Making Yourself a Company Asset | Gabfocus | Self Storage Virtual Workshop

Gabfocus Episode 11: Making Yourself a Company Asset - Manager Session

In this session, Cindy Ashby and Melissa Huff break down the fundamentals that every self storage manager should know. Panelists also discuss roles and responsibilities managers should possess, tenant relations, employee growth, and best practices to take ownership and set obtainable goals.

Moderators: Tommy Nguyen
Featured Speakers: Cindy Ashby and Melissa Huff

Category: Self Storage
Focus: Owners and Managers
Aired: July 16, 2020
Duration: 1:12:07

Gabfocus Sessions

Gabfocus Sessions are virtual workshops for self storage owners, managers, and operators. Brought to you by the team behind Gabfest: StoragePug and MR Management.

Each session features hand-picked industry pros who will dive deep into relevant topics surrounding our industry, share best practices, and explore trends in the market. It's our hope that these sessions help you navigate your self storage business better during these uncertain times.

Want more tools for your managers? Join us on Gabfocus weekly on Thursdays.

Top Questions Answered in this session

What Key Indicators should I watch for to help my owner know that I am paying attention?
What are some tips on keeping yourself productive and active as our industry has varying periods of downtime?
How can managers and operators find the best balance between oversight and micromanaging?
How can I be better prepared for negative or confrontational conversations with tenants? What can I take from those experiences to improve next time?
Do you have best practices for new tenant orientation or onboarding? What can I do to create a better tenant experience?
What is your experience and recommendations when it comes to online rental capabilities and remote sites?

These are just a few of the questions answered during this session! Get your pen and paper ready!

Cindy Ashby

Janus R3 Regional Sales Manager

Website: https://www.janusintl.com/self-storage
Email: cashby@dynamicsssolutions.com

Melissa-Roberts-min-1600x1068

Melissa Huff

MR Management & Consulting LLC

Website: https://Mr-mgmt.com
Email: melissa@mr-mgmt.com

Resources from this session

Awesome Quotes

“People don’t get so bored that all they have to do during the day is visit self storage units to see what the rates are. So yes, they are shopping and they are shopping because they want to buy!” - Cindy Ashby

“If things are quiet ask yourself: ‘Why are they quiet? Is my phone drying up? Am I not being seen? Looking at your website, are things up to date? Do I have the right pictures and am I sending the right message? Is it 4th of July and your website still has Halloween promos?’” - Cindy Ashby

“People don’t want to be managed, they want to be developed.” - Cindy Ashby

“I say to my managers ‘This is going to be the end result. This is what my final say is going to be with this tenant, and I want you to try and get there without me.’” - Melissa Huff

"You have to have confidence in three areas: yourself, your product, and your market.” - Cindy Ashby

“Remember, there is NO perfect software package out there. They all have issues, and they all could do something a little bit better.” - Cindy Ashby

"You have to seize ownership of every opportunity, of every interaction first. And, from there, it will simply grow.” - Cindy Ashby

Resources Mentioned

Question of the Week

We asked our panelists: What’s one of the most important things a manager can do to provide value to their facility?

“Clear communication with your owner.” - Melissa Huff

“Be the best version of yourself that you can be.” - Cindy Ashby

Gabfocus Takeaway

Whether you are a veteran facility or just opened up, make a conscious effort to be as transparent as possible with your owners or managers. Providing your managers with the necessary resources they need to feel empowered, allows owners to not have to micromanage - creating a better work environment. For managers, there are countless outside resources available at your fingertips to be able to bring your best day in and day out. Check our guide Top 10 Best Podcasts and Books for Self Storage Managers for more!