Recognition Isn’t the Goal. Improvement Is.
Commercial real estate offers a variety of ways to measure excellence. Awards programs like BOMA International’s The Outstanding Building of the Year (TOBY) Awards and the Construction Association of South Florida’s Craftsmanship Awards recognize outstanding achievements, while certifications such as BOMA 360 Performance Program®, BOMA BEST® Certification, Fitwel® Certification, LEED® Certification, and ENERGY STAR Certification evaluate different aspects of building operations, sustainability, workplace performance, and environmental responsibility.
Although each program has a different purpose, they all ask organizations to do something that is surprisingly difficult in the middle of a busy year: step back and take an honest look at how a property is performing.
That process is where much of the value is found.
Property management is fast-paced, and most teams spend their days solving problems, responding to tenants, coordinating projects, managing vendors, and keeping buildings operating smoothly. There isn’t always time to pause and consider how all those individual efforts work together to support the property’s long-term success. Awards and certification programs create that opportunity. They encourage teams to organize information, evaluate existing practices, document accomplishments, and identify areas for further improvement.
In many ways, they provide a framework for continuous improvement rather than simply a path to recognition.
Earlier this year, I spoke about the idea of brand stewardship and the responsibility we all share in protecting the reputation of the organizations we represent.
That responsibility extends well beyond marketing. Every interaction with a tenant, every preventive maintenance program, every capital improvement project, every emergency response, and every service call contributes to how a property is perceived over time. A building’s reputation is shaped by hundreds of decisions that often go unnoticed because they become part of the daily operation.
Recognition programs encourage organizations to consider those decisions collectively rather than individually. Rather than asking whether one initiative was successful, they ask a broader question:
What does this property consistently do that creates value for its owners and tenants?
Answering that question requires more than good writing. It requires thoughtful leadership, strong documentation, measurable results, and a willingness to evaluate both successes and opportunities for improvement.
That perspective extends beyond the property management team. Engineers, security professionals, janitorial teams, landscape contractors, restoration companies, elevator technicians, roofing contractors, and dozens of other service providers all contribute to a building’s experience. Pursuing an award or certification often brings those groups together in ways that don’t happen during normal operations. Everyone gains a better understanding of how their work supports the property’s overall performance.
The educational value extends beyond those submitting an application.
Property managers who serve as judges have the opportunity to visit high-performing buildings, observe different operational approaches, and exchange ideas with peers throughout the industry.
Service providers benefit from those experiences as well, gaining insight into best practices they can apply across their own client portfolios.
One of the strengths of organizations like BOMA has always been the willingness of professionals to share knowledge, and these programs create meaningful opportunities for that exchange.
Recognition is certainly something to celebrate, but I don’t believe it is the greatest benefit these programs provide. The greatest value comes from the discipline of documenting operational excellence, measuring progress, learning from others, and taking the time to understand what makes an organization successful. Those lessons remain long after the award has been presented or the certification has been achieved.
South Florida’s TOBY Call for Entries Are Open
With the Call for Entries now open for the TOBY Awards through both BOMA Fort Lauderdale/Palm Beaches and BOMA Miami-Dade, this is an excellent time to consider participating. Whether your organization is pursuing recognition for the first time or returning after previous success, the process offers an opportunity to strengthen your team, better understand your operation, and continue building the kind of property that earns its reputation every day.