5 Characteristics of a Funeral Director

5 Funeral Director Characteristics

• Empathy
• Superb Listening Skills
• Creativity
• Dedication to Others
• Courage Under Stress

What are the characteristics of a funeral director who wishes to have a successful career? If someone wants to do become one, possessing these traits will help propel them in the right direction.

1. Empathy

Many individuals are not capable of encountering the sadness and grief of another family losing a loved one. It will take much emotional stability to keep composure in check when dealing with clients. Families are understandably heartbroken after the death of their loved one, so they are seeking a reliable individual who can help comfort them during this difficult time. Although a funeral director cannot understand what someone may be going through, they do have the experience to help someone in the grieving process.

2. Superb Listening Skills

As soon as a family comes through the doors, the funeral director must be ready to listen. Rather than a drawn-out sales pitch, he or she needs to listen carefully to provide the necessary services. Every situation the funeral director will encounter will be different. For this reason, they must hear out the family’s needs. Once the clients discover that the director is listening, they’ll be more willing to share additional information with them.

3. Creativity

Creative skills may seem like they are undeeded characteristics of a funeral director, but they are needed. In 2019, a funeral director has much more responsibility than only provide a cookie-cutter service for the family. The family will want to see the funeral as a celebration of their loved one’s life. Coming us with innovative ways to display essential artifacts of that person’s accomplishments is challenging, but it is worth it. Individuals who have had recent death will appreciate the hard work that is required for a creative funeral service.

4. Dedication To Others

If the standard working hours are a requirement for someone, they should probably avoid a career as a funeral director. Much of the time, a funeral director needs to be on-call to be there for an unfortunate event. Families depend on a responsive person who can be there for them at any time of the day. Although directors may be stressed, they need to put their discomforts aside to be attentive to the grieving family. The work, although stressful, also is compensated generously. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary of a funeral director was more than $79,000 per year in May of 2018.

5. Courage Under Stress

The situations that a funeral director will see couldn’t be dealt with by the ordinary person. Many times disheartening cases can be tough to deal with, but the director finds a way to be the constant face of comfort for the grieving. Whether dealing with the unexpected death of a child or an adult who lost a battle with cancer, the funeral director is always ready to provide the needed comfort.

Related Resource: 10 Best Affordable Bachelor’s in Funeral Service and Mortuary Science

It takes a special kind of person to be a successful funeral director. These characteristics are essential for anybody who is considering this rewarding career.