What the Research Reveals About Burnout, Retention and the Future of Knowledge Work with Margaret Foley | Podcast | That Property Mum | What the Research Reveals About Burnout, Retention and the Future of Knowledge Work with Margaret Foley

Property management has never been short on conversations about burnout, overwhelm and the pressure our people are under, but what happens when we stop relying on assumptions and actually ask property managers what they need? I’m joined by Margaret, Executive Manager of Growth at Kolmeo, to unpack the findings from an independent benchmark of 400 property management professionals and what the data is telling us about the future of our industry. One of the biggest wake-up calls is that two in five property managers say they’re unlikely to still be in the industry within two years, with some of our most experienced people among those considering an exit. Yet the more important story might be what would convince them to stay: clearer career pathways, meaningful development, better systems and processes, and the opportunity to grow beyond the traditional task-focused property management role.

There’s a powerful leadership lesson here for agency owners and heads of department. Our people aren’t simply asking for less work. They’re asking for better ways of working and a future they can actually see themselves in. The research found 63% feel overwhelmed by their workload, while 71% report things slipping through the cracks daily, highlighting just how costly poor processes, double handling and reactive work can become. We explore why career progression doesn’t always have to mean people management, why experienced property managers are hungry for greater commercial and business knowledge, and why listening to what your team genuinely wants could be one of the most important retention strategies you implement.

We also look at where AI fits into the future of property management, not as a replacement for great people, but as a way to remove repetitive work, reduce cognitive load and give property managers more capacity for the conversations and relationships that really matter. Margaret makes an important distinction: technology can help us with how something gets done, while people determine how someone feels. That shift from reactive task manager to trusted relationship director could fundamentally change how we build property management teams, develop our people and create careers they genuinely want to stay in. The opportunity now is to use the data as a starting point for better conversations, stronger leadership and more sustainable businesses, rather than accepting overwhelm as simply part of the job.

“We use technology when it’s about how we get something done, but we use people when it’s about how we want someone to feel.”
— Margaret Foley

In this episode we explore:

Independent benchmark survey on the property management industry conducted by Como.
Challenges faced by property managers, including burnout and workload overwhelm.
Lack of clear career pathways as a significant factor influencing retention in the industry.
Insights from 400 property management professionals revealing unexpected trends.
The importance of data-driven insights over anecdotal evidence in understanding industry issues.
The role of technology and AI in improving efficiency and reducing workload.
Stressors related to changes in compliance and legislation affecting property managers.
The need for better systems and processes to prevent tasks from falling through the cracks.
The desire for career progression that does not necessarily involve people management.
The importance of fostering a supportive and collaborative industry culture for long-term improvement.

A big Shout out to our amazing podcast partner Ailo.

Ailo is an Australian property management software and app designed to streamline communication and payments between property managers, owners, and tenants. It offers in-app chat, real-time rent tracking, and maintenance management, aiming to modernise property management and improve transparency for all parties.

Book an Ailo Demo and get your Mecca Gift Card:

http://ailo.io/tpm

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https://www.instagram.com/ailohq

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