We often hear how important the working environment is to a business but how do we achieve this? Particularly, in Block Management with the moving parts of legislation, leaseholders expectations and of course, Michael Gove’s statements!
A positive work environment is crucial for employee satisfaction, engagement, and productivity. In Block Management, which require frequent interaction with customers, fostering a positive work environment is even more important. In this article, we will discuss some tips on how to create a positive work environment, including specific examples of how to deal with difficult customers and work in the Leasehold sector.
- Encourage open communication: Open and transparent communication is essential for creating a positive work environment. Encourage employees to share their thoughts and ideas and create opportunities for them to do so. Regularly solicit feedback from employees and respond to their concerns promptly. This will help improve employee satisfaction and increase engagement. Consideration on how you achieve this if you have a completely remote office is important.
- Foster teamwork: Encourage teamwork and collaboration among employees. This can help improve employee relationships and create a sense of community in the workplace. Providing opportunities for employees to work together on projects and initiatives can help build trust and respect among team members. Working groups with a variety of employees at different levels looking at the impact of proposed changes in legislation or internal processes is a great way to encourage collaboration.
- Offer support and resources: Provide employees with the support and resources they need to perform their job effectively. This can include training, equipment, and technology. Providing employees with the tools they need to do their job well can improve their confidence and increase their satisfaction. The role of a Block Manager is so varied share the Knowledge bank talks which are free and hosted by News on the Block to provide training and CPD.
- Promote work-life balance: Encourage a healthy work-life balance by offering flexible work arrangements, such as flexible hours or the option to work from home. This can help reduce stress and improve employee satisfaction. Encouraging employees to take time off when they need it can help reduce burnout and improve their overall well-being. Often Leaseholders are looking to contact Block Managers out of orders. Ensure your team know not to have their emails on their personal phones to allow the important downtime.
- Address conflicts: Address conflicts and workplace concerns promptly and fairly. Encourage employees to raise issues and provide a safe and supportive environment where they can do so. Resolving conflicts in a timely and effective manner can improve employee satisfaction and reduce turnover.
- Deal with difficult customers: In the Leasehold sector, employees will often have to deal with difficult customers. To create a positive work environment, it is important to provide employees with the tools and training they need to handle these situations effectively. This can include training on active listening, conflict resolution, and customer service. Encouraging employees to remain professional and calm in the face of difficult customers can help reduce stress and improve customer satisfaction. Ensure that your training programme has conflict and descalation training.
- Foster a culture of positivity: Promote a culture of positivity by encouraging employees to focus on their strengths, celebrating their successes, and recognizing their efforts. This can help improve employee motivation and increase job satisfaction. Encouraging employees to take pride in their work and see their role as an important part of the company's success can also help improve employee engagement.
Creating a positive work environment is crucial for improving employee satisfaction, engagement, and productivity. Encouraging open communication, fostering teamwork, providing support and resources, promoting work-life balance, addressing conflicts, dealing with difficult customers, and fostering a culture of positivity are all important steps in creating a positive work environment. By implementing these strategies, you can improve employee satisfaction, reduce turnover but most importantly the burnout which has lead to talent moving out of the sector.
I am lucky enough to work with some fantastic Clients who have a clear strategy on staff happiness and are looking at this as their priority, this is leading to fantastic success across their business. If we can all look to address this, we can attract and retain the talent within Leasehold.
Annie McGrandles FIRPM MRICS, Head of Portfolio & Block Management, Property Management Recruitment
