Here's how you can effectively manage up and keep your boss informed in the commercial real estate field.

My experience with entrepreneurs and supervisors has taught me the importance of timing, approach, and topic. Here’s how I’d handle it: 1. Short Informative Message: A quick WhatsApp or SMS saying, “Peter, I’d like to discuss this topic for about 8 minutes to improve this process at the ABC project and make them faster, better, or more cost-effective.” 2. Request for Input: Clearly state, “I just need your opinion, decision, or support.” 3. Set Priorities: then your boss can decide if it requires immediate attention or can be delegated. I believe this approach sets you apart from your colleagues. What has your experience been? Let’s share our insights!

J'ai l'habitude de fonctionner de deux manières parallèles : - Contact permanent pour les sujets demandant peu de discussions (de visu si en présentiel ou par WhatsApp dans le cas contraire) - réunion hebdomadaire pour traiter les cas demandant plus de temps ou les sujets à long terme Cela fonctionne bien sous réserve de ne pas submerger son patron sous des demandes ne nécessitant pas son accord. L'autonomie est la clé.

In commercial real estate, not every piece of information is equally important. I had a client whose property management involved frequent updates about tenancy changes and market shifts. I learned to prioritize these updates, focusing on critical issues such as significant financial developments or market trends that could impact the bottom line. By streamlining communication to cover the most pertinent topics, I helped my boss make informed decisions quickly and efficiently.

Ask yourself and then your boss what "priority" means and how to assess important points. What you find important might seem insignificant to your boss. Here are 5 tips for setting priorities in a team: 1. Align with Goals: Make sure team priorities align with overall company objectives. 2. Impact Assessment: Evaluate the potential impact of each task on the team's success. 3. Urgency vs. Importance: Distinguish between urgent tasks and important ones. Focus on what's most important. 4. Resource Availability: Consider the resources available, including time, skills, and budget. 5. Regular Review: Continually review and adjust priorities based on feedback and changing circumstances. What methods do you use to set priorities?

There are amazing tools available nowadays to keep everything organized and accessible. In all industries, it is important to keep the boss informed, but RE has its own unique stats to track. We utilize Slack for communication and organization. Each property has its own channel and it allows a division between personal and professional communication. As someone who is the boss many times, it is very nice to be able to passively see the things that are being accomplished. I feel bad reaching out for an update because I know people are busy, but I also like to be updated. Slack is the perfect solution for this. We also utilize the dashboard in our property management software, Buildium, so I can pop in and see a snapshot at anytime.

Proactivity is key in commercial real estate. For instance, when managing that property, I anticipated potential questions or concerns my boss might have and addressed them in my updates. If a problem arose, I presented it along with possible solutions. This approach showed that I wasn't just identifying issues but also thinking ahead and preparing to take action. It demonstrated my commitment to the project's success and my ability to manage challenges effectively.

You don't want to share every little update with your boss, but you also don't want to wait so long that they are reaching out to you for an update. By being proactive, you can share an update just before the boss feels the urge to request it. I think a scheduled update and a dashboard that the boss can passively review is the best way to be proactive. Ensure that all vital information is updated on the dashboard in real time, and then provide a detailed update on a specific schedule. We do weekly meetings with our team every Monday. but the schedule can be dependent on your team's needs.

Amid the daily grind and usual chaos, market analyses, trend forecasts, and competitive activities are crucial topics for your boss in the commercial real estate sector. It’s essential to discuss these regularly in a different setting through relaxed brainstorming sessions. Whether it’s a regular lunch, a walk in the park near the office, or another semi-informal situation, this approach builds trust and adds value for both sides. Taking time to step out of the typical work environment allows for clearer thinking and more productive discussions. How do you incorporate these practices into your routine? Let’s share our experiences!

Finally, ensuring that my communication was clear and concise was essential. In commercial real estate, time is often of the essence, and there's no room for misunderstandings. I used plain language and avoided jargon unless it was industry-standard and understood by my boss. By clearly structuring my updates and highlighting key points, I ensured my boss could quickly grasp the essential information, facilitating better decision-making.

From my experience, shifting to a remote work setting put this topic on the forefront. Communication expectations was the key component for my work situation. Great article, thank you.