, expertise in branding, lead generation, strategic marketing, business analysis, new home project planning, product development, Denise is nationally recognized as the source for all things real estate. With a passion for improvement, Denise has helped thousands of real estate agents, brokers, and managers build their business to unprecedented levels of success, while helping them maintain balance and quality of life.
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