Why Learning to Listen is Such an Important Skill for LOs

Communication is a crucial aspect of an LO’s work. Whether you’re explaining how you can assist with a prospective client’s mortgage needs, detailing the steps (and documentation) needed to make the lending process successful, or working to build your referral partnerships, communication is central to your success. Many of us focus most of our attention on speaking and writing — making sure that what we say is accurate and professional — but I’m convinced that how well we listen is actually more important. Here’s why learning to listen is instrumental for LO success:

Know Your Audience

If we want to be effective at all, we need to understand our clients. We need to understand what they expect from us throughout every stage of the lending process. And the only way to do that? Actively listening. We need to really tune into what they’re saying, pay close attention to the details, ask relevant questions, and then incorporate the information they give to us.

Earn (and Build) Trust

Most of us know the difference between passive and active listening. Active listening is about giving the other person your full attention. You’re not thinking about what you’re going to say next or what’s on your to-do list. You’re entirely focused on the other person and engaging with what they have to say. When you’re actively listening to someone’s situation and concerns, it makes them feel that they made the right decision on who to work with and that they’re in good hands.

Be a Team Player

In this industry, in particular, we depend on our team members to deliver the best possible experience for our clients. Actively listening to our colleagues is one of the best ways to strengthen the team. And, when every member of the team feels heard, things flow much more smoothly. When we fully pay attention to what our team members have to say, we can better catch any miscommunications before they cause a problem. We’re also letting our team know that everyone— in every position—is valuable.

Learn from Feedback

I’ve written before about why getting feedback is so important (here), and how it continually improves and strengthens our businesses; but, just getting feedback is not enough. We need to actively listen to the feedback, and then incorporate it into our business. Getting critical feedback can automatically put us on the defensive. However, if you work to understand where that person is coming from, even if you don’t agree, it can be an invaluable resource.?

Good luck and let me know how any of these tips may have helped you!

Don

If you’re a loan officer, sales manager, or branch manager considering new opportunities, don’t hesitate to reach out to hear about some terrific opportunities.

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Don Riggs

P: 303-249-8274