Wanna exit via the emergency slide???

I'm sure you've all seen the story about the Jet Blue flight attendant who got so stressed out by a customer that he creatively "exited" his job by going on a verbal rant on the plane's loudspeaker, grabbing a couple of beers and leaving the plan via the emergency slide. Ok, I have to say, I like his style. Who wouldn't want to quit their job by sliding down a fun inflatable slide? I think we have a lot to learn from him, and while I do admire his "cojones," I think most importantly, we can take this opportunity to learn how to keep from getting this burnt out ourselves.

Dealing with needy residents, grumpy maintenance men and pushy vendors on a daily basis certainly takes its toll. One minute it's the resident mad that you're about to file for their eviction, the next its your maintenance supervisor grumbling about having to shave his evergrowing beard. Then there's that vendor who just won't leave you alone about signing up for their services. Working in the leasing office, whether a manager or leasing consultant, puts us on the front lines to take constant abuse. I think its only natural that you're going to get burnt out. Afterall, there's only so much one person can take! So here are some tips to help you cope so that you continue to love your job and don't get tempted to pull a "Steven Slater!"

1. When you find yourself in a stressful situation, take a moment. If you have a resident in front of you going on and on and on, it's ok to excuse yourself for a moment to regroup. Take some time to go into another room, take a deep breath, and think about how you're going to handle the situation. If you don't take a moment, you could very well get into a heated argument with the person, saying things that you don't mean and making the situation even worse.
2. Pass it on. If you're in a situation that you feel is going no where, get someone else in your office to help you. There's no need to keep going back and forth with someone to no avail. Maybe your co-worker will have a fresh perspective on the situation and be able to handle it better.

3. Managers....watch your team! Keep an eye out for comments and actions that your team members may make indicating they're a little stressed. It's best to nip it in the bud rather than watch it escalate and make them unhappy with their job. If you notice someone's having an off day, have a talk with them, buy them lunch, do whatever you need to to get to the root of their issue so it doesn't consume them. People feel so much better when they know they have someone else in their corner.

4. Regionals and Managers...offer "time outs" for your team members. Maybe it's a trip for pedicures for your girls or a golf outing for your guys. Everyone needs a little break sometimes, and when your team sees that you're looking out for them and willing to help out, it will do wonders for your team morale!

Anyone else have any more suggestions? Post your comments for the rest of us to see!

Morgan Oney, CAM
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