Picerne Real Estate Group

Abby Hesman

As the Vice President of Property Management at Picerne Real Estate Group, I have learned that leading by example is imperative to achieve a successful team and property.

The property management industry can be challenging, so it is essential to motivate team members to perform at their highest potential. The most valuable piece of advice that I could give to a professional in this field is that the best way to train your property management team members is to lead by example.

Leading by example shows that you are up for any challenge and ready to do whatever it takes to be successful. This behavior boosts the team's confidence because it shows leaders are prepared to take a hands-on approach to finish the job. It should be clear to your team that as a leader, you want to work directly beside your team members, regardless of the circumstance. When it comes to maintenance, there are a few things that I like to do to help our team and residents.

1. Service Requests: It is common for a resident to call needing assistance with an appliance, plumbing, etc. I encourage my team to troubleshoot with our residents over the phone to see if it is something we can immediately assist with. This educates them to take a direct approach to get the job done.

2. Ask Questions: There always needs to be more information! It is important to speak to residents to find out the source of their issues; be specific. The more information we get from our residents, the better our maintenance team can help them solve their requests.

3. Hands-On Approach: Our maintenance staff can sometimes be very busy. Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty! One thing I have always done and like to teach my team is to assist our maintenance team in turning an apartment. If a move-in is scheduled and cleaning is completed, do it yourself! It is necessary to remember that we are all a team.

A leader must act in a way that promotes motivation, as their job is to motivate their team members to perform at a level that encourages growth and productivity. 

In the property management industry, it is essential to lead your leasing team in ways that show them that although they can be busy and overwhelmed at times, leasing is exciting and rewarding! I am always ready to assist my leasing team throughout the leasing process.

4. Showcasing Our Community: The office can be busy with constant traffic coming in and out of our doors! I always step in to take a tour to help my team. Touring potential future residents is the most important part of the leasing process. This is our time to show why our community should be their new home!

5. Closing the Deal: Another perspective may be needed to get the lease. I encourage my team to work together. When I am in the leasing office, I like to check in with our leasing professionals and the customers they toured to see their thoughts and feelings post-visit. If your colleague needs an extra hand, don’t be afraid to step in and help!

6. Behind the Scenes (Paperwork): Touring is the fun part of leasing! You get to showcase the community you represent. Leases lead to filing and paperwork. Always be bold and step in and help with the back-office workload. Take a hands-on approach to processing files, working on renewals, planning resident events, and following up on leads. If there is one thing I’ve learned, it’s that there is always something you can do to help!

Leading by example is critical for property management success. Your actions as a leader reflect the success of your team and your property. I would never ask a team member to do anything that I wouldn’t do myself. Work needs to be fun! We spend more time with our team than family and friends. The most important thing I have learned from my experience in property management is that there is no better way to build a team and be successful than to lead by example. remember that we are all a team.