Meet the Experts: Lucy Freedman, Owner, Syntax for Change
The Academy of CRE partners with commercial real estate experts from around the country to provide engaging, real-life curriculum in each of our courses. In this interview series, we spoke with Lucy Freedman, Owner of Syntax for Change, to learn more about her background. Plus, we discussed her role as a speaker in the 8-week Influential Communications Course with a preview of what you’ll learn in the class.
Question #1: What’s the best advice you received at the start of your career
Lucy Freedman: The best advice I received early on in my career was “Get good before you get big.” Essentially, it means to invest in your learning process. I still follow this advice today.
Question #2: What have you learned about teams, either from previous work experience or from teams that you’ve coached?
Lucy Freedman: Transparency. A lot of effort is required to share information clearly and to ensure it is accessible to the right people. The more context you can provide to people, the better. I’ve learned that working with a team also involves effectively managing the lines of communication.
Question #3: What collaboration and communication skill is underrated or overrated?
Lucy Freedman: Listening is an underutilized skill. Often, we don’t let people completely think or share their thoughts.
Question #4: How can entry level professionals improve their communications skills?
Lucy Freedman: Refine your ability to set outcomes. Instead of blindly entering a conversation, define your objectives and intent for the meeting. Afterwards, reflect on the conversation and determine whether you accomplished the goal. Being someone who stops and thinks about the outcome of a conversation can be valuable.
Question #5: In the Influential Communications course, you’ll be discussing how to keep conversations on track. Any tips or previews you’d like to share about that part of the course?
Lucy Freedman: The clearer we are on where we want to go, the freer we can move with wherever people are. To keep a conversation on track, you should set a reference point that you can refer back to. The reference point is an angle or goal that everyone has a shared view of. Sometimes keeping a conversation on track requires stopping to get clear on the expected outcome.
Bonus Question: How can students register for the Influential Communication Course?
Register for the 8-week Influential Communication Course to build the skills to lead and contribute within any organization and propel your professional trajectory.