 |  | SALES MEETING TOOL KIT: REDUCING STRESS | |
|  Stress Reduction: Introduction Component 1: Facilitator Talking Points Component 2: Agenda Component 3: Activity 1: How Stressed Are You? Quiz Component 4: Activity 1: How Stressed Are You? Quiz Answers Component 5: Handout 1: A Dozen Ways to Reduce Stress Component 6: Activity 2: Exercises to Relieve Stress Component 7: Handout 2: Reduce Your Time Related Stress Component 8: Activity 3: Identifying Your Stress Producers Component 9: Activity 4: Behaviors to Lower Stress Component 10: Activity 4: Behaviors to Lower Stress, Explanation Sheet | Component 5 Handout 1: A Dozen Ways to Reduce Stress Real estate sales is among the 25 most stressful occupations, according to the Jobs Rated Almanac, published by Barricade Books, Ft. Lee, N.J. The 1998 Almanac says the real estate professional falls in the same stress category as an air traffic controller, police officer, and NCAA basketball coach. Try these options for reducing stress. 1. Make peace with imperfections; always strive to do your best, but accept the limitations of being a human being. 2. Learn to live in the present; don’t be controlled by past problems or future concerns. 3. Spend a moment every day thinking of someone to thank: a higher being for the beauty of the day or the guy who let you change lanes without honking at you. It’s a great way to combat negativity. 4. Get out. Walk around the block, take the long way through the park and admire the view. Take a break to exercise or pamper yourself with a new tie or a manicure. 5. Smile at strangers and look them in the eye; the sense of opening up and connecting is a great stress reducer. 6. Remember to be grateful for what you have, not frustrated by what you don’t have. 7. Choose your battles wisely; disagreements are stressful. Don’t use your energy trying to convince someone else unless it’s really important. Don’t make winning a must do for every issue. 8. Create a stress-reduction box, suggests Jan Morris, Morris VIP Realty, Montgomery, Ala. Include pictures of your children or pets, a silly cartoon, letters of appreciation from past clients, and a goofy toy. (I personally find that one or two blasts on a duck call cheers me up tremendously.) 9. Remember you can’t please all people, all of the time. Real estate is a service business, but not every prospect will recognize you for the great salesperson you are, and not every buyer will like the great listing you’re so proud of. Get over it. 10. Breathe before you speak. It will often help you avoid ill-considered statements that can increase everyone’s stress level and give you a chance to really listen to what has been said. 11. Talk to yourself positively; positive affirmations will help counter the feels of negativity, anger and the sense of failure that often accompany stress. 12. Concentrate on doing one thing at a time. Trying to eat lunch, talk to a client, and put the finishing touches on a property ad that has to be in today is a surefire recipe for stress and possibly mistakes. Component 6: Activity 2: Exercises to Relieve Stress > |