Relationship
Fostering Multifamily Growth
We grow to the extent that we are around those who will foster our growth. (Period.) – Tom Peters
If you have ever given second thought to how you got to where you are today; I have no doubt the quote above has resonance with you.
I would go so far as to say that without some key relationships in your life you would not be either the person and or the professional you are today.
The key being relationship.
A good solid relationship is developed over time and requires a great deal of reciprocating effort on the part of the people involved.
It’s the hardest work you will ever do in your life. In the same respect it’s the most rewarding work you will ever do.
What are you doing to foster growth? What are you going to do next week? Monday?
Your planning my week in the context of fostering growth Multifamily Maniac,
M
1:1 Guiding Principle for 2014
Are you looking for a guiding principle for 2014? A guiding principle that relates to marketing and leadership? I have a principle that will have a real impact on your business?
1:1
Look no further than 1:1. Stop marketing to the masses and stop leading based on mass appeal. Instead look for ways that you can market 1:1. Look for ways that you can lead people 1:1.
We have so much information at our fingertips these days. Information that helps us understand people at a deeper level. You have everything you need to make a true impact.
Social media has given us a window into people’s lives. It’s up to us as marketers to use that information in an proper way and in a way that impacts their lives.
Stop trying to get 7,000 people to like your Facebook page. Stop trying to get 25,000 people following you on Twitter. It’s ridiculous. The real value of social media is not at the massive level, It’s at the 1:1 level.
Random Rant
It’s amazing to me how much of relationship marketing gets recycled by social media pundits. Gary Vaynerchuk (mad props and much respect) can create a slide deck of the most ridiculously obvious information and people think it’s the most amazing thing ever said. If we all stopped for just a second and thought about all those very cool things that we learned in kindergarten, things like: please, thank you and excuse me; things like: waiting your turn to talk; actively listening to the other person and speaking respectfully when we disagree, we would quickly realize that one to one relationship is nothing new. In fact it’s old-school.
I bet we could sit down with a sales rep or customer service agent from 25 years ago and discern that the truisms are no different today than they were back then. The only difference now is the sheer efficiency with which we can communicate. And the forever captured record when we do.
Back to 1:1
Simple point – stop trying to scream from the giant social media megaphone. Instead – get real and get deep into 1:1.
Your getting back to 1:1 Multifamily Maniac,
M
Multifamily Monday: What do to Today
It is another Multifamily Monday! And, it will likely be a crazy mad rush to get things addressed that came in over the weekend. In that mad rush of things to-do, don’t forget to foster a new relationship.
What to do Daily
Who could you reach out to today that would help your business down the road? A local community center? A local boys/girls club? A local restaurant? Any local business owner? Think about the eco-system that exists right around your community. The eco-system that is an extension of your community. Think about how you can create real-ationships with those people. Real – built on help them with real issues and problems they may have.
Don’t Ask For Anything in Return
Call anyone of these people up today and ask them what their number one problem is. Don’t try to solve it over the phone but do try to understand what it is. And, ask if he/she minds if you take a stab at offering up some solutions. Then take time during your weekly team meeting this week to brainstorm with your team. Come up with ideas that would be valuable to that owner. Then package those solutions in a brief, call ahead and then deliver via email. No strings attached.
Tomorrow
Do it again.
Your reaching out and providing value to your extended community multifamily maniac,
M
Multifamily Monday: Introduce the Rest of the Team
My challenge on this Multifamily Monday. Get your service team involved in the program.
Unsung Hero
We could all debate back and forth over the fact(s) that if it were not for the service teams we would not have apartments to lease. And, if we did not have people leasing apartments we would not have any to turn. Can we all agree that both are important to the operation. And, both carry equal weight as it relates to keeping the teams moving along.
That being said, I must lean on the side of service this morning. A couple of reason(s): Air Conditioners, Air Conditioners, Air Conditioners. As we continue to endure the heat wave that has gripped and squeezed this country over the past three weeks, our service teams never slow down. They never quit. No matter the task, they go about getting it done. My hat is off to them.
Make them Part of the Program
If any one of your service team members is in or around your leasing office when you are visiting with a resident – take the time to introduce them to each other. If you are touring someone and you see the porter or service techs – take the time to introduce them. Edify them publicly. Speak in sound bites about what they mean to the day-to-day business. Manufacture events that honor the service teams.
You could have a service team function at the site whereby you invite the residents to celebrate them. Sure, you can expect some grumpy people but surely we all understand by now – they are just are just part of it.
Today is that day – take five minutes to give out some atta-boys, some public pats on the back, some, we value what you do and a good old-fashioned – thank you.
Your believing in the whole team approach to property management multifamily maniac,
M
Pic Props to Zeus Media
Multifamily Monday Morning Brief: Commitment
The author of the following quote has been argued extensively over a long bit of time. My posit of today – who cares at this point? The brilliance of it is the more important point of the day.
“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back– Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth that ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.”
Burn the Ships
It has the leanings of Hernan Cortes scuttling his ships to eliminate any ideas of retreat by his crew. In the modern day, maybe in means walking away from crummy circumstances. Maybe it means getting out of that dead-end career. Maybe it means betting the house on a business venture that you believe in. Maybe it means finally slaying the debt dragon, un-saddling from the burdens of smoking, breaking free from the caustic relationships that keep you down or calling it a day at the property management job you hold today.
Commitment is a Choice
There is a little word with a very powerful meaning that stands at the chasm between stimulus and response. That word is choice. Every response carries before it a set of circumstances that are premises for your choice. This week, step back and look at them sharply. Then choose, despite any and all fears, and go for it. You owe it to your self.
Your committed multifamily maniac,
M
