Packin' A Mighty One-Two Punch... I'm not much of a boxing fan. Watching someone get their lights punched out doesn't make my heart skip a beat. Although, I grew up in an explosive environment which taught this feisty girl the value of packin' a mighty one-two punch. Today, the pink gloves are coming out of retirement for a different reason.
Round 1 - Seeking to be Understood. Recently, I went a few rounds with a fellow Realtor (someone I really like and highly respect). After a few mince words and layers of misunderstanding, I violated my 24-Hour Rule and fired off an email to the Agent in frustration. Apparently, my tone was received in the form of a low blow and things got a little heated in the ring. Fortunately, the other Realtor exercised some toe-to-toe diplomacy and very gently pointed out the error of my ways while I listened with an open mind.
Round 2 - Seeking to Understand. It's quite common for salespeople to yak their lips and sink a few ships in their quest to be understood. A 'real professional' spends less time yakking and more time practicing the fine art of listening. In a recent featured post, For Whom the Realtor Toils, Brian L. Sirota, Esq. offers a bona fide refresher course in Seeking to Understand. As Brian so eloquently highlights... 'The walk of integrity is rarely served by walking out; it's served by earning the trust expected of a fiduciary.' And how do we earn trust? We listen. We ask questions. We seek to understand. (Feisty Girl's Note... Sometimes we hug). And so the quest for understanding begins.
Round 3 - Pounding Heads Can Make You Crazy. Naturally, there are times when many of us feel like taking out our frustration by pounding something. This crazy market has dealt some heavy blows, causing us to hang out on the ropes acting like a bully. I don't know about you, but some days it seems easier to throw in the towel and run from the ring, rather than hang around and take a few more blows. What's a girl with pink boxing gloves to do?
Round 4 - Going the distance. Sometimes its necessary to throw a one-two punch in the middle of a round. In baseball, it's called a Change-up. In basketball, it's called a 3-Point Shot. In spiritual environments, it's called a 'Come to Jesus.' When the going gets tough... the tough find a neutral corner to regroup, re-evaluate and re-energize, seeking fresh and viable alternate solutions. While it may be tempting to come out of the corner with dukes up... swinging, it's certainly not the best or only choice to resolve a difficult conflict. Seeking to understand packs a mightier punch than seeking to be understood. And when that happens... it's likely the pink gloves will come off for good and both sides can claim a win!
