It has been a long time since I was on the other side of the bullet proof glass window at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Parking and Transit desk. I kid you not - both about it being a long time and about the glass! The University has since softened their look with a more welcoming window area, but to put it simply, there were days that I loved having that window in front of me.
Working in parking was no picnic. Particularly when I was responsible for parking appeals. I had freshmen cry, grown women yell, and even, one time, a man try and kick in our door. As I said, working in parking is no picnic.
It is critical that those in supervisor roles in parking do what they can to motivate their employees and improve their professional experience.
Last week at our User Group conference in Indianapolis, I sat with a group of parking operation managers and supervisors discussing this very topic. This thoughtful and staff-focused group came up with a number of suggestions for others in the room to take back to their organizations. Some of those ideas are:
1. For a smaller office, bring in breakfast once a week.
2. Motivate employees with a foot out the door to retirement by asking for their help in strategic projects.
3. Provide reward systems.
4. Have staff meetings where all can voice their ideas, then show how you intend to use those ideas.
5. Try an "employee of the month" program or something similarly celebratory.
6. Good marketing for a parking organization will translate to a better working environment for the staff. Get your policies out there: be an ambassador, not a dictator, of parking; provide good signage; offer real customer service (such as assisting in dorm move-in at Universities).
7. Provide role play opportunities to help staff work through challenging situations.
8. Training! Yep, it is that simple. Offer as many training opportunities you can to help them enhance their professional skills. Also, every employee should be confident in how to use their Parking System Software.
9. Have a career path. This is easier said than done in some state-run organizations where there are a lot of limitations on how employees can be financially compensated or promoted. If you are in one of these types of organizations, find other ways to allow for "promotion" of your employees.
10. It should be EASY for all employees to do their job. Have specific goals, clear guidelines, and provide as much support as you can!
Like I said. It is not easy working in parking. Make sure that your employees have what they need to do their jobs well and feel confident doing it!
Working in parking was no picnic. Particularly when I was responsible for parking appeals. I had freshmen cry, grown women yell, and even, one time, a man try and kick in our door. As I said, working in parking is no picnic.
It is critical that those in supervisor roles in parking do what they can to motivate their employees and improve their professional experience.
Last week at our User Group conference in Indianapolis, I sat with a group of parking operation managers and supervisors discussing this very topic. This thoughtful and staff-focused group came up with a number of suggestions for others in the room to take back to their organizations. Some of those ideas are:
1. For a smaller office, bring in breakfast once a week.
2. Motivate employees with a foot out the door to retirement by asking for their help in strategic projects.
3. Provide reward systems.
4. Have staff meetings where all can voice their ideas, then show how you intend to use those ideas.
5. Try an "employee of the month" program or something similarly celebratory.
6. Good marketing for a parking organization will translate to a better working environment for the staff. Get your policies out there: be an ambassador, not a dictator, of parking; provide good signage; offer real customer service (such as assisting in dorm move-in at Universities).
7. Provide role play opportunities to help staff work through challenging situations.
8. Training! Yep, it is that simple. Offer as many training opportunities you can to help them enhance their professional skills. Also, every employee should be confident in how to use their Parking System Software.
9. Have a career path. This is easier said than done in some state-run organizations where there are a lot of limitations on how employees can be financially compensated or promoted. If you are in one of these types of organizations, find other ways to allow for "promotion" of your employees.
10. It should be EASY for all employees to do their job. Have specific goals, clear guidelines, and provide as much support as you can!
Like I said. It is not easy working in parking. Make sure that your employees have what they need to do their jobs well and feel confident doing it!
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