Property Manage with a Purpose.

Property Manage with a purpose, just make sure the purpose helps more than just you!  Try to make every decision with an earnest and deliberate approach towards providing excellence.  1 Corinthians 3:8 Explains: The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor.  Can you see your property as a farm, with the richest soil, Just waiting for you to plant the most promising seeds?  That can come in the form of diligence, competence, sincere customer service and a marketing plan that focuses more on giving than receiving.  Finally, understand that success is just a reflection of your purpose.  If you manage your property with a purpose of just getting through the day and keeping your regional and residents at bay then that’s all you will have.  On the other hand if you manage your property with a purpose that delivers superior quality of life in your community then this will be your reward......plus  those well deserved renewal bonu$e$.  :)

 

 

Are You Listening?

Jesus spoke with such clarity and he listened intently to people as they expressed to him their innermost emotions. The connection to listening and speaking can be best examined when reviewing scriptures that capture conversations with Jesus.  John 4:7 demonstrate the masterful way Jesus heard a need within a dialogue. 

Property managers are not miracle workers, but if we understand how to listen and discern a need within a conversation the results can seem miraculous. In my experience its not unusual to see a bad, no – a terrible situation instantly transformed when sincere and active listening is evident.

Below I’ve listed a few tried and true tips for active listening:

1. Engage yourself. Ask questions for clarification,  wait until the speaker has finished. That way, you won’t interrupt their train of thought. After you ask questions, paraphrase their point to make sure you didn’t misunderstand. Start with: “So you’re saying…”

2. Focus solely on what the speaker is saying. Try not to think about what you are going to say next. The conversation will follow a logical flow after the speaker makes her point.

3. Even if the speaker is launching a complaint against you, wait until they finish to defend yourself. The speaker will feel as though their point had been made. They won’t feel the need to repeat it, and you’ll know the whole argument before you respond. Research shows that, on average, we can hear four times faster than we can talk, so we have the ability to sort ideas as they come in…and be ready for more.

4. Remember to RELAX, open your heart and open your mind.

 

 

Why Lie?

When the truth is so much more profitable, it’s still difficult to understand why lying is such a powerful temptation in our management offices. The motives to lie are countless and of course so are the consequences that follow. The side effects of lying can include but are not limited to the list below:

Temporary memory loss

Embarrassment

Tarnished Reputation

More lies, to cover lies

Habit Forming

Job/Financial loss

Irate residents

Loss of credibility

Proverbs 12:22 ~ The LORD detests lying lips,  but he delights in people who are trustworthy.

 Proverbs 12:19 - Truthful lips endure for ever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.

 

 

There Is Never A Time When You Should Be Nabal…

For an audio narrative ~ Click photo

 

Nabal’s story like Abigail’s begins in 1 Samuel 25 but unlike her example of wisdom, he demonstrates foolishness.  The bible describes him as “churlish” or rude and mean spirited. Hard to imagine how he and Abigail connected??? 

 

          Many property managers here in sunny South Florida often encounter what I’d like to call Nabal-Neighbors. These are residents that have given in to their lesser nature and wear it proudly. The good news is that sometimes they can serve as mirrors for how we are treating our team and other residents. Their behavior can inspire the question …are you a Nabal colleague, a Nabal Manager? Forcing your team to act as Abigail to avert tragedy?