PERSPECTIVES
BY CHAD CRAVEN, AAMD SUPPLIER DIRECTOR
The Power of Showing Up
Someone once said that success is 80 % just showing up. It is a profound truth, but what does it actually mean in today’ s hyper-connected world?
There are many ways to show up, but the most powerful remains in person. Too often, we receive a question and reflexively fire back an email. What if, instead, you jumped in your car to answer that question with an in-person conversation? Nothing replaces seeing someone’ s face and reading their body language. Nine out of ten times, these inperson visits bring up other, secondary issues that can be more important than the original matter at hand. problem resolved?” Showing up for the small things makes a bigger difference than the grand gestures. Can you cover the office so your team can leave an hour early on Friday? Can you send a random text praising how they handled a sticky situation? Surprise them with a gift card?
We have fallen into the email trap, mistaking efficiency for effectiveness. Pick up the phone. Drive to the property. The largest impact you can make on your company is not found in KPIs; it is found in being present for your people.
It also means arriving daily, ready to work and ready to take on the day. You don’ t need to be perfect, and you won’ t always be at your best. What matters is being there consistently, ready to do your best, ready to fail, and ready to try again. Trust and respect are built this way. When people see that you show
Showing up doesn’ t always require |
a road trip. It can mean checking in |
without an agenda. Try calling an |
employee or a resident just to ask,“ How |
Take on the day! |
is your day going? Is there anything I can do to help you? Did you get your |
up over and over again, they are more willing to forgive mistakes or off days. |
Chad Craven is CEO at ParkM. |
Consistency builds credibility.
I challenge you this week to pick up the phone or drive across town instead of firing off an email. Connect with your residents and your teams. Be available and be present. You will be amazed by the payoff. You will be amazed at how good it feels.
SHOUT OUT TO AMBASSADORS FOR " SHOWING UP "!
Thank you to Ryan Skelton( Career Strategies) and Amy Weber( Western Skies Property Solutions), two members of our incredible Ambassadors committee, for personally delivering Legal Handbooks to offices around the city the past few weeks!
While we only have a few physical copies of the Legal Handbook available for purchase, the online version is available for Owner / Management / Community members to browse and review for free on the Colorado Apartment Association website.
4 | TRENDS APRIL 2026 www. aamdhq. org