Charleston real estate : Is a better community important to you

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Is a better community important to you

By: Howard Arnoff
Monday, October 22, 2007 8:22 PM

There is certainly a lot of commotion going on regarding improving the quality of our little but fast growing community and I received an interesting email from a new member I thought I would share with you to illustrate the point I would like to make.

By the way, this has nothing to do with handshake and everything to do with constructive criticism and improving the quality of our community.

I rejected a new handshake listing because the agent included contact information in the description. He sent back an email, “error has been corrected, my apologies, thank you.”

I revisited the listing and of course, the contact info was deleted but I took a more careful look at the listing description and wrote back, “Sorry I had to block you for contact info, now, take a look at your listings and please realize this is a public site, you still have agent notes type stuff in your descriptions, it is copy and paste from the MLS and really shouldn't be in this medium. Do me and others a favor and delete stuff like call agent or CSS for showings, agent bonuses offered and that kind of thing. I'll take a look at your listings in a day or two and approve at that time. Sorry I'm playing hardball but I've been with p2 since the very beginning and I am very particular about what shows up on my website.”

And a final email back from him, “I thank you for your honesty. I will make the necessary changes to the descriptions. I am obviously new to p2. Your information has been very helpful. Thanks again”.

Once again, I tell this story to set the background for the real story I want to tell. A member of our community has sought help from the moderators for our members to be “nice” to him or shut them down. The most interesting comment I noticed was from our esteemed colleague from Jacksonville who commented, “Note, only one person has a problem getting along in this community.”

The issue I bring forth to you is this. How should you and how do you handle constructive criticism. Most of us can, some of us can not. Are we to all change to accommodate one who cannot or should the one who can not listen to the many who have very kindly asked, suggested and cajoled him to modify his behavior for the past many months?

Comments

Member Since '04	Radley Reiff said: In Realtor terms, "feedback" is good !!! Good, bad, ugly, or beautiful !! October 22, 2007 6:42 PM
Member Since '07	Anna Horton said: Direct, concise, even handed & just criticism is a good thing. "Do Unto Others...." works, too. October 22, 2007 7:03 PM
Member Since '06	Sharron and Steve Lobman said: Howard-You are a gentleman and a scholar!! October 22, 2007 8:29 PM
Member Since '06	Gail Fritz said: OK Howard, I'll play devil's advocate... What gives any of us the right to ask/suggest/cajole someone else into changing their style? What gives any of us the right to flame another blogger about their content? Everyone who posts a blog here has paid for that privilege. If there’s someone who really gets under your skin, then just skip reading the blog and fanning the fire. Just my 2 cents….flame away! October 22, 2007 8:45 PM
Member Since '03	Mipeco Realty, Inc - Michaela Krestenic, Broker-Owner said: If someone can't handle the criticism, too bad ... it's simple ... if you can't handle it, then don't engage in conversations that will bring on such criticism. If you play with fire, don't be surprised you get burnt. What we've seen is a behaviour to be expected of kindergarteners ... not adult professionals. October 22, 2007 9:36 PM
Member Since '03	Howard Arnoff said: Gail, this individual has accused the entire community of being wrong and of attacking him. As a group, we have chosen a non solicitation policy and this individual continues to trumpet his wares. I believe we have the right to ask for that behavior to stop. As to how this criticism has been handled, I leave that you to review his posts and comments. I believe the best description would be train wreck as opposed to flame out. The last word is not always the best word. October 23, 2007 3:39 AM
Member Since '07	Rob Moen said: Howard, I feel that this business requires us to have very thick skin along with the ability to take criticism of all kinds with a smile. I have worked with agents over the years that always had to be right. I avoid them like the plague to the extent that I will not even show their listings. Same goes for online blogs. It is a little easier to skip over those kinds of blogs. It is a great day to help a family make a move! Rob October 23, 2007 5:28 AM
Member Since '04	Vance Remele said: ""this individual has accused the entire community of being wrong and of attacking him. As a group, we have chosen a non solicitation policy and this individual continues to trumpet his wares. I believe we have the right to ask for that behavior to stop. "" ------------ ---------------- --------------- Sooner rather then later any individual whose actions/hidden agendas,etc will catch up to any individuals in more ways then one. I have reason to believe this is about to happen, as action is "imminent". October 23, 2007 6:30 AM
Member Since '05	Cindy Hartman said: I agree Rob, that this business does require you to have a "very thick skin" ... But LOVE the business! Cindy October 23, 2007 6:46 AM
Member Since '07	Candice A Donofrio said: We certainly should be paying attention to constructive critiques, and using them to help fine tune and improve. Unless a conversation with yourself is all you're after . . . that can get boring after a while . . . ;) October 23, 2007 10:34 AM
Member Since '03	Howard Arnoff said: In the shortcut IMHO, humble is the third word, not High drama. October 23, 2007 4:01 PM
Member Since '03	Mike Farmer said: The sine qua non of success is taking critism like a grownup, evaluating it and accepting or denying it based on its objective merit. Good one, Howard. October 23, 2007 4:35 PM
Member Since '04	Mary Welch said: Howard, to answer your question in a word, yes. A better community is always important. Even better convo at the water cooler is well accepted. I'm not into baseball right now so won't take Cathy's line and say "go Sox", but I will say "go shoes". There. October 24, 2007 8:16 AM
Member Since '06	Sharron and Steve Lobman said: One of the reasons that we are on this earth is so that we can learn and grow as human beings. Self-actualization and all that stuff! October 24, 2007 12:23 PM
Member Since '06	Gail Fritz said: Oh Howard - you're making me put on my Devil's costume again but that's OK since it's close to Halloween.... My final thought on this topic: I may not like what you have to say/write but I will defend your right to say/write it. If I don't like your style, I have the option to completely ignore it. This community is surprisingly small considering that P2 has 150,000+ members. Or perhaps it's small because everybody else took the high road and are ignoring the childish banter that is sometimes found here. October 25, 2007 8:56 AM