2026 Property Management Strategy: Building Strong Communities and Managers Through Small Actions
As the year winds down, many of us instinctively start thinking about big goals, major changes, and fresh starts.
But after working with property managers for the past fifteen years, I’ve learned something important: The things that truly move the needle in this industry are rarely dramatic. They’re small, consistent actions.
This year brought its own personal shifts for me, and the lesson was the same. What carried me wasn’t a massive plan or a reinvention. It was the simple, steady rhythms that created momentum when everything felt heavy.
What Small Actions Really Look Like (In Life and in Property Management)
The things that supported me during a challenging season were small:
short daily walks with my dogs
tiny check-ins from friends
ten-minute rhythms that grounded me
small decisions in my business that added up
simple conversations that turned into opportunities
little habits that made me feel like myself again
None of these looked life-changing in the moment. But together, they shifted everything.
And the same principle applies to property management. I’ve seen communities transform through small actions:
a warm renewal message sent with intention
a handwritten note that makes a resident feel seen
a five-minute morning huddle
a tiny systems tweak that saves hours of stress
a thoughtful follow-up
a feel-good touchpoint that strengthens a relationship
These small moves compound. They create trust, connection, momentum, and clarity.
They are the foundation of strong communities and strong managers.
And that realization is shaping how I’m approaching 2026.
A Return to My Roots at Sprout
Before I jump into where Sprout is heading next, I want to share something that’s been on my mind.
When I first started Sprout, long before memberships and templates and trainings existed, I used to run weekly calls with my early clients. (This was pre-zoom, so just conference calls.)
Each week, I gave them one small initiative to try. Just one. Something simple, doable, and realistic.
Sometimes it was outreach to teachers.
Sometimes it was a fresh approach to renewal.
Sometimes it was gathering a few testimonials or adding a tiny resident appreciation touchpoint.
Nothing complicated. Nothing overwhelming. Just practical steps that helped them gain confidence and momentum.
What I didn’t fully realize at the time was that those weekly small actions became the heartbeat of Sprout and the services we offer now.
And now, with a much larger reach and thousands of managers connected to our work, it feels like the perfect moment to return to those roots on a much bigger scale.
Where Sprout Is Heading Next
In 2026, everything we do will center around our core philosophy:
Small actions build strong communities.
Small actions build strong managers.
Here’s How That Will Take Shape:
Weekly Themes on The Multifamily Mix Podcast
Each episode will focus on one small, doable action you can try that week. Something realistic that fits into your workload and helps you move forward without overwhelm.
Spark Resource Kit Alignment
Each Spark monthly kit will include the tools and templates that bring these weekly actions to life in your community.
The Sprout Membership (Formerly All-Access)
Our Sprout Members will receive deeper coaching, training, and resources to support the weekly themes, so they can implement these small actions consistently and sustainably.
Sprout has always been a seed.
Next year is about helping those seeds take root in your daily routines, so your work feels lighter, more supported, and more aligned.
Everything You Need To Make Your Work A Little Lighter Is Just One Click Away
Use Our Self-Guided Demo to See All the Resources Waiting On You
(Takes 15 minutes + you get a little something special)
A New Chapter: More Onsite Voices, More Real Conversations
One thing I’m especially excited about this coming year is shining a brighter light on the voices of onsite teams and their regionals.
You are the heartbeat of this industry. You’re the ones who know what actually works, what doesn’t, and what would make your day run smoother.
I want to hear more of that.
And I want others to hear it too.
Here’s what I’m inviting in:
Real stories of systems that help you keep your sanity
Small actions you’ve tried that made a big difference
Processes that helped your team stay balanced during the hurry seasons
Lessons learned the hard way that could save someone else a headache
Creative approaches your community uses to connect with residents
There’s so much we can learn from each other when these conversations come to the surface.
If you’d like to be a guest or share your insights, I’d love that.
Just let me know by reaching out at hello@watchyourbusinesssprout.com, and I’ll send the next steps.
Because Sprout was built on relationships, and 2026 will be the year we make those relationships part of the teaching, the storytelling, and the movement.
Celebrating 15 Years of Sprout
It still amazes me that Sprout has become what it is today. From a kitchen-table dream to a nationwide movement of creative, purposeful, community-driven managers.
❤️ Thank you for letting me be part of your world for fifteen years.
❤️ Thank you for trusting me with your workflows and your creativity.
❤️ And thank you for the work you do every single day. It matters more than you know.
If You Want to Step Into 2026 With Small, Steady Momentum
Here are the simplest ways to stay connected with Sprout and walk into the new year with clarity:
1. Follow the podcast
Your weekly small action starts here. Click HERE for Apple Podcasts | Click HERE for Spotify
2. Become an insider
Join Spark for monthly tools or the Sprout Membership for full coaching and direction.
Fifteen years in, the lesson is simple:
Real change happens in quiet places. In everyday decisions. In small moments where you decide to try again.
Property management is not for the faint of heart, and neither is personal growth. But both respond beautifully to small, consistent care.
So keep tending to the little things.
Keep nurturing the roots.
Keep choosing the next right step.
And thank you for letting Sprout be part of your journey. There is so much good ahead, and I’m excited to walk into it with you. ❤️
xoxo,
Barbara & The Sprout Team