Laing+Simmons has collaborated with team building and communication experts, Crime Story, in a unique training session to equip their property managers with crime-solving skills that transfer to their daily real estate roles.
Founded by former detective Luke Taylor, Crime Story offers immersive workshops which challenge participants to investigate mock crime scenes, where they identify and review evidence as a practical way to hone critical skills in attention to detail, analytical thinking and effective communication.
After gathering evidence, property managers then interrogate ‘witnesses’ and navigate deliberate red herrings to solve the ‘crime.’
Laing+Simmons Head of Property Management, Michael Anania, said the skills the workshop develops are all essential in property management as well.
He said Laing+Simmons wanted to provide a broader array of hands-on training that reflected the elevated expectations of property managers in the current market, and the dynamic nature of the work they do.
“Our collaboration with Crime Story will upskill our property managers when it comes to communication with tenants and landlords, help them establish clear pathways to efficiently expedite solutions through asking the right questions, and better handle difficult circumstances,” Mr Anania says.
“Feedback from our participating property managers has been overwhelmingly positive.”
Mr Taylor said the skills learnt in the Crime Story workshop would extend beyond real estate and he acknowledged Laing+Simmons for thinking outside the square.
“What they are doing to change property management for the better and upskilling their teams with real-life challenges that they can then take away and use in everyday life,” he said.
Mr Anania said teaming up with Crime Story followed a recent session the network’s property managers had with the KYUP! Project, which equipped them with strategies and techniques to deal with domestic violence situations.
The Crime Story session also covered everyday dealings with clients on factors related to domestic violence, and markers to look for, which are not always easily apparent.
“Our strategic approach when it comes to training is to be as comprehensive as possible and this involves broadening the exposure and experiences of our people beyond traditional real estate realms, to ensure they have the best possible opportunity to continually grow their skills and knowledge,” Mr Anania said.
He said Laing+Simmons had also established a framework for its offices to have a reliable emergency plan for when property managers encounter danger, and encouraged its people to download the Daniel Morcombe Foundation ‘Help Me’ App to discreetly alert the office of potential hostility or danger during open houses or property inspections.
The company also trains its property managers on the proper protocols to observe when handling tenant accidents, injuries and fatalities, covering legal and ethical considerations, to ensure they are fully equipped to deal with the wide variety of challenges they may face.
Mr Anania said Laing+Simmons property managers would solve another ‘crime’ with Crime Story again in 2025.
