You can’t spreadsheet your way to outstanding leadership.
I’m sure you already know that.
At least for those of you who hate spreadsheets!
Data is helpful, but the best leaders have something else—an instinct, a fingertip feel.
It’s the ability to sense what’s happening before the numbers spell it out.
The best multifamily leaders don’t wait for occupancy reports to tell them a property is struggling.
They feel it in the energy of the leasing office, the body language of the site manager, and the tone of a maintenance team member’s words/voice.
You either have an apple pie office or a dirty socks office.
Management is numbers.
Leadership is feel.
Your best decisions won’t always be logical.
Sometimes, you’ll choose a new strategy because you just know the market is shifting.
Other times, you’ll hold the line when everything says to pivot.
The mistake is believing leadership is purely rational.
It’s not.
It’s visceral.
A great chef doesn’t need a thermometer to know when a steak is perfect.
A great musician doesn’t need sheet music to feel the right note.
A great leader doesn’t need a dashboard to tell them their team is burning out.
The signs are everywhere—if you’re paying attention.
Data should inform your leadership.
Your gut, honed by experience and immersion, will always be faster than an algorithm.
Trust it.
“Leaders who rely only on data are late to the game. The best ones feel the shift before the numbers confirm it.” — Mike Brewer