Why RoI On Devoting Time In Your Local Industry: Organizationis Worth It: Learning, Leadership And Legacy

There is so much competition for our time during business hours and at work from clients, customers, committees, and co-workers. Why devote more of this precious commodity to a non[1]profit industry group?

Why join, attend, or get involved when we already have so many deliverables on our plates each day? What difference will that make?

Well, a lot. As Director of Property Management, BC, with Colliers and Chair of BOMA BC, I have benefited from volunteering with non[1]profits serving the property management industry. I started out as a Property Administrator, and the skills I learned volunteering gave me the confidence to take on more responsibilities at work, which helped me obtain promotions throughout my career.

Through advocacy, education, recognition programs, and networking, these organizations continually work hard to improve our industry. Playing an active role can be a game-changer. It can make a huge difference to you, your career, tenants, employers, clients, colleagues, and the industry. If you want to gain valuable skills or make a difference at any stage of your career, getting more involved is one way to achieve that.

A Safe Place to Gain Skills

The number one benefit I acquired by participating in my local organization was improving my skill set – skills I needed for my job and if I wanted to advance. Such skills included public speaking, collaboration, and communication. In my late twenties, the sea of strange faces was intimidating when attending some BOMA luncheons. Immediate misgivings followed the idea of volunteering. After some time in the business, I became more confident at events, having made some genuine connections. After joining a committee to welcome new members, the Health & Safety Committee, my capabilities to collaborate with diverse groups and speak confidently improved. When I saw a committee leadership gap, my hand went up.

I never looked back. As a member of these committees and then leader of one of them, I broadened my transferrable skills, such as negotiation, collaboration, and delegation, which has helped me become a better manager and leader. To lead more effectively at Colliers, I relate to my volunteering experiences and how we resolved issues. I also use my networking experience to connect people and rely on knowledge gained of best practices and how others have addressed them.

After a couple of more years, I was elected to the Board of Directors and then joined the Executive as Treasurer. I’m now completing my second year as Board Chair, having been on the Board for five years and regularly attending events confidently for a large group of now mostly familiar faces.

Career Advancement

Dedicating time on a deeper level is beneficial for career advancement. Never has it been more important to set yourself apart from others by gaining competitive advantages and stacking up accomplishments. Participating in various organizations broadens your skill set and builds your resume to give you that edge.

Connecting at events broadens your support network with other property management professionals, including industry experts and vendors. This has come in handy when recruiting, obtaining advice on best practices, market updates, regulatory updates, or finding the right vendors. CREW, for example, holds many networking events to make connections, pick other professionals' brains, or mentor others new to property management. Investing in quality time has resulted in trusting and long-lasting professional relationships. 

Make a Difference

Influencing the betterment of property management is the result of the collaboration of industry members who contribute their time, knowledge, and experience, passing it on to others. Sharing your expertise with less-experienced members increases the knowledge base and positively impacts the industry. It creates a more informed group that can better serve clients and tenants. When leading a committee, speaking at events, or engaging with other industry stakeholders, sharing your perspective advances their abilities to respond to important issues, trends, and changes in the landscape.

"Never has it been more important to set yourself apart from others by gaining competitive advantages and stacking up accomplishments"

Some worthy organizations include the National Association for Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP), Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA), Commercial Real Estate for Women (CREW), Real Estate Boards, and neighborhood associations, are some examples.

I challenge you to show up and dedicate your time to striving for a richer experience. That investment will yield rich ROI. Your legacy will make property management a career of choice, a learned career, and the development of new leaders to takeof it into a better future.