REALTORS®: Here is how to make feedback your friend!

REALTORS®, there are two kinds of feedback you can get from a client – negative and positive.

Understandably, most REALTORS® prefer the positive kind! That includes praise, raves, thanks, displays of appreciation, testimonials and so forth.

Positive feedback teaches you a lot.

It confirms that what you are doing is working, and that you should do more of it.

Positive feedback, of course, is also a clear indication that you’re building loyalty with that client or referral source and loyalty leads to more Repeat business and Referrals.

But what about negative feedback?

Although harder to take on an emotional level (it can sometimes feel like a punch in the gut), negative comments about your performance as a REALTOR® can also be very useful. They let you know what you are doing that is not working, and give you an opportunity to make changes.

That is why, when you receive negative feedback, you should always say “thanks”. Although it may be difficult to fully appreciate it at that time, the person is actually doing you a favour! And, it can be very difficult to give that kind of feedback. It is much easier to ignore unsatisfactory performance than to confront it.

Some REALTORS® avoid seeking feedback because they’re afraid of what they might hear.

Do not take that approach. Feedback, positive or negative, is your friend. And you should ask for it every time you have an opportunity to do so.

In his book, The Success Principles, author Jack Canfield advises you to look at negative feedback as improvement opportunities. “To reach your goals more quickly,” he says, “you need to welcome, receive, and embrace all the feedback that comes your way.”

Takeaway point: Listen to both positive and negative feedback carefully and do not take negative feedback personally. Instead, take action and make improvements.