All relationships take work. It takes commitment, open communication, teamwork, and trust. If you think that I am talking about personal relationships, you would be wrong. I am talking about your business. You have a relationship with your business. If you are honest with yourself, I am sure there are times you would like to throw in the towel, but why don’t you? You love it even when it doesn’t always love you back. Just as in our personal relationships, we are challenged, grow, and learn from our relationship with our business. We like the financial stability it can provide and the collaboration with our team. So how do we keep the passion alive?

  1. Take time for yourself. Take a vacation or a long weekend. Go get a massage or play golf. It is important to get away from the business from time to time. This allows us to be creative, destress, and renews ourselves.
  2. Relationships deepen by recognizing special dates or anniversaries. Celebrate accomplishments and employee anniversaries or other important business dates.
  3. Have Date Night to get to know each other. Spend time away from the office to get to know the team. Enjoy a meal together, do a volunteer activity or start an annual company retreat. Continue to nurture the relationships.
  4. Show appreciation on a daily basis. We all get busy but it is important to say, “Thank You” on a regular basis to coworkers and staff. Let them know they are appreciated and valued.
  5. Lasting relationships have strong foundations so you want to have Systems and Procedures in place to support the business.
  6. Seek Coaching when support is needed to keep everyone accountable and on track.
  7. Just as couples have goals and dreams it is important to share the company goals and vision with staff so that they are part of something bigger than themselves. Success happens when everyone is on board and working towards the same goals.

Flowers and chocolate covered strawberries have made their way into the office over the years for birthdays, anniversaries, and even on Valentine’s Day. Remember, in elementary school when Valentine Cards were exchanged amongst classmates? Take time to express your gratitude to your business and employees.

Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day!

Kathleen Richards, is the owner of LandlordSource and The Property Management Coach.  With her 12 years as a broker/owner of a property management company she speaks from experience. She authored Property Management A-Z and teaches regularly at community colleges and conferences on property management topics. She is active in her field and holds professional designations as Master Property Manager (MPM®) and Residential Management Professional (RMP®) from NARPM®. Kathleen has served at the local and state level on the boards for NARPM® (National Association of Residential Property Managers).

Disclaimer: LandlordSource does not represent the article content in this website as legal advice. It is shared information only and up to the reader to use this information responsibly, seeking legal advice as necessary to their business.