Comments for Tara Furiani, Learning & Development Extraordinaire! http://www.tarafuriani.com Tara Furiani, Learning & Development Extraordinaire Tue, 29 Nov 2011 21:00:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on Who I am, Who I’m Not and Who I Want to Be! by Victor Canada http://www.tarafuriani.com/2011/11/28/who-i-am-who-i%e2%80%99m-not-and-who-i-want-to-be/comment-page-1/#comment-1929 Victor Canada Tue, 29 Nov 2011 21:00:55 +0000 http://www.tarafuriani.com/2011/11/28/who-i-am-who-i%e2%80%99m-not-and-who-i-want-to-be/#comment-1929 Thanks Tara. This is crrtainly a thought provoking post. At the minimum, this is a good exercise for anyone seeking to get more out of life and at the maximum it's the key to achieving greatness. Thanks Tara. This is crrtainly a thought provoking post. At the minimum, this is a good exercise for anyone seeking to get more out of life and at the maximum it’s the key to achieving greatness.

]]> Comment on Coffee is For Closers Only! by Please, please read this article! « Signature Snippets http://www.tarafuriani.com/2011/11/15/coffee-is-for-closers-only/comment-page-1/#comment-1872 Please, please read this article! « Signature Snippets Tue, 15 Nov 2011 22:48:15 +0000 http://www.tarafuriani.com/2011/11/15/coffee-is-for-closers-only/#comment-1872 [...] have a cup of coffee, because I know you are all CLOSERS! http://www.tarafuriani.com/2011/11/15/coffee-is-for-closers-only/ Share this:ShareEmailLike this:LikeBe the first to like this [...] [...] have a cup of coffee, because I know you are all CLOSERS! http://www.tarafuriani.com/2011/11/15/coffee-is-for-closers-only/ Share this:ShareEmailLike this:LikeBe the first to like this [...]

]]> Comment on We Might as Well Just Have a Pre-Recorded Message! by Rachel Daubert http://www.tarafuriani.com/2011/07/12/we-might-as-well-just-have-a-pre-recorded-message/comment-page-1/#comment-1543 Rachel Daubert Tue, 16 Aug 2011 18:21:59 +0000 http://www.tarafuriani.com/?p=708#comment-1543 Ok, I know I am on the verge of being considered a stalker with my excessive comments, but I can't help it. It is so amazing and encouraging to find someone who shares the same thoughts as myself. Let's stop listing features and start SELLING! I believe every prospect is tired of the same old phone script: "Our spacious 2x2 apartments offer a split floor plan, large closets and gormet kitchens. You will love our resort style pool, 24 hr fitness center and lush landscaping. In the area you can enjoy an easy commute to the highway, tons of shopping and local parks for you to enjoy." ***BORING!!!! As a prospect I would be lucky to even retain 1 of these listed features after 4 more calls. Tell me something new, something I can't find online, something that will strike MY interests and movtivate me to want to see more. A prospect doesn't need us to regurgitate what they can see for themselves. I am constantly preaching this. So "AMEN!" on this blog. Ok, I know I am on the verge of being considered a stalker with my excessive comments, but I can’t help it. It is so amazing and encouraging to find someone who shares the same thoughts as myself.

Let’s stop listing features and start SELLING! I believe every prospect is tired of the same old phone script:
“Our spacious 2×2 apartments offer a split floor plan, large closets and gormet kitchens. You will love our resort style pool, 24 hr fitness center and lush landscaping. In the area you can enjoy an easy commute to the highway, tons of shopping and local parks for you to enjoy.”
***BORING!!!! As a prospect I would be lucky to even retain 1 of these listed features after 4 more calls.

Tell me something new, something I can’t find online, something that will strike MY interests and movtivate me to want to see more. A prospect doesn’t need us to regurgitate what they can see for themselves. I am constantly preaching this. So “AMEN!” on this blog.

]]> Comment on The Frustrations of a Trainer… and What WE Can Do Better! by Rachel Daubert http://www.tarafuriani.com/2011/08/08/the-frustrations-of-a-trainer%e2%80%a6-and-what-we-can-do-better/comment-page-1/#comment-1542 Rachel Daubert Tue, 16 Aug 2011 17:58:45 +0000 http://www.tarafuriani.com/?p=720#comment-1542 I share many of your feelings that you stated in this article. My company is very open to evaluating our leasing approach and educational training to find new ways to improve our sales and resident retention. The challenge at times is getting the "elephant in the room" to embrace change. As a new trainer with no formal education in this department, I am thirsty to learn more about how I can help our team members to excel in their roles. I deeply want to leave every team member with the passion and knowledge on expectional sales and customer service. Do you have any suggestions on organizations, books and/or educational opportunties that you could recommend for a new trainer? Once again, thank you for your blog. I share many of your feelings that you stated in this article. My company is very open to evaluating our leasing approach and educational training to find new ways to improve our sales and resident retention. The challenge at times is getting the “elephant in the room” to embrace change.

