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Ten power keys to overcoming burnout
Another related article- 'Why Property Managers Burnout' Property management burnout cannot be ignored! The turnover of property managers across the country is testament to the difficulties in the role. This issue simply cannot be underestimated! Burnout occurs when factors in the job become overwhelming or erode a person's desire to remain in it any longer, to a point that the property manager simply resigns, usually leaving the industry for good! However property manager burnout can be reduced. Ways to overcome burnout Here are ten powerful keys you can implement straight away to reduce burnout and bring back a sense of purpose to your important role as a property manager! Get Organised- ensure that you have written down everything that needs to be done in a note book. Remember nothing! If you have lost track of all that needs to be done, print off a complete landlord/property/tenant list and go through them all, allowing your memory to be jogged with every issue that needs to be addressed, every task that needs to be completed Plan Everyday Ahead- before the start of the day, or before going home in the evening, plan your next day ahead. List your most crucial and important tasks first, followed by every other task that must happen on that day. Dont place anything on your list that can wait until another day- this stays in your notebook for now. Important Tasks First- make sure you do the most important, most urgent tasks first. Procrastination leads to burnout, so make your day easier by getting out of the way first the most difficult of issues. Just do it! Get Systemised- mistakes and problems take much more time to fix and rectify than the time it takes to get it done right in the first place! Create checklists and procedures for every major process so that you follow a checklist everytime, eliminating mistakes by relying on your memory. Lets admit it- too much happens in property management in any given time, so don't even think that you can remember every step properly every time. Review 'Low-End Properties'- together with your principal, identify and review business that is considered 'low end'. This is low fee earning properties that tend to give you more work as the tenants can tend to be more 'high maintenance'- usually associated with lower socio areas. Review C-Class Landlords- C-class landlords can be the most difficult factor in any department and must be reviewed and if needed, removed from the business. These are defined as 1- Unreasonable/overdemanding, 2- Take up lots of your time, 3- Want discounted fees/complain about fees, 4- Want unreasonable rents, 5- spend little to nothing on maintenance, 6- usually have a poor quality property that attracts a poor quality tenant Practice Zero Tolerance Rent Control- Rent arrears can contribute directly and indirectly to 70% of your department problems. Professional strictness will not only reduce substantially your ability to keep your arrears factor low, but also bring a sense of control. Check out our article Ten Power Keys to Zero Tolerance Rent Control. Take Regular Breaks- when things get too much step out of your environment. Go for a walk, get a coffee at the local cafe, read a book, go for a massage- whatever it takes to get you out of the stress zone for a period and allow you to recharge your batteries. Enforced Time Out- make sure on a daily basis you have a time period locked into your diary that allows you to do a solid chunk of work (from your daily task list) without interruption. Switch off your phone, close your outlook/email and let everyone around you know you are in 'time out' to get solid work done. To be able to focus on a task without stopping until it is 100% complete is possibly the most powerful habit you can form,and the quickest and most productive way to power through your workload. Get a Life!- make sure you have other meaningful activities outside of your career that will bring you fulfilment and satisfaction. Happiness comes with life balance and too much of one thing creates burnout! I too once worked so many hours it became very consuming and burnout was a constant issue I struggled with. However life balance brought a sense of evenness back to the tipped scales. It could be regular family outings, going out with friends, regular exercise at the gym, getting involved with a community group and even I came across a property manager that enjoys scuba-diving! But make sure you stop to smell the flowers and enjoy life outside of business! I am passionate about property management because it is a difficult role that can shape our characters for the better! However let's become disciplined to ensure we are the ones in control! Be the best you can be! Darren Hunter- darrenhunter.com Associate of BWT (Bob Walters Team)
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