Southcreek News

Tips for Handling a Loner in Your Overland Park Office Space

If you are trying to develop a sense of teamwork in your office, you might have someone who just resists efforts to collaborate. This loner might be introverted, defensive, and exhibiting a me-versus-them kind of mentality. While they might be a major hindrance to teamwork, they might also be too valuable to let go. So how do you handle them? Here are different approaches for handling a “lone wolf” in your office, as suggested in the article “Building a Sense of Teamwork Among Staff Members”:

Give Them a Role

Assess what their strengths are and assign this person to a special niche or task within the team – something that they can do successfully. Affirm their strengths while at the same time emphasizing the importance of their role within the greater context of the team.

Peer Pressure

While loners might be on a different wavelength than their coworkers, they might still respond to explanations that their behavior is causing a negative environment in the office and creating ill will. Talk to them about how some changes might move the person back within the group, reduce bad feelings, and eliminate that me-versus-them atmosphere that they might be professing to suffer from.

Be Honest

It might be best just to lay out the reality of the situation. Affirm that the person has great experience, valuable skills, and might have even served the business for a time, but make it clear that the expectation is that they need to work with other people in the office. Everyone, without exception, might need to work together and embrace a collaborative mentality for the success of the whole business. If nothing else, they might respond to the fact that their job will be in jeopardy if they cannot work within a corporate culture of teamwork.

Dealing with a loner can put an employer between a rock and a hard place. On the one hand, they might be good at what they do, and their experience and skills might be hard to replace. But a negative environment does not foster success, and teamwork might be crucial to the fruition of some projects. Consider ways to be firm with the person, while still making it clear that you value what they have to offer.

If your business is interested in commercial space for lease in Overland Park, give a commercial real estate broker in Overland Park a call at 913-685-4100 to set up a tour of a space!

How to Calculate Square Footage for Your Office Rental Space

One of the most exciting, but potentially stressful parts of renting an office space is planning the space. It is important to know exactly what your requirements are for a space before signing a lease. If you rent too much space, you will be depleting financial resources for space you don’t need, but if you rent to little, your office will feel crowded and your business won’t have room to grow. Here are a few simple ways to determine how much office space is right for your business, as suggested in the article “How Many Square Feet Do I Need for my Office?”:

Number of Employees

If you have a more administrative staff, you might look for a space that is 60-100 square feet, but if you have a more C-level staff, you might need a space that is 250-400 square feet. In addition to considering how many employees you have, you will want to think about the supplies and equipment that each employee requires, as well as any space you might need for visitors.

Storage Space

Don’t forget to plan for any storage space you might need. You can save a lot of space by putting documents on external hard drives, but you will probably still need a few file cabinets, plus some space for a server, office supplies and employee’s belongings, such as coats in the winter.

Common Space

Consider common spaces such as reception areas, break rooms, conference rooms, and restrooms. Plan for that ahead of time, so that you do not find yourself without a place for employees to eat lunch or a place for customers to sit and wait.

Growth

If your business has been doing very well, consider the possibility that you may need to expand into more space in the near future or hire more employees. Try to either plan ahead for that office space or talk to your landlord about a lease clause that will allow you to expand into more space on the property if you need to.

Be sure to take the time to plan ahead when considering how much office space your business needs! Remember that too much space can be a financial drain, but too little could potentially hold your business back from achieving maximum growth.

If your business is interested in commercial space for rent in Overland Park, give us a call at 913-685-4100 and we can help you figure square footage, discuss potential office space layouts, and even set you up with tours of spaces!

Tips for Avoiding Excessive Maintenance and Repair Charges for Your Office Building in Overland Park

While an obvious first step in your lease negotiation process is to stipulate in your lease what you as a tenant will pay for versus what your landlord will pay for, sometimes landlords still find backdoor ways to hold you responsible for unforeseen expenses.

For instance, you might put in a lease that a landlord is responsible for repairing the heating and cooling system if it breaks down, but the cost of these repairs might still be passed on to you through high CAM fees. For this particular example, consider a few tips for avoiding the financial burden of repairs, as suggested in the article “Avoid Common Area Maintenance (CAM) Cost Surprises”:

State specifically in the lease that if the heating and cooling system breaks down, the landlord is solely responsible for the cost of maintenance and repair of the system as necessary.
Analyze the whole lease to make sure there is no other mention of you being responsible for heating and cooling costs. Make sure that all of your other provisions and mentions of CAM charges exclude mention of the heating and cooling system.
Review anything in the lease about damage charges to limit the landlord’s potential to blame you for damages to the heating and cooling system caused by your business. Make sure that they have to undertake some sort of disagreement resolution process before charging you for the damage.
Distinguish clearly between regular CAM charges and the cost of any improvements or other major expenditures which the landlord might have to make for a space.

