I love the real estate industry and if i can get out of my shyness i think i would do good. Im shy as far as first impressions and my voice is kinda low. But I can be loud with people that i know. This is the only thing that i need work on and i am currently working on it. I'm not good at making coversation. Please don't say real estate is not for me. I will not let shyness stop me from pursuing something that i really want to do and i will just need to work on it to overcome this. I'm sure after awhile of doing it i will be loud as ever but for now i think i will be shy at first. Im working on my interpersonal skills but was just seeing if anyone have any tips as far as conversation ice breakers or ways to overcome shyness or any kind of tips. Thanks in advance.

I used to be extremely shy, and I still am a little bit shy but I have overcome it to a great degree. I made a personal decision a long time ago to master shyness. I found it helps to think that everyone puts on their pants one leg at a time. This little saying helped me deal with "people of importance" such as mayors, congressmen, wealthy business owners and so forth.

The other thing that helps is to get out there with people. Shake hands. Ask other people about themselves...it's everyone's favorite subject...get them talking. My earlier job in sales called this "fact finding." Become an active listener. Do it over and over and over again. Eventually, meeting new people and conversing with them becomes easy and natural.

oh thank you so much neudot for posting this! I will definitely use this information!!

You might find this article helpful and encouraging:

http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20090505_curesales.htm

I once had a conversation with a friend of mine who was reluctant to try sales. Heck, I was reluctant, too, being a natural introvert who doesn't like to bug people. My friend was going to work for a greenhouse. I told her, "You're not trying to sell something, you're trying to help people." The sale comes as part of the helping process. You listen to them explain what they are looking for, or what they are having a problem with, and you help them solve their problem.

Selling houses is the same way. You listen to the person describe the type of house that interests them. You find out what price range they are searching in. If they need financing you may recommend a few lenders, or attorneys, or contractors...you have a wealth of contacts for businesses that work with homebuyers.

When you succeed in finding your buyer the right house, you feel satisfied and fulfilled. When you bring a buyer for your seller's house, you feel satisfied and fulfilled. You have helped someone else by sharing your expertise, guiding them, and helping them to succeed.

Plenty of successful salespeople are not natural extroverts. The trick is to be so enthusiastic about your product (or service) and so knowledgeable, that you naturally can talk persuasively about it.

An in general, everything that gets sold is sold. Think about your everyday life. You go to a restaurant and after finishing your entree, the server asks "Do you want dessert or coffee?" That is a sales dialogue, though not a very good one. If the server says " Are you ready for our wonderful cherry cheesecake or would you prefer our homemade apple pie?" that is a sales dialogue and a close.

I'm not naturally extroverted, but I've made a great living working in the sales field for over 40 years because I've always learned as much as possible about the product and service before I made any sales calls.

Here's another great blog about how to overcome confidence issues by actually caring about your client...
http://activerain.com/blogsview/893289/c...e-a-difference-

I'm definitely an introvert and thankfully realized and accepted that fact early on. I knew I would never be comfortable pestering people or putting anyone on the spot with a cheesy sales pitch, so I found ways to attract business to me instead of chasing after it. We introverts can be phenomenal salespeople as long as we know our audience is interested in what we have to offer, but if we think we're annoying them, we're toast.

I've written a ton on the introvert experience as a real estate agent - if you google "Jennifer Allan Introvert" you'll find a bunch of articles, blogs & such. Hopefully you'll find some reassurance that you can do this (without changing who you are).

I think there is a difference between shyness and being an introvert. Those 2 things are not necessarily the same thing.

There are times I am shy but when you talk to me about real estate, I can be bold. Not obnoxious but you would tell I know what I'm talking about.

Then, there are times, I need down time to be on my own after working back to back appointments with people, although we are in the people business.

My sister finds me "weird" that people wears me out and my husband doesnt think I could do well in real estate because of my personality.

Here's my record - and JA can attest to it. As of June 30 2009, I've sold more RE than I did all of 2008. And prior to 2009, 2008 was my spectacular year. I continue to soar since 2003 and didn't people say that we are in a bad economy? So far, I'm just being blessed and I'm soaking every bit of it by BEING ME.

I have a very sensitive side and I take it to my maximum advantage. My clients reap it.

I wouldn't call myself shy, but I am always worried about saying the wrong thing. It happened tonight. I was speaking with a client on the phone letting him know he has an accepted offer on his home. When we were ending our conversation I said "good luck" instead of "congratulations." I felt like an idiot. I know i'm not a good speaker but i'm an agent who cares about my clients and will do my best for them. That's more important to me.

You spoke the truth (your sub-conscious mind chose the words). I wouldn't ever want to stifle that.

Good Luck is in order at P&S time. Congratulations are in order as you getting up from the Closing Table. Much can happen in between the two events.

Maybe a little further explanation is in order . . . . but the words you uttered were the correct words.

Comfort zones are most often expanded through discomfort! I'm far more comfortable with contacting prospects now than I was when I started in real estate just over three years ago. Now it's the new normal.

This is from a guy who's DISC profile is that of an analytical introvert, so I have to force myself to get from behind this PC and to be sociable daily and not come across arrogantly. I suspect that if you tackle those things that you know will drive business or manage expenses, it will eventually come natural to you too.