Now in my third year owning Sontag Home Services, I’m starting to settle in, I think, to a consistent rhythm. I’ve been reflecting on my journey and have found this related to my experience dancing, such as it is. I am no John Travolta or ballroom dancing savant. Dancing requires a partner and the best dancers have a mutual flow and understanding, allowing them to move gracefully in concert, an expression of connection and joy. These couples move as one and interact in a way that is fun to watch, and if you are one dancing, a joy to be in flow with your partner. Proficient dancers have spent hours practicing and working through the dance steps, sometimes choreography and music choices. There is much that is worked out along the way before hitting the public dance floor or hitting their “stride.” Since taking over SHS we have been in the process of dancing together. Each client and respective property is a new and different partner, with varying music preferences and dance steps. Inevitably, in the process of managing the full spectrum of partners, dance styles and music preferences, toes have been stepped on and misunderstandings have come to light, like who is leading and who is choosing the music and style. Stepping on toes can be an opportunity to clarify who is leading, expectations, limitations, dance steps and music. Or, stepping on toes can end the dance when the opportunity to clarify is not worked through or the stepping on toes happens a number of times. 

I have worked hard to not step on toes! And when it happens, I work to take it as an opportunity to learn, improve and build a relationship that flows. For most of the SHS clients, I feel like we are finally reaching the point of flowing in our dance relationship, having an understanding of expectations, level of service, nuances of property and personal needs and preferences, scope of the work, etc. One of the things that impact our dance relationship includes frequency of our home check visits. Some of you are full-time, five stops a week, while others have fewer stops, some as few as twice a month. This frequency impacts how quickly we can reach a level of flow in the client-SHS relationship. At the start of my SHS ownership, I was processing information through a fire hose, just trying to keep moving, not step on toes or fall down while watching over our clients’ property so they don’t fall, lose interest or step on me. I move from one property to another, while still dancing to music, often shifting from one genre to another in a matter of moments. Trust me, I was hip hopping! This may explain why I seemed awkward in initial interactions…what dance are we dancing, to what music, who is the lead, etc. 

In the process of getting comfortable with each other and the dance, trust is a key element. Without trust, we will never reach a level of flow in our dance relationship. I understand that for trust to develop and deepen, there are things I need to do, much you will never know about or see directly. These may include my systems, philosophical approaches, relationships with subcontractors (which is another set of dance partners, dances and music), my personal life rhythms (how I order my life and relationships), etc. This type of “training” or behind the scenes work have helped give confidence and a platform for becoming a better dance partner. I have not arrived, by any stretch of the imagination, but I am in a much better place to lead, follow, shift dance styles and music. I am better able to shift dance partners with ease and grace (Who am I speaking with now? What is the request regarding which property?). I am constantly learning and working to lean into the challenge of being the best dance partner possible. One way I have shifted is to include other dance team members to share the load and better attend to each dance partner’s needs and expectations. This has its own set of challenges, but the benefits outweigh the downsides. Again, time, attention, practice (repetitions) and intentionality are necessary factors in either improving flow or avoiding stepping on toes. 

I welcome the opportunity to learn, so if you feel your toes have been stepped on, please let me know and let’s work together to create the joy of seamless dance. This joy for us is knowing you are able to step into your property seamlessly and enjoy it without distraction, having things work as they should, or stewarding property details well. Our goal is to provide a service that allows you to create lasting memories with your friends and family. This is one reason we pray over your property as we move through it, praying for blessing and peace on your relationships, experiences and health. If you are in the market for a property manager, we’d love to “tap into” your dance to create a joyful dance experience! 

Waltzing through life together,

Peter