5 minute read
Make Mentoring Your Mantra
By Justin Sacoolas, CCAM
The story of how each community association manager came into the field is unique. The industry is by no means homogenous in demographics or educational history. People from all walks of life find themselves talking about trash cans at 9:45 pm on a Wednesday, wondering how they got there.
Universities do not offer courses targeted at the best way to craft a violation letter or what makes someone a trustworthy expert in HOA management. This education often comes from the helpful tutelage of a veteran manager. Many managers who have been in the field for 10 or more years can tell stories about when they were starting out and their appreciation for those who took the time to share their knowledge and helped them build a stronger foundation for their careers.
When someone is considering being a mentor to others, there is a natural response to make excuses as to why it is not a good idea. “Who am I to teach someone?”, “I do not have the time,” and “I have my own problems to deal with.” While these initial reactions are common thoughts, please consider the following benefits of helping others to thrive.
5 KEY BENEFITS OF MENTORING
1. You will help someone in their career
We all remember those who took the time to help us when we needed it. When someone starts a new career or wants to take their current path to the next level, the knowledge has to come from somewhere or someone. In an industry full of challenges (and sometimes negativity), you have the opportunity to share knowledge, skills, and techniques with another person. That has the potential to create a positive effect on someone’s life and their career aspirations.
2. It will sharpen your skillset
When you teach someone else how to do something you have been doing for years, it is an opportunity to deconstruct and re-evaluate why certain things are necessary or should be done in a certain way. It may be hard to find the time in a given day or week to take yourself away from your own duties to help another. However, in doing so, you are refining your technique and skills while also adding to your time management capabilities.
3. Mentoring others is an investment in the future
Turnover in all roles within HOA management companies is a problem. Many find the work harder than anticipated, filled with long hours, and subjecting employees to negative interactions and rude behavior. These issues are not unique to association management. They are symptoms of any customer service or client-facing business. Taking time to talk to a customer service representative, accountant, or fellow manager who had a rough experience can help build team morale and resilience. When you help make your co-workers feel heard and encourage their efforts, the company you work for benefits from the camaraderie and extended tenure created by a supportive work environment. In addition, the effects of mentoring others in your organization ripple throughout the entire industry.
4. Never stop being a student
When Socrates was asked why he believed he was regarded as the wisest man in all of Greece, his reply was, “I am the wisest man alive, for I know one thing, and that is that I know nothing.” Being a mentor does not mean that you have all the answers. Be open to learning from everyone around you. People have all sorts of different strengths from which you can draw. Brilliant and resourceful people often start and lead management companies. Veteran managers have a wealth of experience from which to learn. At the same time, newcomers to the industry offer fresh perspectives and insight. There is much to be gleaned from how they act, work and communicate. Pay attention.
5. You will have greater satisfaction in your career
Frequently, working professionals fall into a routine of doing what needs to be done, barely making it through the day, and going home to do it all over again the next day. For months, years, or sometimes decades, they go through the motions without finding any passion or purpose in what they are doing. However, something in our nature becomes inspired when we know we are positively impacting other people’s lives. Taking time out of each day to let go of your troubles and worries to help a colleague is therapeutic. It is a way to find fulfillment amid the chaos.
Additionally, it helps define who you are and your contributions to those around you. Remember, there are nearly eight billion people on the planet. Do what you can, no matter how small, to help the few with whom you spend your days (and sometimes nights).
The value of showcasing your expertise
From giving back to shaping future leaders, mentoring has many benefits for HOA managers, management companies, and their communities. By mentoring others, HOA managers can pass on their expertise, develop meaningful relationships, expand their reach, and improve their leadership skills. As a great leader and mentor once said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” By focusing on the growth of others, HOA managers will also find their own growth. The time spent mentoring is an investment in not only their future but also the future of the profession.
