The first one is to define the IMPACT you want to have. If you have people that are excited about being in the multifamily housing industry and want to have a similar impact as you, your ability to clearly define what that impact is and what that purpose is is really critical.

The example that I use is I would never really be a good team member if Coca-Cola or Pepsi hired me. I'm trying to stop drinking Coca-Cola and Pepsi because I think it's terrible for you and I think it's contributing to a lot of health issues in our country. So I wouldn't have a passion. It’s not the impact I want to have on the world.

So the first question is what is the passion, what are we trying to go build? I want to go find people that have a similar passion. The only way that I can do that is to try to unpack it from my own brain and then recognize if other people have it as well.

People are the most powerful resource a business has, and people are not being tapped into at the level they should be so that they can create impact. And a lot of that is because they're not passionate about what they do or the impact of their work; whether they're with the wrong company or if they're in the wrong industry or if they're just with the wrong team.

The key, as a hiring manager, is to get clear on how I define passion first, so that I can invite people on the journey to go create that impact.

Next you have to define your core values. So often we look at the capabilities or abilities that somebody needs in order to do their role, but just because somebody is proficient at the technical aspect doesn't mean that we're going to work well together. And those core values are really important. Our core values are how we approach the work.

My core values are humble, hungry, and sharp. I just don't work well with people that aren't humble, people that come in with a lot of bravado, boisterous and bragging. They're not bad people; I just don't get them. I don't understand where they're coming from. So subconsciously my trust in them goes down. People that aren't hungry and aren't willing to come in to the office early if we've got some stuff to get done. If I'm coming in at 7:00 and they're coming in at 8:30, I don't trust that we're going to be able to get the work done.

There should be a common thread of beliefs that we have in terms of how we approach our work that increases trust. Like Lencioni says on the Five Dysfunctions of a Team: when we have high trust, that's the foundational point of every high performing and high functioning team out there.

Lastly, define the capabilities needed. This is where you can make your bullet-pointed list of: needs to be proficient in this, needs to be able to do this, needs to be able to do that. Go ahead and get that knocked out. It's important, but I see it as the third most important part because if I can find somebody who is passionate about the work and what we're trying to do, someone who is aligned from a core value perspective, I can teach them a lot of the capabilities that they need to a certain extent. If they're really good on the capability side but we're not aligned on a core value and what we're passionate about? I can't train them on that. I can't teach them that.

So those are your three areas: passion for what we're doing, core values, and capabilities.

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To my property management friends, I rounded up 7 FUN events for you to finish 2020 strong. I know, I know…we are ready for 2020 to be over but you know what?

We are the type of people that don’t stop when it gets hard. We regroup and get. it. done. And we do it in style.

There is something for everyone - budget-friendly, simple, glam…we got it all!

And guess what?

I have a special offer for you. If you’ve been on the fence about joining the Sprout Membership where you can access EVERYTHING you see on the blog and hear about on the podcast-THIS IS YOUR CHANCE.

>> Use code DECEMBER 25 to sign up and get $25 off your membership. Pay by credit card here or request invoicing here.

1. Sparkle Event: Grab-N-Go

2. Recipe Swap

3. Sweet Treats on the Go

4. Hot Chocolate on the Run

5. Milk & Cookies

6. Card Bar

7. Charity Drive

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com

Visit MarketingHomeMarketingYou.com for all the resources mentioned in this episode. Click on episode #42.

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com

We are always looking for ways to add amenities to our communities and if there is an opportunity for ancillary income, even better!

That’s why I was so excited to virtually “sit down” with STRATIS CEO, Felicite Moorman to talk all things Smart Apartments and Intelligent Buildings. She shares how technology is shaping the landscape of multifamily housing and opening up opportunities that we’ve never had before.

Worried your community is too outdated to implement smart technology? Don’t be! Felicite is sharing how implementing small options can save you thousands in the long haul.

This isn’t just for luxury communities or for Gen Z renters! There is a place for smart technology on all assets and across all demographics. Tune in to see how your community can leverage the benefits and start making the SMART move (see what I did there 😉).

Resources mentioned:

Blog & digital graphic.

Marketing your smart tech graphic bundle.

Connect with Felicite Moorman.

Learn more about STRATIS.

Learn more about Sprout Marketing.

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Whether you choose to do these events and gifts as a Resident Appreciation Week or sprinkle them throughout the month is up to you!

These ideas are simple and fun. We’ve incorporated some of the Creative Holidays from November. Grab your free calendar to start planning!

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>> Who can benefit from Facebook ads?

>>Should individual communities set up Facebook ads or should it be tackled at the management company level?

>>Where to start?

>> How important are digital graphics and messaging to the success of your FB ads strategy?

>> How to pick the right ad agency or partner?

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>>Clifton’s connection to multifamily

>>Why is anxiety on the rise?

>>When does normal anxiety turn into anxiety disorder?

>>What are the symptoms?

>>What practical steps can someone take to alleviate anxiety?

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This is a little bit of a unique episode because I’m sharing a personal journey I’ve taken to lose weight over the last six months. Many commented and sent direct messages on social media, asking what I did to lose weight, so I thought I’d share my experience in a podcast episode.

Let’s rewind for a sec…

When COVID and quarantine first started, I found myself going between two reactions involving food. On days where I had time on my hands and was unsure of what productive thing to do, I was eating all the things (and watching the news way too much). And then, on the other days, I was working long hours with my team to make necessary changes to the business to meet the rapidly changing needs of our clients. Since we provide all the flyers and notices that apartment communities use to correspond with residents, we found ourselves swamped with requests from property managers bombarded with change and uncertainty. On those days, I would go to five o'clock and realized I hadn't eaten.

On both days, I wasn’t feeling good. I would either feel overstuffed and restless OR have a pounding headache from too much caffeine and no food. That went on for a good 30 days.

And then I talked with myself. (I hope I’m not alone in talking to myself?)

I said to myself, "You know, Barbara, you don't know how long this is going to be; it's obviously more than just a few weeks. And since this time is going to pass anyway, it's up to you on how you'll come out on the other side."

And I knew that if I kept going down the path that was going, I would not feel good, six, eight months later.

And so I thought, "Okay. When else am I going to have this opportunity to put a little bit more of a focus on my health and on what I'm eating and on moving my body?" I decided to work with a health coach. And today, I'm sharing our interview.

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One of the biggest lies that we’ve been taught to believe is that bigger is better. That in order to have a thriving community we have to have the latest amenities, the most over-the-top giveaways, and host events to rival a Kardashian bash.

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We answer these questions and talk about:

How do we know what our culture is really like?

How can you change it around?

Setting rules actually handicaps your employees.

How to let someone go (and how it can actually be a good thing!)

Get your spark back at work and in life with Sprout's $7 SPARK membership: sparkwithsprout.com