As a new trainer with no formal education in this department, I am thirsty to learn more about how I can help our team members to excel in their roles. I deeply want to leave every team member with the passion and knowledge on expectional sales and customer service. Do you have any suggestions on organizations, books and/or educational opportunties that you could recommend for a new trainer?

Once again, thank you for your blog.

]]> Comment on Customer Service Isn’t Just Dead… It was MURDERED! by Tara Furiani http://www.tarafuriani.com/2011/07/26/customer-service-isnt-just-dead-it-was-murdered/comment-page-1/#comment-1541 Tara Furiani Tue, 16 Aug 2011 17:48:59 +0000 http://www.tarafuriani.com/?p=713#comment-1541 Thank you Rachel! We're getting very excited! I've actually read that book by Chip Conley (Like you, I'm always thirsty for knowledge). It is a great read! Congrats on your new role... training is a lot of fun and very personally rewarding. I have a pretty good collection of blogs on the topic :) Let me know if there is anything I can do to help you out! My door is always open... Tara Thank you Rachel! We’re getting very excited!

I’ve actually read that book by Chip Conley (Like you, I’m always thirsty for knowledge). It is a great read!

Congrats on your new role… training is a lot of fun and very personally rewarding. I have a pretty good collection of blogs on the topic :)

Let me know if there is anything I can do to help you out! My door is always open…

Tara

]]> Comment on Customer Service Isn’t Just Dead… It was MURDERED! by Rachel Daubert http://www.tarafuriani.com/2011/07/26/customer-service-isnt-just-dead-it-was-murdered/comment-page-1/#comment-1540 Rachel Daubert Tue, 16 Aug 2011 17:13:42 +0000 http://www.tarafuriani.com/?p=713#comment-1540 First, congratulations on your family's upcoming addition, Luke. Second, I agree that it feels like customer service has died. It is sad how few positive stories I can share. The basics can so easily get tossed to the side. But let me tell you, I cling to those good moments and make sure those individuals and their supervisors know how much I appreciate them and their service. Third, I read a wonderful book by Chip Conley- How great companies get their mojo from Maslow, and I loved how he structured out a customer's level of needs and how to meet them and then the final reward for achieving this. Definitely a good book I recommend to other team members. Lastly, thank you for your blog. I am new to the training dept for my company and am very thristy for new knowledge and skills. I apperciate that you take the time to share your knowledge and experience with others. :) Rachel First, congratulations on your family’s upcoming addition, Luke.

Second, I agree that it feels like customer service has died. It is sad how few positive stories I can share. The basics can so easily get tossed to the side. But let me tell you, I cling to those good moments and make sure those individuals and their supervisors know how much I appreciate them and their service.

Third, I read a wonderful book by Chip Conley- How great companies get their mojo from Maslow, and I loved how he structured out a customer’s level of needs and how to meet them and then the final reward for achieving this. Definitely a good book I recommend to other team members.

Lastly, thank you for your blog. I am new to the training dept for my company and am very thristy for new knowledge and skills. I apperciate that you take the time to share your knowledge and experience with others. :)

Rachel

]]> Comment on The Frustrations of a Trainer… and What WE Can Do Better! by Elesa Kassoff (Lisa) http://www.tarafuriani.com/2011/08/08/the-frustrations-of-a-trainer%e2%80%a6-and-what-we-can-do-better/comment-page-1/#comment-1534 Elesa Kassoff (Lisa) Mon, 15 Aug 2011 13:22:57 +0000 http://www.tarafuriani.com/?p=720#comment-1534 Tara, We are ready to do some mystery shopping for you... From the above info You spend a lot of time training and are specific in the accountability of the staff. We also do l-1 training and new hire (need a waiver for this)We can do audio shops which tests them on the initial phone call. Do you use role playing in your training sessions?? Looking forward to hearing from you. Lisa The AdvisoryGroupAssociatesllc Tara,

We are ready to do some mystery shopping for you… From
the above info You spend a lot of time training and are specific in the accountability of the staff.

