You talk too much.
As a boss, or supervisor, or property owner It is easy to fall into the role of Head Honcho Explainer. You often want your people to do something new or to do an old thing in a more effective way, so you explain it to them. I know. I do it all the time.
The problem is that explaining all by itself is pretty ineffective at helping your people actually do what you want them to do. It is often a necessary first step, but the temptation is to Explain and then move on. (Explain with a capital E as in: Now That It Has Been Explained, Everything Should Work Smoothly.)
Next time, when you finish Explaining, consider adding on some of the following…
- Ask your self storage property manager to teach the concept back to you. Or, even better, ask them to explain the ideas to a coworker while you listen in.
- Illustrate your point with a story your property manager can relate to. Maybe a story about someone else who has been successful doing what you are suggesting, or a story that illustrates the consequences of not making a necessary change. For more about management storytelling as part of a sales culture click here.
- You employ smart people. Engage their intellect and ask them to suggest ways to improve on the ideas you have shared with them.
- Ask them to practice the skill with you. There’s no better way to help them progress toward mastery.
- Don’t have time to practice? Or you think it would be too uncomfortable? Then set a time to get together again so that your property manager can demonstrate his or her mastery.
So how would you improve on these ideas?