Make sure you carefully review your lease so you are not burdened with surprise costs!

If you are interested in commercial realty in Overland Park, give a commercial real estate broker in Overland Park a call at 913-685-4100 to find out more about our available spaces!

5 Tips For Successful Office Rental Space In Overland Park Negotiations

The importance of lease negotiations cannot be understated. The terms you agree to will shape the finances, operation, and growth of your business. Here are a few suggestions for how be the best possible negotiator, as suggested in the article “Develop Negotiating Skills”:

Don’t be afraid to discuss – remember that negotiations are a normal and healthy business practice, so do not feel like you are overstepping bounds by wanting to discuss further the lease your landlord first gives you.
Avoid Greed – It is not about how much you can get, but how you can help your business be healthy and thrive.
Collaboration – view negotiations as a chance to work together with the other side to achieve a win-win deal.
Practice – as with all things, your negotiating skills will improve with practice.
Go for it! – You will miss all of the opportunities you do not pursue, so aim for the best deal possible and see what you come out with.

A combination of boldness and flexibility is the best possible recipe for getting a great lease for your business!

If your business is interested in executive office rental in Overland Park, give us a call at 913-685-4100 to learn more about our affordable office space in Overland Park!

3 Ways to Avoid Excessive Common Area Maintenance Costs in Your Overland Park Office Space

Common Area Maintenance (CAM) costs can be a major expense for business’s renting commercial real estate, often to their surprise. While there are a lot of negotiation points in a lease that affect CAM costs, here are three general principles for keeping your CAM costs manageable, as suggested in the article “Avoid Common Area Maintenance (CAM) Cost Surprises”:

#1 Know Who is Really Paying

While you and your landlord might have established in the lease who is immediately responsible for certain costs, be wary about the ways costs can come back to you in different forms—such as through high CAM fees. Read the lease thoroughly to make sure you are not paying double for anything and to check that all costs seem reasonable.

#2 Understand the Management Fee

Oftentimes you will have to pay a fee based on a certain percentage of your gross payments or some other calculation that goes towards property management – salaries and overhead for people on the property management team. This cost might be unavoidable, but make sure you clearly understand how your landlord is calculating the percentage to check to see that they are not overcharging you. You will want to make sure that the salaries are not also included in your CAM fees, which would mean you are paying double. Be sure to carefully analyze the language describing additional costs to make sure it is reasonable, then factor in what this percentage management fee means for your true cost of rent.

#3 Negotiate for Caps

If there is no way around certain costs, make sure that you at least a set a limit on how much the landlord can charge you, because if not, they have no real reason to keep those costs down. To keep a landlord transparent, see if you can get a copy of a budget of CAM expenses for a first year. You might also ask for an approval process if a landlord’s spending exceeds a specified cap, or simply state that the landlord is responsible for all costs beyond a certain amount. If you would prefer consistency, consider negotiating for a flat fee, rather than reimbursing a landlord for occasional expenses. It is a gamble as to whether or not this will save you money, but it will at least allow you to plan your budget accordingly.

CAM fees have a major effect on the actual cost of your rent, so make sure you understand them completely!

If you are interested in commercial space for rent in Overland Park, give us a call at 913-685-4100 to learn more about our affordable office space in Overland Park!

10 Ways to Develop You Small Business Image in Your Overland Park Office Space

Developing your brand and image as a business can be a crucial step to making sure your start-up business continues to take off. Brand image can be approached from a variety of angles, from customer service, to advertising, to going back to the core values of your business. Consider these tips, suggested in the article Ten Tips to Help You Build and Grow a Stand-Out Small Business Brand when approaching the task of making your brand more appealing:

#1 Be Unique

Think about what makes your business different. How do you stand out from other similar businesses in your industry? Be sure to market what it is that sets your business apart.

#2 Understand Your Brand

This extends beyond your logo or products. Your brand is the overall experience f your customers, and includes your customer interactions, social media, marketing, visual elements of your business, and how you do what you do. All of these elements should work together to present a positive image of your business.

#3 Get the Right Logo and Name

This is important for getting customers to consistently recognize your business, so make sure a name and logo reflects what your business does and is appealing to your customer base. They should also convey the personality of your business and what you stand for—it is a lot to wrap into a name and logo, but it is worth the careful consideration to find something that will really appeal to your customers.

#4 Let Your Customers See Your Face

Don’t leave your small business to run itself. Keep your employees motivated and your business structured by staying actively engaged. There is a balance to be maintained – your business should be able to be productive without you there at all times, but businesses tend to be more successful when employees can thrive off of your energy and customers can associate a face with a service.

