November 1, 2007

3 Min Read
Top 10 Management Skills

A self-storage manager can make all the difference, good or bad, in a facilitys performance and the way the business is perceived by the public. A successful manager equals a successful storage operation! Here are 10 essential skills to making the most of your position, creating positive results in your personal and professional life.

No. 1: Pride

Take pride in what you do and it will shine through in your performance. Many people look at their jobs as just a paycheck and set no goals for the future. Its life-changing to actually like going to work instead of dreading it. You should only pursue a career in something you love to do, with people you enjoy and respect.

No. 2: Dedication

Along with pride comes dedication. Stay dedicated to your work and the progress of your company. A manager who runs a facility like he owns it becomes completely dedicated to the business.

People are devoted to the things they own, so own your work and the choices you make for the betterment of the company.

No. 3: Reliability

Being reliable is an absolute must for any position. This means showing up for work on time and ready to do whatever it takes. Those around you need to know they can count on you to come prepared for the job.

No. 4: Organization

The more organized you are, the more accomplished youll be. An office should always be well-stocked and organized so youre never running around searching for supplies. Every process can be executed more easily and efficiently when you have the proper tools at hand.

No. 5: Time Management

Managing your time keeps you focused and on task. A checklist is the most useful tool as far as time management goes. This allows you to prioritize and figure out how much time can be spent on which tasks.

No. 6: Communication

Proper communication keeps everyone on the same page. It eliminates loose ends that can turn into problems if not addressed. Log books with detailed notes are great. Calendars also help to keep everyone prepared for upcoming events or appointments.

No. 7: Teamwork

Create a network of people working together with the same goals. Everyone should feel important and essential to the business. As long as you are loyal to your employees, they will be loyal to you. Allow yourself and others to be team players by empowering your employees.

No. 8: Leadership

The key is to lead by example. If you want others to continue in a productive direction, then you must show them that by doing so yourself. Also, never manage a position youre incapable of fulfilling. Eliminating special treatment and exceptions will allow everyone to feel equal. A great leader encourages participation and keeps everyone involved.

No. 9: Patience

Training is critical for retaining employees. People learn at different paces and in different ways. Patience and time is required when training staff and dealing with customer situations.

No. 10: Enthusiasm

Emotions are contagious. If you keep an upbeat attitude, it will spread to those around you. High spirits bring on motivation and motivation gets things done.

These 10 key management skills are a solid base for any manager. Be sure to put them to use in running your self-storage business. Doing so will strengthen your companys reputation, employee retention and customer loyalty. 

Carrie Duff is the office manager of Lake Havasu RV & Boat Storage in Lake Havasu City, Ariz. For more information, call 877.764.1961; visit www.lakehavasustorage.com.  

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