FROM THE PRESIDENT
MARY WESSLER | CONAM COLORADO
Nominating your team for a Tribute
is a great way to recognize them
P
eople are motivated differently. One of the biggest misconceptions is that people are motivated mainly by money. As long as
one makes enough to financially survive, this is typically not the
only – nor main motivator for most of us. There are many more
important ways to motivate our team members! While one person might
be motivated by public acknowledgement of a job well done, another feels
appropriately recognized by a gentle “thank you”. One person might need
incentives and prizes, while another just needs the satisfaction of being
productive and seeing a task all the way through. A universal truth is that
everyone wants and needs to be shown a certain level of appreciation.
Here are some potential examples that we show our team members
that we appreciate them:
• When possible be flexible about work hours and schedules, allow for
flexibility when a team member needs it and wants it.
• Show appreciation through a personal note. An email is certainly
acceptable, but there still is something more meaningful when it is in
your handwriting. A card is a rare thing of beauty these days!
• Give out random “mental health” hours or days – let a hardworking
employee take a day and reset. They’ll appreciate it.
• Introduce team members to others who you know are going to
help them be successful. Making these important connections is
part of being a good leader and showing them you care about their
development.
• Let them do what they do best. Let them select the projects that they
are best suited for instead of forcing them to endure tasks that they do
not enjoy!
• Give praise in front of their colleagues and team members. Whether
it is at a monthly meeting or a company awards program – show
appreciation publicly.
• Spend one-on-one regularly scheduled time with them away from the
office listening to their concerns and reviewing how they are doing.
This helps them to realize what an important part of the team they
are to both you and the company as well as how much their input and
happiness actually means.
• Award a great job with a special parking space for the week or month.
• Publicize their achievements in the company newsletter or a press
release to the media. Give a true shout-out where everyone can see
it in print, then frame it for their office. They will be sure to repeat
whatever behavior earned them that honor.
6 | TRENDS • MARCH 2015
These are just a few ideas as there are so many more available to you. That
being said, the Apartment Association of Metro Denver has one of the
strongest ways to movitvate and recognize team members – Tributes. Tributes is AAMD’s black tie gala that is only held every 3-4 years, and the entire
event is dedicated to recognizing excellence in our industry.
Over the years I’ve been proud to see my employees and communities be
honored with Tributes Awards. I attended the very first Tributes Awards
Program back in 1987 and have attended every one since. For those of you
who have never attended one, Tributes is the Academy Awards of the industry. It is an incredible night of exciting fun and socializing, good food and
glamorous atmosphere, well deserved awards that honor that recognize the
best in the industry with everyone dressed in their best! It is truly a memorable and unforgettable night that is celebrated by all.
Through the years, I am proud to see that I have worked for companies
that have won many awards, both property and people. My most favorite
awards have always been those that recognize people and teams as they are
truly the ones that make our industry unique and different from all others!
Winning an award is like no other experience you will ever have in your
property management career. I can still remember when I won the Tributes
Award in 1999 for the Most Professional Property Manager Responsible for
multiple properties. It is certainly one of my most proudest moments of my
entire career!
Inside this issue of Trends is the Call for Entries and Nomination Guide
for Tributes 2015. The awards subcommittee has looked hard at this document and determined that there is something for everyone to be nominated,
from your Leasing professionals, Maintenance Techs, Regional managers and
even your favorite suppliers. You can even nominate your communities for
their outstanding teams, amenities, design and website.
Everyone on your team is eligible to be nominated for a Tribute, and I
am sure that you probably have some team members or communities that
you would like to recognize. Go ahead and pull out the Call for Entries and
get started. It is also available at the Tributes website at www.tributes2015.
com. Good luck and I hope to see you up on stage at Tributes on November
6th, 2015!
Mary Wessler
2014-2015 AAMD President
www.aamdhq.org