#5 Develop a Voice

One way to distinguish yourself as a unique brand is to develop a consistant and recognizable “voice” – the tone of your interactions with customers in person, via social media, or on the phone. To decide what your voice is, think about brands that you like and would like to learn from – what do they do that makes doing business with them enjoyable?

#6 Be Your Own Biggest Fan

Success is not always about being the best salesman; sometimes a better form of sales is being the most excited about your own business. Be an advocate for your brand by showing your passion for your business and spreading that enthusiasm. Make sure customers and employees understand the story behind your business, what makes your mission and products special, and what you have been able to do for people.

#7 Build a Community

You want to be the kind of brand that customers trust and respect, and building a community can be an alternate kind of advertising that fosters this type of business reputation. Many companies spend a lot of time and energy developing a community both online and off through resources like Twitter, Facebook, or blogs, as well as participation in local activities such as fundraisers, charities, or planning and hosting their own events. It is important both to develop a following on social media and to also be a recognizable presence out in the community.

#8 Decide What Your Value Is

Your value might be some sort of emotional benefit to your customers that sets you apart from your competition. What is your unique angle on your industry? What is it that you do well that differentiates you? Think about how you value things like product quality, innovation, customer service, or some combination of values.

#9 Develop a Reputation for Reliability

Most importantly, live up to what you say you will deliver. Failing to do this can be a surefire way for a small business to flouder, since they are particularly dependant on referrals. Ensure that you have happy customers—who will be loyal customers—by making sure that you can keep all promises that you make.

Cultivating a brand image for your business with a positive reputation takes time and a multi-faceted approach. It is important to not only have values and a vision for what your business can be and do, but to embody those values yourself as a business owner and be consistent in carrying out that vision.

If you are interested in commercial space for lease in Kansas City for your small business, give a DDI Commercial real estate broker in Kansas City a call at 913-685-4100 a call today to set up a tour of one of our spaces. If you are not sure what you are looking for yet, we can also talk to you about our variety of available spaces and help you calculate square footage for your business’s needs!

Determining Your Leverage in Negotiations for Business Space for Rent in Overland Park

An important part of successful commercial lease negotiations is understanding where your landlord is coming from and using that information to determine what your leverage is. Here are a few questions to ask yourself to figure this out, as suggested in the article “Develop Negotiating Skills”:

Why does the landlord need to rent out the space?

Did a business recently fail in the space and now the landlord needs to find a new tenant in order to stay financially stable? Have there been issues with the location or a high turnover rate? Educate yourself a little on the recent history of the space.

How will the landlord benefit?

A landlord might be extra motivated to rent the space if there is some extra benefit for them. For instance, if you are particularly compatible with another tenant who is considering leaving their space if a business like yours doesn’t move onto the property, they might be more motivated to rent to you.

What leverage do you have and what leverage does the landlord have?

Once you know a little bit about the landlord’s motivations for renting you the space, make yourself a simple list—a column with leverage you have and a column with leverage the landlord has. Consider both sides’ vulnerabilities and pricing power, and use this information in negotiations to determine where you can be tough versus where you can be flexible.

Doing a little research and planning before negotiations can help you enter them with more confidence!

If you are interested in office space in Kansas, give a commercial real estate broker in Overland Park a call at 913-685-4100!

3 Terms You Need to Know Before Entering Negotiations for a Small Office Lease in Kansas City

Before entering negotiations for a commercial space, educate yourself on how negotiations work and the ways you can be a better negotiator. Here are a few terms to know, as defined in the article “Develop Negotiating Skills”:

#1 Market Comparables

Market comparables are the prices of spaces in recent similar transactions. By determining the market comparables for your space, you can have a benchmark to reference for what is roughly paid for those types of spaces. You might use a commercial real estate broker to help you determine these numbers. However, bear in mind that your landlord might make a case for charging a higher price than other recent market comparables if they believe a space offers added benefits beyond those other spaces.

#2 Pricing Power

Both you and the landlord might have pricing power, which is what distances you from competition. For instance, a landlord might be charging a higher price for a space, but might still have more pricing power than another landlord with a lower priced space because they have established themselves as fair and reliable. Or perhaps they are in a better location. You might also have pricing power as a tenant if you have a history of long stable rentals or are a better fit with other businesses on a property than a competing tenant. However, pricing power only goes so far in commercial real estate deals, because often prices are largely determined by the market. Because of this it is still essential for landlords to try to offer the lowest prices.

#3 Deal Points

A deal point is a non-negotiable item that is make-or-break in agreeing to a lease. Both sides usually come to the table with a few deal points, so it is essential to determine early on what these issues are for each party. For instance, a landlord might insist on a certain type of lease, such as triple net, or adjustments to rent that take into account inflation over the years. A tenant might insist on the right to sublease, or a provision that allows them to break the lease if an anchor tenant leaves the property.

