Turning around the uninitiated, untrained or unmotivated.

Security and what it means to the occupants and guests in your buildings, to feel safe and to be safe, is an overriding concern for all property managers. Being responsible means ensuring that the building service worker understands that security takes precedence over service.

In the lobby, alternating between both security and service may seem like a challenging juggling act to the uninitiated, untrained or unmotivated employee.

This is especially true when there is high traffic and different people simultaneously expect different things.

Unlimited tricky scenarios present themselves to your staff each day, which is why employees who trust their own judgment can "triage" these situations much more successfully. Remember, only the person who sees the full picture at any given moment is truly equipped to make these judgment calls. It is the quality of the judgment call that should be examined and that ultimately goes back to ability.

So how do you manage employees who do not have the ability because they are insecure with their instincts or unmotivated to rise to the occasion?

One solution can address both handicaps. If you agree that, "Good judgment can be learned and developed but it must be exercised," then the task of how to develop it and build the kind of confidence that motivates your employees should be at the top of your list.

How? Communication is a primary tool in developing good judgment because the more an employee knows about what is going on in the building the better they will be at making wise decisions. All of the employees must understand that this is a team effort, there can be no weak links, and there will be no tolerance for someone who withholds information or interferes with the exchanging of it.

One method to bring the employees together is to institute a coworker training program. Certain employees will be expected to aid others in raising their level of expertise. Two very important things occur when co workers train each other.

Obviously, the "student" gains insight, wisdom and/or a new skill. Secondly, the "teacher" learns as well during the process.

When they think about what they do and how they do it and then verbalize it, they can't help but become more effective at their own job. Additionally, the uplifting feeling that they will surely experience by helping another goes a long way to create a bonding relationship that can be positively contagious. The building owner can only benefit when this concept works according to plan.

Get a jump start by encouraging your staff to sign up for the Human Relations Class offered at Union Local 32BJ.

Registration is taking place right now for the spring term. Call 800-551-32BJ for dates, times and locations.

MARGIE RUSSELL,

UNION LOCAL 32BJ,

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR NYARM