Help (WEIRD): I'm an asset manager but dislike talking over the phone...
I'm an AVP in asset management. I manage 2MM sq ft of industrial and office space and am responsible for all the lease up that's part of our value add business plans for these properties. I'm a solid deal maker and consider myself an effective communicator. If it's a VERY serious and/or urgent issue where I need all the information I can get from the person, or if it would be too complicated to email back and forth, I'll absolutely call.
BUT I'd just much rather email (preferred) or text rather than dial someone. I also prefer not to talk on the phone but will answer. It's not like I'm mumbling or tripping over my words. I just can't move the conversation forward as much as I'd like when it comes to phone calls. I just communicate my ideas better when it's in writing. I'm this way with everyone pretty much - brokers, tenants, vendors and even coworkers.
So question to you guys. As an asset manager, am I being too impersonal/standoffish by not talking on the phone more? Other than needing something to be written out for like a CYA situation, do I have any excuse for not dialing more?
This is an issue that you'll need to solve if you want to grow professionally, in this field or elsewhere. Have you traveled/met with the on-site folks, property managers, brokers, partners, etc. that you have challenges speaking to? Perhaps if you build some in-person rapport with them, it'd be easier to have phone conversations.
Another idea would be to join your local Toastmasters chapter to force yourself out of your comfort zone. I personally haven't done this but have heard it's effective.
work on this. it's more efficient to talk it on the phone for 1 min. than putting an email together for 10-20-30 minutes.
How on earth does it take 20-30 minutes to write an email?
Write time per person: 1-3 minutes.
Get back to you time: 10 minutes.
Get back to you time to confirm: 5-10 minutes.
I used to be the same way until a mentor coached me to "just do it". People enjoy that verbal communication which can capture tone, volume, and the spontaneous discussion about family/friends/news, etc.
If you aren't the sort that simply freezes up and stammers through a conversation - just build a habit of making the first contact a phone call. If they don't answer... leave a voicemail. You can follow up by email/text but just make the call. You can always ask them how they'd like you to make the next inquiry phone/text/email. You may interact with somebody else like you that doesn't want to talk.
If you're anything like me, once you see the results of using the phone more; you'll be a convert and it will become second nature.
Oh come on. This can’t be a real thread.
“I prefer to email or text but will talk on the phone if I have to” isn’t a problem, it’s a preference. Mark Cuban famously feels that way. 99% of people under the age of 45 feel that way.
Has something happened to make you rethink this preference? Because if not I genuinely don’t understand what we’re doing here. Who gives a shit?
Let's take a step back. He is involved in lease-up. How many large conference calls are crucial, and critical for this process to happen with a) clients, b) tenants, c) counsel and the d) all of the above.
No he can't do his job just by email.
Do you know how many conference calls I was on with large well know operators several years ago, and or other asset related call with more than 5 parties?!
OP says "If it's a VERY serious and/or urgent issue where I need all the information I can get from the person, or if it would be too complicated to email back and forth, I'll absolutely call. BUT I'd just much rather email (preferred) or text rather than dial someone. I also prefer not to talk on the phone but will answer."
Most conference calls are absolutely a waste of time to begin with, but it sounds like if one is essential, OP doesn't have a problem jumping on.
I think we're in a transitional phase today where you can get away with this with the younger generation, but if you're dealing with senior folks you should absolutely take the extra step to pick up the phone because that's how they want to and prefer to do business.
Regardless of your preference, if you're not effective on the phone and find it less productive than an email you should absolutely be picking it up more often just to practice that skill. There's no reason a phone call should be less effective than an email because you can work through 10 back and forth emails in a 5 minute call.
I'm being blunt here. Sounds like you are not an effective communicator if you can't talk to someone on the phone. Please don't kid yourself.
It is a skill you CAN absolutely build I did, but then I was part of a boiler room investment company where i made 300 calls a day. Made me the salesman I am today honestly.
One tip to help solve this or make you a better verbal communicator is to send voice messages instead of texts. If you are responding to a text, use the voice memo feature with friends and family. It will force you to get your thoughts together and speak clearly. Just a thought.
Dude, if I got a voicetext on a business matter. I would forever ridicule this person behind their back
Hence why I said “friends and family”
You need to practice and figure this out. RE people like phones. Its a people business.
There’s a balance. It’s often faster to bang out certain issues on the phone vs sending 20 emails. Definitely a skill you should work on as this is a people’s business.
On the flip side, some of these idiots talk just to talk and talk in circles. The amount of time wasted and productivity killed can’t be understated.
While I appreciate the sentiment of those in the "talk more, kid" camp, everyone is different and its OK to be introverted in certain roles. I know highly effective leaders who can't sit still long enough to draft an email and who carry their interpersonal charisma through everything they do, and I know highly effective leaders who have the communication skills of a head of lettuce. Are you a salesman or an asset manager? Bullet points are some of the most effective form of communication in a project management capacity. If you need to communicate something that could backlash if it's in an email, then sure, do it over the phone. But in general, if you need to communicate directives, emails / texts should be fine. Where you should focus on verbal or face-to-face communication is in the intro phase. Leave business for the follow-up. Use that time to build a relationship with the counterparty. Additionally useful if there is a conflict where nerves or behavior are getting in the way of solutions. It's certainly important to know WHO you're working with and to establish some baseline of trust. This will also make the counterparty feel more comfortable emailing or texting you (and you should set that expectation) instead of blowing you up with phone calls. Verbal, zoom or IRL communication is vital to establishing relationships. And sure, sometimes folks need to be talked off a ledge or encouraged to act. But if the machine is already moving, there is nothing wrong with actionable brevity.
This is great, I like the balance here and think it'll be effective for my personality/communication style. Thanks man!
How'd you get to VP?
This is not a soup kitchen; plz tap out, thx
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