"Consult The Coach" Archives
Stuart Kaufman, MS, MBA
“The Real Estate Coach”

October 2010 - Volume 10, Issue 1

Dear Coach:

I am working on “Getting My Sphere in Gear” but I have a problem. When I call my past clients, many calls typically end up lasting 30 – 45 minutes. I literally can’t get off the phone. I don’t have time to make many calls as a result. How do you tactfully end a conversation without insulting people?

Signed: No End in Sight


Dear No End in Sight:

Ideally, calls to our past clients, and others in our Sphere of Influence, should take about 5 to 10 minutes. Ending a call is both an art and a science. It requires a bit of diplomacy and is a skill that can be learned. Like any new skill, it requires practice to master. Difficulty in ending a conversation frequently indicates difficulty in asserting yourself.

Your challenge is to learn and practice language that will help you end a conversation that respects both you and the person you are talking with. Here are some ideas of what you can say to end a call:

“I really appreciate you taking time to talk with me today. I look forward to talking again in a few months. Feel free to call if I can ever be of help.”

“It was really nice talking to you today. I look forward to talking again in a few months. Feel free to call me if I can help in any way.”

“I have several more calls to make today, so thanks so much for taking time to talk with me. I look forward to speaking again in a few months. If I can ever be of help, let me know.”

Some people rarely come up for air and it is literally impossible to get a word in edge-wise. When in this situation, you may need to say “I am sorry to interrupt, but I need to go. I look forward to talking to you again in a few months.”

Practice these “conversation ending” techniques on friends and family. The more you practice, the more comfortable you will be ending conversations in your time frame.

About the Author:
Stuart Kaufman, MS, MBA, is a Real Estate Business Coach who has coached, trained, and inspired over 1,500 Real Estate Professionals to take their business to the next level. He is the head administrator of the Puget Sound School of Real Estate in Seattle, WA. For a complimentary copy of “Five Essential Tips to Get More Referrals and Business from Your Sphere”, go to www.GetYourSphereInGear.com.

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