Shocking, right? In what world is a leasing consultant supposed to pay for things that help them do their job?

Oh wait.

Let me check my notes.

Oh, I was a bit off, it wasn't their own CRM – it was training! How silly of me.

Yes, I'm being a bit snarky here, but it's true, on a consistent basis we get personal checks for payment for the Webinar Wednesday series and every time, it truly breaks my heart.

Anyone who takes training in their own hands should be supported in every way possible. These are people who could spend their money on more Starbucks, a nice shirt, or whatever they choose, and yet they decide to spend their personal cash to invest in their own career growth. We always talk about finding great talent, but if a team member is wanting to self-educate like that, it means you already have great talent, and all you have to do is support them!

In the 2024 Employee Satisfaction Research Report produced by Multifamily Insiders and Grace Hill, training came up again and again from responders, showing how their companies supported (or didn't support) them.

And according to the Pew Research Center, only 44% of Americans are satisfied with their opportunities for training. Well, of course they aren't if their employers are forcing them to pay for it! 

I started off discussing Webinar Wednesdays, and while we love people subscribing to the series, it really could be anything.  Maybe your team member wants an in-person experience at a local apartment association class.  Or maybe they are ready to take that next step and want to take a leadership course not already provided at the company.  These are all opportunities to show team members that the company values them and wants to invest in their future.  

What's your take? Is training a luxury that companies shouldn't have to bear? What if a company already has some training but a team member is especially driven – Should there be some level of support for self-selecting their learning path? Talk to me, Insiders!