I have seen a lot of homes in the five years I’ve worked
within the real estate industry. I have developed a keen eye for what
will sell and what won’t sell in our market based on market research.
Staging is an important aspect of the selling process, but it can be a
sensitive topic.
No one wants to hear that their coveted baby doll
collection actually detracts from the marketability of their home. It’s
difficult to convince sellers that their pink dining room might pose a few
issues for prospective buyers. One of the most important things I seek to
remember prior to advising any client in this respect is:
Get out of judgment and into curiosity.
I once had a client who kept a bucket of rocks in her foyer
right by the front door. It was unappealing and held absolutely no
purpose in my eyes. I approached the seller from a position of curiosity
as opposed to judgment. I asked questions. She disclosed that for
years she endured domestic violence. The rocks represented strength and
stability. Plus, if her ex showed up on her front porch she wouldn’t
hesitate to “stone” him—hence the location.
I would have never known the significance of those rocks had
I rushed to judgment. It’s possible I would have damaged our relationship
by seeking to advise her without recognizing the implication of those
rocks.
We must seek to “get out of judgment and into curiosity” as we share the Good News of Christ.
Our ability to
communicate effectively stems from how well we listen to and assess the needs
of others. We must seize opportunities to ask questions and go
deeper within each of our interactions.
So, today remember to shift from a position of judgment into
curiosity. We are all human. We each have a story. Learning
the “who, what, when, where, why, and how” of a person conveys genuine interest
in the relationship. We aren’t capable of changing people, but we can
support the work of the Holy Spirit by seeking discernment and waiting for Him
to open the doors of communication for us. We can’t just be good
communicators of Christ. We must be good listeners for Christ so that we
can intercede on their behalf through prayer. John C. Maxwell
said it best, “People don't care how much you know until they know how much
you care.” Some of the deepest cries for help are hidden beneath rebellion,
negativity, indifference, and complaints. Asking questions help us to
unearth the person behind the façade while meeting their true needs and
cultivating deeper relationships.
Ashley Ivery is a single mother of two brilliant children, Aiden and Devyn, with an overwhelming desire to empower women and help them to realize the importance of a relationship with God. Through her writing she hopes to encourage women to claim their strength and value in Christ. She graduated from Fayetteville State University in 2012 with a BS in Psychology. Her motto is: "Be Authentic. Live Honestly. Dispel Light."
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