--- title: Inspiration at Work description: IREM® President Cheryl Gray emphasizes the power of inspiration in property management, highlighting its role in fostering positivity, trust, and effective leadership within the industry. image: https://blog.irem.org/hubfs/hands-blog.png --- [Skip to content](https://blog.irem.org/learning/publications-news/blog/irem-blogs/2019/11/inspiration-at-work#main-content) ![IREM logo](https://blog.irem.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Primary%20IREM%20Logo.png?width=2251&height=676&name=Primary%20IREM%20Logo.png) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [irem.org](http://www.irem.org) [irem.org](http://www.irem.org) [All posts](https://blog.irem.org/all) November 11, 2019 # Inspiration at Work By  [John Salustri](https://blog.irem.org/author/john-salustri)  ·  1 minute read Share [facebook-f icon](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://blog.irem.org/learning/publications-news/blog/irem-blogs/2019/11/inspiration-at-work) [linkedin-in icon](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.irem.org/learning/publications-news/blog/irem-blogs/2019/11/inspiration-at-work) [envelope icon](mailto:?body=https://blog.irem.org/learning/publications-news/blog/irem-blogs/2019/11/inspiration-at-work) Taking on her first assignment for National Real Estate Investor, recently elected IREM® President Cheryl Gray, CPM®, did a deep dive into her theme for the year: “Inspire and Be Inspired.” She kicked off her inaugural column with an apt quote, from leadership coach Kristi Hedges: “When we’re inspired, we see new possibilities, we’re receptive to an outside influence, and we feel energized and motivated. Fortunately, inspiration is not a static state of mind but a process that we can cultivate.” Indeed, Gray points to inspiration as a business tool. “When we’re inspired, we feel energized, we’re more confident in our talents and abilities, we’re better able to find creative solutions to challenges, and we find meaning in our work. Maintaining an environment of positivity leads to positive outcomes.” But this takes special leadership skills. It requires the ability to “listen, observe and add value. As property managers, we also engage with property owners, residents and tenants. Successfully managing all of these relationships requires us to build trust and credibility, which comes naturally when you and your team have a common sense of purpose in your work, and feel you’re doing what you should be doing.” Property managers are charged with a special responsibility: providing safe, clean and operationally efficient places for people to work and live, Gray writes. “People count on us. To me, we’re all coworkers with the many people we serve, and I like to believe these relationships are enhanced by the positive energy we cultivate.” This, she says, will be part of her mission during her term in office, to ask her colleagues around the world to reflect on that. “I like to think, as I’m inspired, I’ll be inspiring others,” she writes. “I know that sounds like Mom and apple pie. But inspiration is an essential tool of our business. Besides, who doesn’t like apple pie?” ### Leave a comment ## Related posts [![](https://blog.irem.org/hubfs/Untitled%20design-Oct-16-2025-06-19-33-6782-PM.png)](https://blog.irem.org/learning/publications-news/blog/irem-blogs/2024/05/expanding-horizons-irem-goes-to-the-uae-to-explore-the-region-s-dynamic-real-estate-market) [International](https://blog.irem.org/tag/international) ### [Expanding Horizons: IREM® goes to the UAE to explore the region’s dynamic real estate market](https://blog.irem.org/learning/publications-news/blog/irem-blogs/2024/05/expanding-horizons-irem-goes-to-the-uae-to-explore-the-region-s-dynamic-real-estate-market) [![](https://blog.irem.org/hubfs/Untitled%20design-Oct-16-2025-04-54-00-1804-PM.png)](https://blog.irem.org/learning/publications-news/blog/irem-blogs/2024/09/irem-sacramento-harnesses-the-power-of-purpose-with-the-renew-program-empowering-lives-through-property-management) [IREM news](https://blog.irem.org/tag/irem-news) ### [IREM® Sacramento harnesses the Power of Purpose with the RENEW Program: Empowering lives through property management](https://blog.irem.org/learning/publications-news/blog/irem-blogs/2024/09/irem-sacramento-harnesses-the-power-of-purpose-with-the-renew-program-empowering-lives-through-property-management) [![](https://blog.irem.org/hubfs/ESG-AID-23.png)](https://blog.irem.org/learning/publications-news/blog/irem-blogs/2023/11/shaping-tomorrow-irem-s-2024-advocacy-impact-day-esg-summit-elevates-real-estate-management) [Sustainability](https://blog.irem.org/tag/sustainability) ### [Shaping tomorrow: IREM's 2024 Advocacy Impact Day + ESG Summit elevates real estate management](https://blog.irem.org/learning/publications-news/blog/irem-blogs/2023/11/shaping-tomorrow-irem-s-2024-advocacy-impact-day-esg-summit-elevates-real-estate-management) [![Primary IREM Logo r](https://blog.irem.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Primary%20IREM%20Logo%20r.png?width=2213&height=665&name=Primary%20IREM%20Logo%20r.png "Primary IREM Logo r")](http://www.irem.org) IREM® Headquarters 430 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 750 Chicago, IL 60611 US [facebook-f icon](https://www.facebook.com/InstituteofRealEstateManagement) [linkedin-in icon](https://www.linkedin.com/company/institute-of-real-estate-management/) [instagram icon](https://www.instagram.com/ireminfo/) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.youtube.com/@IREM_info)   © Institute of Real Estate Management 430 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 700, Chicago, IL 60611 [IREM Harassment Policy](https://www.irem.org/File%20Library/Footer%20Nav/IREM-Harassment-Policy---October-2023.pdf) [Privacy Policy](https://www.irem.org/privacy-policy) [Digital Millennium Copyright Act](https://www.irem.org/digital-millennium-copyright-act) Copyright © 2026, IREM ![](https://px.ads.linkedin.com/collect/?pid=1013802&fmt=gif) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "John Salustri", "url" : "https://blog.irem.org/author/john-salustri" }, "dateModified" : "2026-04-02T20:31:15.954Z", "datePublished" : "2019-11-11T06:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "Inspiration at Work", "image" : [ "https://blog.irem.org/hubfs/hands-blog.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.irem.org/learning/publications-news/blog/irem-blogs/2019/11/inspiration-at-work", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.irem.org/hubfs/Primary%20IREM%20Logo.png" }, "name" : "IREM" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "Article", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : [ "John Salustri" ], "url" : "https://blog.irem.org/author/john-salustri" }, "datePublished" : "2019-11-11T06:00:00+0000", "description" : "IREM® President Cheryl Gray emphasizes the power of inspiration in property management, highlighting its role in fostering positivity, trust, and effective leadership within the industry.", "headline" : "Inspiration at Work", "image" : "https://22645210.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/22645210/hands-blog.png", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://22645210.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/22645210/Primary%20IREM%20Logo.png" }, "name" : "IREM" }, "url" : "https://blog.irem.org/learning/publications-news/blog/irem-blogs/2019/11/inspiration-at-work" } ```