We also do
l-1 training and new hire (need a waiver for this)We can
do audio shops which tests them on the initial phone
call.
Do you use role playing in your training sessions??
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Lisa
The AdvisoryGroupAssociatesllc

]]> Comment on Computer Illiterate? Seek Help! by Tara Furiani http://www.tarafuriani.com/2011/08/01/computer-illiterate-seek-help/comment-page-1/#comment-1492 Tara Furiani Fri, 05 Aug 2011 01:22:21 +0000 http://www.tarafuriani.com/?p=718#comment-1492 Hi Steve, Thanks so much for your comments (I appreciate that YOU read my blog... I'm flattered, really). It's so true, device literacy is vitally important and if you don't have it... you will lose out on opportunities. It's just a fact these days! I remember when DOS based programs were the hottest thing (as opposed to running a property with ledger cards) and the transition to DOS programs was painful for some. Then along came web-based PM software and more... many just couldn't keep up. It's amazing how many people don't take the time to invest in themselves and instead wait for someone to give them training... being proactive will only benefit YOU, both professionally and in a lot of ways, personally. Thanks again for commenting and sharing! Tara Hi Steve,

Thanks so much for your comments (I appreciate that YOU read my blog… I’m flattered, really).

It’s so true, device literacy is vitally important and if you don’t have it… you will lose out on opportunities. It’s just a fact these days! I remember when DOS based programs were the hottest thing (as opposed to running a property with ledger cards) and the transition to DOS programs was painful for some. Then along came web-based PM software and more… many just couldn’t keep up.

It’s amazing how many people don’t take the time to invest in themselves and instead wait for someone to give them training… being proactive will only benefit YOU, both professionally and in a lot of ways, personally.

Thanks again for commenting and sharing!

Tara

]]> Comment on Computer Illiterate? Seek Help! by Steve Lefkovitsq http://www.tarafuriani.com/2011/08/01/computer-illiterate-seek-help/comment-page-1/#comment-1491 Steve Lefkovitsq Thu, 04 Aug 2011 15:55:42 +0000 http://www.tarafuriani.com/?p=718#comment-1491 Hi Tara - I think you're right on about the critical importance of computer skills in the world we live in. My wife sometimes points out that I received formal computer training in graduate school and then in my first professional job after that - effectively two semesters worth of free training in Word, email, Powerpoint and Excel. She didn't have any of that formal training and consequently isn't as comfortable with a computer as she wants to be. Point being that these skills are like any other learned capability and need to be consciously acquired. And if your school or work didn't already invest in you, it's critical to invest the time (and maybe the money) to do so yourself at whatever phase of your career you're at. At some point, computer literacy will be like reading literacy and you won't be able to work without it. Old-timers like me remember the introduction of mobile workflow applications for multifamily in the late 1990's. At many communities, veteran maintenance associates quit because they couldn't read well enough to function using the devices. Device literacy is a real skill and critically important. Well said. Hi Tara – I think you’re right on about the critical importance of computer skills in the world we live in. My wife sometimes points out that I received formal computer training in graduate school and then in my first professional job after that – effectively two semesters worth of free training in Word, email, Powerpoint and Excel. She didn’t have any of that formal training and consequently isn’t as comfortable with a computer as she wants to be. Point being that these skills are like any other learned capability and need to be consciously acquired. And if your school or work didn’t already invest in you, it’s critical to invest the time (and maybe the money) to do so yourself at whatever phase of your career you’re at. At some point, computer literacy will be like reading literacy and you won’t be able to work without it. Old-timers like me remember the introduction of mobile workflow applications for multifamily in the late 1990’s. At many communities, veteran maintenance associates quit because they couldn’t read well enough to function using the devices. Device literacy is a real skill and critically important. Well said.

]]> Comment on Customer Service Isn’t Just Dead… It was MURDERED! by Tara Furiani http://www.tarafuriani.com/2011/07/26/customer-service-isnt-just-dead-it-was-murdered/comment-page-1/#comment-1462 Tara Furiani Fri, 29 Jul 2011 21:58:39 +0000 http://www.tarafuriani.com/?p=713#comment-1462 Thanks Becky! It was a pretty terrible experience... and I did just as you, I tweeted, facebooked and blogged. My experience with Kohl's and a gentleman named James T. on their social media team ended pleasantly. James responded to my tweet within minutes and reviewed what happened. The apologized for the experience and offered me an additional 5% off my order (25% total, honoring my original 20% off coupon). I declined. But at least the thought was there. It's just too bad... Thanks for taking the time to comment! :) Tara Thanks Becky! It was a pretty terrible experience… and I did just as you, I tweeted, facebooked and blogged. My experience with Kohl’s and a gentleman named James T. on their social media team ended pleasantly.

James responded to my tweet within minutes and reviewed what happened. The apologized for the experience and offered me an additional 5% off my order (25% total, honoring my original 20% off coupon). I declined. But at least the thought was there.

It’s just too bad…

Thanks for taking the time to comment! :)

Tara

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