10 Things I Learned in Kindergarten and Use in Property Management
Name: Vicki Sharp, NALP, CAPS, CDPM
Title: Principal
Company: The Sharp Solution, Gallatin, Tenn.
1. Share. Don’t hold back information. Knowledge is power, and when your team understands what needs to be accomplished, they can work to achieve it.
2. Play Fair. When no one feels cheated, everyone wins. Don’t try to “win” at any cost—the price usually isn’t worth it.
3. Don’t Hit. This doesn’t have to be in a physical sense. Employers, managers and supervisors: Don’t “hit” your employees with negativity and constant berating. Employees and team members: Don’t “hit” your bosses with gossip and poor-quality job performance.
4.Clean Up Your Mess. When you make a mistake, admit it and make it right. Don’t blame others, even when they may have contributed to the problem. Those who can admit their blunders and learn from them are the folks who will succeed in business—and in life.
5. Don’t Take Things That Aren’t Yours. This goes beyond taking money or office supplies. Stealing credit for something that you didn’t do is worse, and can do serious damage to both your team and your reputation. No one wants to work hard, only to watch the boss take the credit.
6.Say You’re Sorry. In our world of texting, tweeting, and e-mails, where meaning and tone often are lost in translation, it’s easier than ever to hurt someone. When you discover that you’ve done so (unintentionally or not), take responsibility for what you said or did, admit that you were wrong, and apologize. Employees will appreciate your apology.
7. Flush. Besides the obvious, you can apply this concept to our industry. When negativity hits, flush it away. Things will go wrong, residents will complain, team members will call in sick, and bosses will have unreasonable demands. All can create negative energy that will continue to build up unless it’s flushed.
8. Enjoy Recess. Our minds work differently when we play and when we work. By combining the two every day, your creative juices will flow. Have you ever had a great idea for work in the middle of a game you were playing with your children? Or a great idea for a family vacation while doing some research for work? Work and play are intertwined, so don’t force them apart.
9. Take a Nap. Obviously our work day doesn’t allow for a real snooze, but since most of us aren’t on top of our game right after lunch, use that time to get physical and recharge. Take a walk through your community and look for things that need attention, or take a moment to visit a resident. Walk over to the maintenance shop and ask your team members how their day is going—just get moving!
10. Watch Out for Traffic. Take the time to analyze your leasing traffic. What are your sources and how well are they working? Understand the cost per lease. Are you getting the right kind of traffic? What can you do to improve?
Based on the poem “All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten,” by Robert Fulghum.
If you would like to be considered for a future End Points column, please contact Lauren Boston at 703/797-0678 or lauren@naahq.org.