5 Steps to Building a Thriving Work Culture

By Nat Kunes

Nat Kunes is the Vice President of Product for AppFolio. He works on a daily basis with property management professionals to identify industry trends and product features that are included in AppFolio's property management software. AppFolio is an IREM President Level Industry Partner. This article is published on the IREM Blog as part of that partnership.

I’ve found that today’s workforce is looking for more than a paycheck, 401K, and health benefits. What makes companies stand out to job-seekers are healthy work environments where they feel empowered to thrive and contribute to the success of the organization. In my years at AppFolio, this has been proven time and again by industry awards, but more importantly in our internal employee surveys. And the real estate industry is no exception. Here are five ways to create a successful team and happy work environment that not only keeps your current employees content but will also attract new hires to join your team.

1. Have regular 1x1 meetings
   It’s critical to meet with employees regularly outside of their annual reviews. Recurring 1x1 meetings are a fantastic opportunity to give your employees a chance to go over priorities with their direct manager, but the best is in the candid conversation you’ll have. How it’s done: Schedule 30-minute 1x1 meetings for the year at the same time each week, no agenda necessary. Start with a casual chat by asking them about their week. Ask them about their priorities and if they need any assistance with anything – remember, it’s their meeting, don’t take over by blindsiding them with your priorities! BONUS: The key with 1x1s is never to cancel! You can move it due to schedule conflicts and always check with the employee before bumping it in case they have something they’ve been waiting to talk to you about.
2. Foster career growth
   Showing interest in your staff learning more and honing their skills will pay off in their devotion to their place in your company. How it’s done: An inexpensive way to educate employees on the latest tips, tricks, and trends is to attend webinars. Many companies host regular webinars that provide free education in various fields. You can also keep an eye out for conferences specific to their role or software they use to sharpen their skill set and ensure that you’re getting the most out of your tech investment. BONUS: Keep employees invested in your company by promoting and hiring internally. Perhaps you’ll find in your regular 1x1s that you have a leasing agent who is great with technology and very interested in your open IT position!
3. Encourage employees to own their work
   Today’s professionals want to feel pride in their work and go home knowing that the last eight hours spent in the office made a difference. How it’s done: Don’t micromanage your team’s projects and tasks. Instead, let them know that your door is always open. Give them plenty of visibility within your organization and encourage an environment where anyone can share their ideas. For larger companies, this will give your employees more face time with management that they may not see on a regular basis and allow them to become known for their essential roles in the organization, which also leads to opportunities for career growth.
4. Cross-train staff
   We’ve all gone through those times when someone is unexpectedly absent from work, and there’s a mad scramble to get their important tasks completed on time. Mitigate this is by cross-training staff on mission-critical tasks. How it’s done: Have quick training sessions where staff show a back-up (and you) how to do essential tasks. Take advantage of online help centers and resources within your software to self-train and keep in-the-know of how things are done, so you’re always prepared. BONUS: During this process of documenting and training, you may find that there are cumbersome processes that can be streamlined or processes that may not be necessary anymore.
5. Make time for fun
   Spending downtime with your team is priceless, and making work fun doesn’t have to break the budget. How it’s done: Try hosting an office potluck, themed day (Hawaiian Shirt Friday, anyone?), or even bringing in pastries for breakfast. You can host more formal team-building exercises too. Perhaps take a half day with your team and try something new. See what group activities are available in your local area, such as tours, escape rooms, maker workshops, etc. Get people out of their comfort zones, and they’ll start communicating more and having fun!

Regardless of your team’s size, these five keys will lead to building a happy work environment where employees want to stay, and job-seekers want to join. Is there anything that you do that should be added to this list? I’d love to hear it!