A few weeks ago I read a blog post on MultifamilyInsiders.com by Maria Lawson that asked the question, “Do you need to fire your favorite manager?” Her post explored the idea that sometimes we keep people employed because we really like them, even though we know that they really need to go, and challenged readers to consider making the tough decision.
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Her post got me thinking about the other side of the coin ... is there someone on your teams that you need to reach out to, that perhaps you ignore, or don’t give much attention to for whatever reason? Perhaps your personalities just clash. Maybe she’s a slob and you’re a neat freak. Maybe he thinks that your closed office door means, “walk on in!” Maybe her performance is not up to par with your expectations. Or, quite simply~you may just not like him!
Odd Man Out
In the early part of my career, I’ll admit, I wasn’t always a great leasing agent, I think I was average to good, but not a “rock star” and I believe that frustrated some of the people I worked with. I was also going through a really difficult season of my life, so I wasn’t always myself; which made it easier for me to be the odd man out. Even though I got better as time went on and found success as a leasing consultant, I still had moments when I felt overlooked and I was ready to leave the industry.
Reaching Out
Then, I met someone who reached out and looked below the surface and working with her changed my life. She was the VP of training at my company and I interviewed with her to become the customer care manager, which reported directly to her. After a few months in my new position, I asked her, quite frankly, why she chose me for the customer care manager position, when it was clear to me that some people thought she was making the wrong decision. She said, “I knew you were brilliant, and that there was something very special there.”
What do you think that did for me? How would you feel if someone reached out to you and said those words? Those words absolutely changed my life!
Working with her renergized me and my career. I busted out of the artificial shell that I (admittedly) built around myself and I allowed myself to take more chances, get out there and not be so afraid of failing. In short, working with her encouraged me to be “me” and also prepared me to find the type of success that I knew I could.
Who Needs Your Attention?
Not too long ago, as I was leaving a training workshop that I did for a multifamily client, I remembered that season of my career so many years ago. I thought of the irony that someone who was essentially “written off” in some ways was now training people in the industry. If it wasn’t for one person looking below the surface, reaching out to me and believing in me, I never would have stuck around in the multifamily industry~and I know I would not have my own training company today.
I admit that I didn’t always make it easy in the beginning for people to “notice me” and looking back, I see why I may have been overlooked in some ways. But I had a lot to offer and I just needed someone to notice that I did...and when that person did, it changed my life.
So, is there someone you should reach out to today?
In the early part of my career, I’ll admit, I wasn’t always a great leasing agent, I think I was average to good, but not a “rock star” and I believe that frustrated some of the people I worked with. I was also going through a really difficult season of my life, so I wasn’t always myself; which made it easier for me to be the odd man out. Even though I got better as time went on and found success as a leasing consultant, I still had moments when I felt overlooked and I was ready to leave the industry.
Reaching Out
Then, I met someone who reached out and looked below the surface and working with her changed my life. She was the VP of training at my company and I interviewed with her to become the customer care manager, which reported directly to her. After a few months in my new position, I asked her, quite frankly, why she chose me for the customer care manager position, when it was clear to me that some people thought she was making the wrong decision. She said, “I knew you were brilliant, and that there was something very special there.”
What do you think that did for me? How would you feel if someone reached out to you and said those words? Those words absolutely changed my life!
Working with her renergized me and my career. I busted out of the artificial shell that I (admittedly) built around myself and I allowed myself to take more chances, get out there and not be so afraid of failing. In short, working with her encouraged me to be “me” and also prepared me to find the type of success that I knew I could.
Who Needs Your Attention?
Not too long ago, as I was leaving a training workshop that I did for a multifamily client, I remembered that season of my career so many years ago. I thought of the irony that someone who was essentially “written off” in some ways was now training people in the industry. If it wasn’t for one person looking below the surface, reaching out to me and believing in me, I never would have stuck around in the multifamily industry~and I know I would not have my own training company today.
I admit that I didn’t always make it easy in the beginning for people to “notice me” and looking back, I see why I may have been overlooked in some ways. But I had a lot to offer and I just needed someone to notice that I did...and when that person did, it changed my life.
So, is there someone you should reach out to today?
Keywords: leadership, reaching out, working with people you don't like, employee retention, management, rommel anacan, relationship difference, corporate training, communication training, professional development, keynote speaking, workplace environment
