Here's mine.I'd been working as a Property Manager for several years when I decided to change management companies. I took a position as a Property Manager at a company that impressed me during the interview process: personable interviewers, dynamic leaders, stories of extensive training support. Fast forward to Day 1. I arrive at the community where I am now "the boss." Because my boss, the Regional Manager, was located hundreds of miles a ...

It's getting to be that time of year when managers are asked to conduct performance reviews with their direct reports. Let's face it; for many leaders and employees alike, the performance review is a dreaded activity. Here are just a few reasons why people despise them:It's awkward. Without proper training, managers often don't know what to say in a performance review, or how to say it. Their lack of confidence in their own skills makes the meeti ...

"So, who are you voting for?"If this topic of water cooler conversation strikes fear in your heart, you are not alone. A Gallup poll says that 15% of respondents felt uncomfortable or that they were treated unfairly at work because of their political views. Frankly, I am surprised the percentage is not a LOT higher than that. The closer we get to the upcoming presidential election, the more at risk we are for discomfort, conflict, and discord in ...

I can't figure out what's going on with the state of hiring in rental housing right now. The apartment industry, like all U.S. businesses, continues to struggle with a shortage of employees and job candidates. That part is easy to understand. The numbers in the Bureau of Labor Statistics' JOLTS [Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey] report don't lie; we are dealing with a years-long tight labor market and persistent talent shortages. And, accor ...

Recently a colleague asked me, "How can you tell whether a workplace is a good culture fit before you work there?" It's a good question–and an important one because if you're considering changing jobs, you want to choose a new employer that satisfies your needs, culturally speaking. An extremely basic definition of workplace culture, by the way, is simply, 'how we do things around here.'  Figuring out how employers do things around ...

I was a manager for years before I realized the value of regularly scheduled, recurring one-on-one meetings, also referred to as 1:1s. In fact, I resisted them. "I already have too many meetings in my life," my self-talk went. "My people can reach me anytime they need me. There's no need to put more meetings on any of our calendars."Then, a new hire insisted on it. I begrudgingly began holding weekly 1:1 meetings with them. Before long, I realize ...

 This recent headline from The Washington Post delivers some sobering news for multifamily professionals: Rent has never been less affordable, especially for the middle class.Here are some findings in a new report from the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies: Half of Americans spend more than 30% of their income on housing costs More than half of those same households have housing costs that exceed 50% of their income Rising r ...

Apartment communities have notoriously high employee turnover rates, and the past few years have made hanging on to leasing and service professionals especially challenging. There are many reasons why staff turnover is costly to a rental housing organization. But is resident satisfaction one of them? You bet.Employee turnover and resident turnover are closely connected. Residents deeply dislike it when employee turnover occurs in their apartment ...

Here we are, two or three years into a labor shortage, and hiring is not getting easier for apartment operators. Companies and communities continue to limp along, short staffed. Customers who may once have been understanding have lost all patience with the resulting service delays. A tough situation gets tougher.How can you fill the empty positions on your team? Here are some success strategies I've uncovered via conversations with numerous renta ...