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HOW to be a great Super?
This was asked of me very recently by a super who wanted to reach the top.
My answers were:
• Focus on making life at the property a positive experience for all
residents. Make sure the quality of life is as best as you can make it
with in what you are given.
• Cultivate good listening as well as speaking skills. Learn to be
very tolerant of others and exercise patience as much as possible.
• Spend time walking around the building performing inspections.
Spend time near the front door as people leave for work so that it gives
residents the opportunity to talk to you in person. Remember that you can't
run a building from your office. You need time spent around the building.
• Be receptive to new ideas, complaints and or criticisms. Look at
complaints with a positive attitude. These complaints at times just don’t
come across well, so perhaps a person, by bringing to your attention things
that need improving, is really giving you feedback or trying to help you
• Return every phone call as soon as you can. Communicate with
residents often. Don’t hide from residents; face them and face the issues /
problems head on. To hide from issues or problems will not make them go away
and only makes them worse in the long run.
• Don't watch the clock. Our jobs are not 8 to 4 or 9 to 5. If you
need more time during the day, then spend it. People will notice it. Some
may not be appreciative of it but then are you doing it for yourself and the
building in general or for other reasons?
• Conduct yourself with grace. Show professionalism as often as you
can.
• Keep in mind that when you have staff working for you, the best
motivation is team spirit. Give praise when praise is due.
• Lastly, keep up your education and skills. Learn new skills or
improve those that need improving.
True leaning never ends. Don’t close your mind to education or new
technology. Join a club and learn how to network with other superintendents.
Excellence comes only with practice and patience. It does not come
overnight, nor does it maintain itself. You have to work at it continually.
* Mr. Grech is our current
STA president. |
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