Feedback is a gift - Full House Marketing



Word count without title and bio: approx. 490

This Gift Really Keeps On Giving

by Leah Brewer, CAM, NALP, The Leasing Queen

Feedback is a gift. A wise colleague shared this advice with me years ago and I quote it widely and value the insight. Of course, there are other synonyms for “feedback”: advice, pointer, comment, opinion, criticism, view, evaluation, assessment, appraisal. It is odd how each of these words individually spark either a positive or negative implication. Many of us work hard to avoid being evaluated in our skills, jobs or relationships. However hard it is to see yourself through another person’s biases, feedback truly is a contribution to our continual development.

Mystery Shops also have both negative and positive implications, yet are necessary and expected performance evaluations within the apartment industry. Whether or not the reported behavior is accurate, it is the shopper’s perception, recollections and opinions of the event. While there certainly can be differences in opinions of how the presentation was planned, executed, perceived or reviewed, we should remember the adage “the customer is always right”. To further define that adage, the customer is right because they base their buying decisions on their impression. So, regardless of agreement with the shopper’s views noted in a report, we can use the information to better understand how our presentations are perceived through the eyes of our customers. Feedback is a gift and the evaluations can give us the advice, pointers, comments, and opinions that can strengthen our presentations….IF we open ourselves up to the constructive advice.

I enjoy learning and developing. My choice to become a trainer comes from my personal enjoyment of learning from people, publications and predicaments. I have been honored to attend, and to teach “Train The Trainer” workshops throughout my career. Whether as a student or an instructor, I learn valuable information. A few years ago as a student in an advanced Train The Trainer workshop, I

quickly acknowledged an “aha!” revelation. Those attendees with less experience had less to unlearn, change and relearn! A few professional speakers like me, who took this course, struggled somewhat with ingrained habits and embracing the benefits of change. And those of us who did acquiesce….benefited and admitted it! Through use of better information flow, clearer objective statements, and thoughtful openings and closings, this program made me a better speaker and presenter.

Evaluations and feedback from the course instructors and from industry colleague attendees truly opened my eyes to new views and ideas. I was able to field-test new presentation techniques with immediate feedback and step-by-step unravel and then restructure my presentations.

Remember, feedback is a gift and with any gift, you have to receive it gladly and thankfully to get the full benefit. Additionally, give the gift of helpful and constructive feedback to those around you who could benefit. Accept your gifts of feedback graciously and thankfully, however poorly wrapped or uninvited. Like any gift, if you don’t accept it, you won’t get its benefit and you probably won’t be given that gift again.

Leah Brewer, NALP, CAM, is known as The Leasing Queen for the creative and compelling leasing techniques she employs to fill apartment vacancies, with 30 years of battlefield experience in multifamily housing, from a leasing consultant to a consultant for leasing. Leah is an industry leader with results-oriented training and marketing solutions to apartment occupancy challenges. She presents fun, interactive and informational workshops nationally, designed to get immediate results. .

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download