Most people can agree that 2016 was a tumultuous year that created a mixed bag of emotions. And it appears the trend will continue in 2017. According to The Counselors of Real Estate, some of the top issues affecting real estate include the changing global economy, debt capital market retrenchment, demographic shifts, urbanization, the rise of “experiential” retail and the disappearing middle class.
Amidst the choppy waves created by these issues, how do you stay focused on the course you’ve charted for your business? In my work with Colliers’ Real Estate Management Services team, we like to talk about several driving principles:
- Do what’s right.
- Own it.
- Think creatively.
- Be authentic.
- Create a meaningful experience.
- Make a positive impact.
While these tenets of excellence guide our work, I think they are just as applicable to other types of businesses.
Do what’s right.
We believe that the best way to achieve success is to put the client first, every time. When our clients feel that they receive the best service and that we understand their needs, we’re in a better place to meet and exceed their goals.
Own it.
Colliers spends time and resources to educate, empower and encourage our people to deliver service excellence.
Think creatively.
We consider the search for value creation efforts to be a never-ending process. And this often requires taking the uncommon path.
Be authentic.
It’s essential to be trustworthy but also to trust in others.
Create a meaningful experience.
We are charged with providing business solutions designed for all of our clients’ needs. In doing so, we also create an experience that fosters trust and repeat business.
Make a positive impact.
We like to approach every new challenge with the commitment to “leaving it better than you found it.” Whether we’re focusing on procurement or property management, we practice this philosophy with each step.
Perhaps these principles ring true for your business or perhaps you have other guiding lights. What’s important is to think about your tenets of excellence and how they can help you stay the course in 2017.
In the coming months, I’ll explore how Colliers practices these tenets and why they are important for commercial real estate as a whole.
Tim Allison is the National Executive Managing Director for Real Estate Management Services. With 20 years of experience in commercial real estate management, he has responsibility over business development, implementation of Colliers’ strategic platform development, property operations and the delivery of third-party management services for all of the Colliers family of clients. Tim is part of the National REMS leadership team and offices in NYC and Richmond, VA.