Editor’s note: NAA Staff Writer Lauren Boston writes a humorous blog about how apartment management content in units magazine applies to her everyday life or childhood. Check it out every Thursday afternoon at www.naahq.org.
I once interned at a publishing company in Bath, England—and by interned, I mean sat at a desk in a basement that felt only slightly warmer than a meat locker and politely declined approximately 39 cups of the Brits’ beloved tea each day. There, I learned an important lesson about creativity.
Each morning, the head writer would meander into the office around 10 a.m. in jeans and a wrinkled t-shirt, and proceed to begin drinking a pint of beer at his desk. Because this was England and because the concept of an HR department was as foreign to this small publishing company as the concept of daytime sobriety, this appeared to be perfectly acceptable.
While this initially was a shock to my American sensibilities, I soon noticed that this guy was consistently producing brilliant copy for the company’s humorous travel guides. Perhaps by relaxing and focusing on something else (even if that meant a pint), he wasn’t forcing himself to come up with ideas. They just came naturally.
I’m obviously not suggesting we all start bringing a six-pack to the office in the name of creativity. But the point is that sometimes we are most productive when we take a step back and focus our attention away from our daily job responsibilities.
Debbie Zumo, CAM, Property Manager at Herman & Kittle Properties’ Canterbury House Apartments in Baton Rouge, La., seems to agree.
Once a month she hosts a day with her staff devoted to ideas and innovation. On the appointed day, employees report to the office at their normal time and Zumo distributes a list of topics. Staff members are then permitted to spend the day any way they choose—be it on the property or off the property (but not, despite what they may do across the pond, drinking).
At day’s end, the employees regroup to discuss what they’ve come up with. The concept is called a FedEx Day, because you are expected to deliver something overnight. To be paid for the day employees just have to produce an idea.
Those crazy Brits may be on to something.
For more on FedEx Days, see “Now That’s a Great Idea,” on pg. 62.