Maintenance & Management team building

Hello:
I am a site manager at a 200 unit affordable property where the management/leasing staff and the maintenance staff (with maintenance superintendent) are completely disconnected. Can anyone give me ideas on how to unify the two groups into a cohesive efficient team and help them understand that while the Superintendent is thier direct supervisor I am the Site Manager and thus repsonsible for them all. I'm at my wits end with this "Us" vs. "Them" atmosphere!!!

Hi Kristin,

Sometimes when a Maintenance Team has been together for a long time, or when the Maintenance Supervisor has been in place for several years, there is a disconnect between the Site Manager and the Maintenance Team. However, there are things you can do to get through this. First, talk to the MS and ask for his input about the budget, his inventories and logs (ask to review them) and discuss the goals for the week. Then, have a weekly team meeting so that everyone sees you leading the meeting. Ask who is doing what (as in which Tech is turning unit A and who is on call for the week) and then ask about parts needed and explain the budget parameters for the week. For example, someone worked 3 hours of OT for on-calls so we need to be aware that all other OT needs to be approved by the MS but you will be reviewing it. I would make sure that the Leasing Team is also a part of this team meeting. Have your Leasing professional tell the Maintenance Team which units are on the Hot Sheet, which units they need because it was just rented on Saturday. It helps when everyone understands what each person does. It is very important to speak in terms of us and we, rather than he and them. Building the team starts slowly but it can be done. I suspect your Maintenance Team may know Leasing gets a commission or bonus and they are miffed by that. Or, they don't think the Manager or Office know anything about turns and prepping units and how to make some repairs. Maybe the MS feels like the Office promises Residents too much. It can be any number of things, but to get to the bottom of it requires communication, first and foremost.