The Most Critical Career Skill Today? Empathy — LEADING WITH EQ Newsletter #2

Hi, all! Back with another instalment of insights, articles and more on leading with EQ (emotional intelligence), plus things I've found that inspire me, both in and out of work. Huge thanks for the comments and subscriptions! Keep it coming! 

Thought of the week — Back to school

Back-to-school season obviously looks a little different this year. My two oldest sons are feeling lucky to be back on (socially distanced) college campuses, while my youngest is going into junior year of a hybrid online/in-person high school program. One constant that hasn’t changed: pressure over choosing the right career path. 

When you add together the uncertainty of today’s economy, the cost of education and the anxiety around the future of work, picking the right path or program can feel overwhelming. These decisions aren’t easy, but one pillar I’ve always stood by is don’t neglect the human skills. Knowing how to communicate, what makes people tick and what history can teach us are exceptional workplace assets, especially in the digital age.  

I’m proof that not everything you need to succeed in business revolves around technical knowledge. Many of the skills that helped me become leader of a tech company were the result of following my childhood interest in learning French that I pursued all the way through college, culminating in a French degree.

A bachelor of arts in a romance language might not sound like a springboard to a career in tech and business. But between conjugating verbs, refining pronunciation, and diving into Camus, something special was going on. I learned the power of words and how language can create (or destroy) empathy. Even now, I lean on those skills everyday. 

Case in point: in my industry, it’s common for property managers to refer to rental units as, well, “units” or “doors.” But a growing number of renters out there don’t want to live in a “unit.” They’re searching for a “home.” Swapping out that one little word can make a world of difference in terms of connecting with customers, employees and renters. 

What I’m writing/reading/watching 

Bridging the virtual culture gap at work 

One of my favorite Buildium traditions is having breakfast with our new hires. This year we’ve been meeting on Zoom over bowls of cereal, mailed out in advance as part of a new-hire welcome kit. I always leave feeling inspired because I actually get to know the people behind the resumes and, hopefully, show them that company values like belonging and pride are more than words in an onboarding package. This is just one example of a small way we’ve had to step up our game and reinvent what culture means in a Covid world. I had the chance to weigh in on other strategies — from "remote rituals" to observing "digital body language" — recently for Entrepreneur. Stay tuned for my upcoming article!

Good to Great 

I’ve been rereading (for at least the 10th time) one of my favorite books, Good to Great by Jim Collins. This line always resonates with me: “Great vision without great people is irrelevant.” I’ve always believed that, as a leader, we should be people first, 100% of the time. If you’ve read the book, let me know what stands out to you — there’s no shortage of wisdom in those pages.

Leading with vulnerability 

There’s a common misconception that vulnerability is incompatible with leadership. But being transparent about your mistakes or failures actually goes a long way in inspiring trust and motivating your team. This Fast Company article does a great job of breaking down why vulnerability is a key leadership trait, especially in the Covid era.  

Reader feedback

I recently asked on LinkedIn how parents are balancing working from home and parenting at the same time and got some fantastic pieces of advice. Here’s a tip that Marketing Strategist Sonia Mahnot shared: 

What has helped is having my daughter create her own schedule every morning. Expectation is to include a couple chores and some learning/productive stuff. Doesn’t sound like a lot but gives her power and independence. And the day ends with a sense of achievement.

Thanks for that, Sonia — what a simple, yet effective way to help kids learn about time management. 

Buildium news

• One of the things I’m most excited about now that Buildium is part of the Real Page family is participating in their virtual conference, RealWorld 2020. This year, I spoke about how the property management industry has been impacted by the pandemic, and why I believe it’s actually never been a better time to be a property manager. 
• Buildium was named #3 on Software Report’s Best Software Companies to Work For in Boston! It’s so validating to see that our emphasis on culture and people continues to resonate even during the crisis. 

#Dadvice 

Ending things off with a piece of #dadvice that I think is relevant to everyone, no matter where you’re at in life: 

Don't forget to hit pause. It's easy to fill up your time to stay busy, but it's also important to be in the moment and reflect on what you're feeling.

Thanks, everyone. Please hit me up with any comments, suggestions or feedback and encourage your colleagues to subscribe here.