An understanding of how negotiations work can help you determine what is truly a good deal for your business or when to walk away.

If you want to learn more about available office space for rent in Kansas City, give Kathy Woodward at DDI Commercial a call at 913-685-4100.

3 Reasons Why Negotiations for an Office Space in Overland Park Fail

Successful negotiations require preparation and a clear idea of what your business needs, but they also demand a certain amount of flexibility. If you are unable to work with the other party to reach something you can both be satisfied with, you might find yourself unsuccessful in your negotiations. Here are a few reasons why negotiations can fail, as described in the article “Develop Negotiating Skills”:

#1 Refusing to Recognize the Other Party’s Perspective

It is important for both parties to understand the viewpoint and limitations of the other side. For instance, a landlord might be limited by finances, and thus cannot provide a certain service or rent below a certain rate. The key is to listen well. Ask your landlord questions to get an idea of their attitude towards certain things and where they can be flexible. Your goal in negotiations should be to get a feel for the parameters of the other party, and then after putting yourself in their situation, to convince them to listen to your side. You can then craft a lease keeping in mind what each side is really able to agree to.

#2 Too Much Confidence

Being overly bold and demanding could potentially ruin a good deal for both sides. For instance, a tenant whose presence is valuable to the landlord (they are an anchor tenant or are good in some capacity for the surrounding tenants) approaches a landlord to ask for a rent reduction because their sales have been low recently. However, an overly confident landlord might decide to part ways with this tenant and rent the space to another business, causing a lot of headache for them and not benefiting the property as a whole. The landlord could have decided to agree to lower rent for a short amount of time with increases scheduled as sales went up.

Likewise, a tenant could demand too much from a landlord, thinking that the landlord has no other options. For instance, a tenant might want to be allowed to break a lease if a certain other tenant leaves, but the landlord might know that this anchor tenant might not be renewing their lease and thus unable to make that agreement. Know what you need to insist on, but if you are really interested in a space, also keep in mind what might drive the landlord to spare themselves the headache of difficult negotiations and work with a tenant who might provide different benefits to the property.

#3 A Win-Lose Mentality

One easy way to sabatoge a negotiation is to treat it like a competition. A negotiation is not a win-lose situation; in the most successful kind of lease, both sides are able to meet their objectives. Instead of trying to get as much as you can out of a landlord, approach the process as a collaboration and determine where you can be flexible in helping a landlord get what they need. It is a give and take—the more you can offer them, the more they are willing to help you. In this approach, it is inevitable that you might have to give up a little, but this might ultimately be the best road to an overall good deal and a strong tenant-landlord relationship.

Good lease deals are born from an ability to understand the other side’s perspective, a willingness to help the other party achieve their goals as much as you can, and an overall attitude of collaboration and teamwork in crafting the perfect lease.

If your business is interested in learning more about office suites for rent in Overland Park, give us a call at 913-685-4100. We can help you calculate square footage and work with you to determine other office space needs, such as what amenities you need and the best office layout for your business. Give us a call today to discuss spaces or set up a tour!

Qualities of a Good Workplace Team in an Overland Park Office Space

Many business today are realizing the advantages of teamwork and trying to foster more collaborative environments in their offices. If you are committed to growing teamwork in your workspace, here are a few common traits of team-oriented staffs to keep in mind, as suggested in the article “Building a Sense of Teamwork Among Staff Members”:

Honesty – people tend to trust each other more when they feel that they can be more open about things, which leads to tighter knit groups that avoid suspicion and gossip.
Acceptance of Work – while most people would rather choose what to do at work, good teams are made of people who can accept assignments from others, which is a more realistic work model. People who work on teams are also often held accountable by peers to get work done on time and done right the first time.
Goal-oriented – people who work well on a team have already collectively accepted their purpose and direction and collaborate to achieve these aims. A good team leader motivates a team by explaining clearly how their specific project goals fit into the bigger picture of the goals of the company.
Results-directed – a good team constantly asseses their progress, rather than just getting mired in the process of something. By consistently assessing their results and adjusting any future action accordingly, a good team continues to operate smoothly and effectively.
Empathetic – good team members are also able to put themselves into each others shoes and consider how their actions and attitudes effect other members of the team. They are also able to listen respectfully to each other’s points of view and keep in consideration the needs and work styles of their coworkers.
Hardworking – the reality is that sometimes projects take longer than expected, but a good team is able to work together until a job is finished. Some teams can begin to fall apart when things get down to the wire and some members start to contribute less time and effort.

If you are trying to promote a team oriented environment in your office, consider how you can promote these values among your employees—often this kind of mentality starts with good leadership! If you are interested in business space for rent in Overland Park, give a commercial real estate broker in Overland Park a call today at 903-685-4100 to learn more about our available spaces and talk about setting up a tour!