There is a huge difference between hearing and listening:
Hearing – “to perceive by ear.”
Listen – “to pay attention.”
Distractions
We live in a noisy world and with every passing day it’s getting louder.
I posit that stopping to pay attention is the hardest part of a property management professional’s job.
In the midst of ringing phones, hyper-active leasing activity, vendor needs, employee celebrations and the such; finding a minute to listen is just hard.
Permission to Listen
Solutions:
Schedule resident meetings in their space.
Meet vendors at the work site.
Take a maintenance tech, leasing consultant, assistant manager to coffee or lunch.
Listen twice as much as you talk.
Exercise Brevity and Clarity.
Ask open-ended questions and smart follow-up questions.
Most important – leave your device behind.
Give yourself permission to manufacture the environment or space whereby hearing and listen can coexist.
Your trying to listen more than I speak Multifamily Maniac,
M