Not only does involving employees bring better solutions, but it also improves morale and buy-in.
“When you include the employees in all aspects of looking for solutions to problems, you’re promoting morale because they’re part of the process. It’s easy to get employees’ buy-in,” Barna says. “You’re also fostering an environment where they start to think about solving problems before they become problems.”
How to reach: CRESCO Real Estate, (216) 520-1200 or http://www.crescorealestate.com/ or http://www.barnacaplan.com/
Keep it balanced
As important as it is for Joseph V. Barna to build personal relationships with his employees at CRESCO Real Estate, it’s also crucial that he keeps work and personal life separate and balanced.
“It’s getting much easier due to technology,” says Barna, a principal at the Cleveland company. “Between my BlackBerry, my laptop and one of those little air cards, I can be anywhere and conduct business. So there’s no excuse.
“It’s kind of a bad thing, too, because when clients know that you’re connected and they reach out to you, you can’t say you were traveling for two days. They know you’re getting your e-mails.”
To keep work from running into your personal time, revert to traditional tactics.
“You just have to do it the old-fashioned way and set time aside,” Barna says. “You just block it out.”
At the insistence of his doctor, for example, Barna made a commitment to get to the gym four days a week. So he sets his alarm for 4:30 a.m. and knocks out exercise first thing in the morning. Also as an avid fisherman, Barna — who happens to live right on Lake Erie — blocks out time in the summer for fishing trips. To make up for it, he works some winter weekends in anticipation.
“I don’t miss a beat because I have competent people in the office,” he says.