New Regional Manager

I will be transitioning out of our training department into a regional manager position---seeing that the brightest of the brightest on on MFI I would like get your best advice, tip, trick on being a regional manager---I have had a similar position so I am by no means a rookie but have not worked the operations side of things for a little more than 3 years....thanks in advance!

Organization is key! Make a basic schedule on how to monitor each site/how often/etc. And stick to it. Modify your schedule to meet the needs of each site - new managers will need more help, struggling sites will need added attention, etc. And don't forget to follow-up. Never assume that if you asked someone to do something - that they've done it. This kind of trust comes over time as you learn each manager - each one is different.

Ask each of your site managers what their personal, professional & site goals are, and keep those in mind as your move forward. Also ask them what they want to keep the same (i.e. things that the don't want to change) And ask them for what areas they would like more assistance/guidance. Ask them how much communication they want/need - and try to accommodate their communication needs! Some people need more, and some people need less. If you treat everyone the same, the one that needs more attention/communication will feel neglected, and the one who needs the occasional touch-base will feel like your suffocating them.

Pay attention to financials - this is what your supervisor, VP's and owners are paying attention to. Understand what has gone on in your portfolio prior to you taking it over, and highlight areas where you feel you can make financial improvements. This could mean address vacancy, delinquency or expenses. In any case, be sure to understand your site financials backwards and forwards! Any decisions you make/change/alter/recommend will need financial documentation/detail/history/support - so be ready.

Ask for help, clarification, documentation, guidance, from your supervisors, support group, etc. No one starts off knowing everything - and the smartest people are the first to admit the are always learning. Don't be afraid to admit you don't know - but let them know you can find out!

CONGRATS and good luck!

-Daisy

I believe your training and marketing background is a good combo for a successful Regional Manager. Just like Daisy mentioned on her response, organization is key, but also team building and support. One of the things my employees use to say about my management style as a Regional, was the amount of support and team building I offered, which allow them to learn and enjoy their jobs, which effectively made them produce at a much higher level than other regions. Good luck in your new role!

Daisy's focus on financials is key too--that IS what your owners will be judging. However, I really like Pedro's response--building a team and acting as support staff to the front-line really will helps your portfolio be more successful. When I first became a regional, there was a sense that I had to prove myself to my team. Sometimes we do that by being dictatorial, not approachable, etc. I learned to always introduce myself by saying that my role was to support the front-line. We are in this together and I am only as successful as the front-line team. We brainstormed solutions together and created--created team, created energy, created great places to live and created income. Good luck!

One of the most important things to do with your teams is to be open. Listen to their goals and share yours with them. You may have some challenges ahead, occupancy, ROI, etc. If this is the case, let your teams know what the goal is and when it needs to be achieved. Just as in football, the team can't score if they don't know where the goal line is.

Once a goal is achieved, share the credit. A lot of regional managers take credit for what their teams get done. This will result in the team abandoning you when you need them the most. When you give them the credit, they will move mountains for you!

Best of luck in your new position!