San Diego–Based Jason Hughes Shares 20 Leadership Tips

January 17, 2022

Hughes Marino CEO Jason Hughes likes his leadership advice just like his coffee — bold, fresh and from former Starbucks CEO Howard Shultz. Shultz recommends “leading through the eyes of your team,” and Hughes has done that at the helm of Hughes Marino at its headquarters in San Diego.

Hughes Marino specializes in helping companies — not landlords or developers — with their corporate real estate needs. With offices in Denver, Seattle, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, San Francisco, East Bay, and New York, Hughes Marino helps its corporate clients lease, buy, and build commercial space, manage projects, plan, and design; in addition, the firm provides culture consulting and more. The flourishing company is also leading the life sciences revolution in San Diego as that area continues to boom with biotech businesses. But perhaps the most potent secret weapon behind this thriving firm is its loyal leadership. As a result, Hughes ensures his team is prepared to exceed expectations in 2022. So, while the COVID-19 pandemic is an ongoing issue, where do leaders of corporations across America go from here?

The parameters of physically working in an office and working from home will continue to be blurred entering the new year, according to U.S. News & World Report.

According to a recent Gallup study, out of the 125 million full-time jobs in the U.S., workers in about half of those jobs report that their work can be done from home. However, more than 30% of those already working from home say they’d prefer to never return to the office. According to Hughes, the future of office work could be “phygital,” which is a hybrid of digital experiences with physical assets.

“Business leaders are in a unique position right now,” Hughes says. “We can completely reevaluate the way we work and why. Working in offices again will set businesses on a new track and help leadership foster ideas and camaraderie that can’t be achieved at home. In addition, office space will be reimagined to accommodate companies’ new, evolving needs.”

Here are 20 leadership tips for business leaders to keep their teams engaged, productive, and thriving in a hybrid world of working both in the office and remotely.

Jason Hughes San Diego leadership tips

1. Develop a set of company core values. Hughes Marino’s iconic core values were assembled at its San Diego offices more than 10 years ago. Identifying the company’s core values really crystallized what the brand stands for. “It’s been a huge part of our company’s success,” Hughes says. “In our second year in the business, we brought everyone together to talk about who we are and what our company stands for.” He was amazed to see how similar most of the team members’ answers were.

2. Make the happiness of your team a top priority. “We enrich the lives of our team members in any way we can,” Jason Hughes says. “It’s crucial to provide appreciation and recognition in some form regularly.”

3. Keep an open dialogue with team members and clients. “Communication is one of the keys to our success,” Jason Hughes notes. “We take pride in maintaining constant communication with our clients and our team at all times. For example, throughout the pandemic, we ramped up contact with clients and team members to ensure all updates and needs were being addressed.”

4. Encourage team members’ growth. “At Hughes Marino, seeing our team members succeed means our company is succeeding, too,” Jason Hughes says. “Doing our jobs at the highest level each day really does pay off. We’ve had the pleasure of seeing our team members accomplish incredible things. We’re always searching for new opportunities to help our team members increase their skill sets.”

5. Never compromise when it comes to hiring new talent. “If you want to assemble an award-winning team, it starts with hiring the best candidates,” Jason Hughes explains. “It’s difficult to land a spot on our team, and we want to ensure every detail in welcoming new team members is perfect. No matter how great a need there is to fill a new position or how long it takes to find the right candidate, we never compromise on hiring.”

6. Keep an attitude of gratitude. “Demonstrating heartfelt appreciation in front of the entire team is vital to making our brand so special,” Jason Hughes says. “We also encourage team members to share the name of someone they’re appreciative of at the company. In addition, we give our team members the opportunity to recognize one another for selfless acts and incredible work ethic during team meetings.”

7. Build a company culture that sets you apart from the competition. “Our company culture was featured in business coach Joe Calloway’s book The Leadership Mindset,” Jason Hughes notes. “Our culture has been vital to our success in a highly competitive industry. Our team works together collaboratively with unprecedented support. Many companies are eager to work with us because of our nationally recognized culture.”

8. Bring out the best in each other. “We have such an outstanding team, and maintaining a positive attitude is key,” Jason Hughes says. “We have a lot of affirmations at Hughes Marino such as ‘Onward,’ ‘Be awesome today,’ ‘Champions of the underdog,’ and ‘Don’t quit your daydream.’ We’re all about promoting positive vibes and delivering outstanding results in all we do.”

9. Step out of your comfort zone. “Taking on new challenges is a big part of what puts this company in a league of its own,” Jason Hughes says. “Challenging each other and constantly pursuing growth and learning is part of the fundamental fabric of our brand. We never want to stay stagnant. We’re in an industry where no one can afford to be complacent.”

10. Celebrate the family spirit in the workplace. “In addition to monthly birthday celebrations, tournaments in our game rooms at our San Diego office, and other fun activities, we provide top-of-the-line health care benefits, 401(k) matching, and extra time off around the holidays to spend with family and recharge,” Jason Hughes notes.

11. Don’t be afraid to listen. “Feedback from our team members and our clients is important to us at Hughes Marino, and should be an essential resource for all businesses,” Jason Hughes says. “Your team members are on the front lines. Listen to what they have to say. It could lead to life-changing ideas and better business practices.”

12. Create incentives for team members. “We want our team members to feel valued, fulfilled, and happy to come to work,” Jason Hughes explains. “Many of our team members have been with us for more than two decades. It’s gratifying to see them grow in their roles, both in and out of the office.”

13. Never underestimate the power of a first impression. According to the New York Post, a person has 27 seconds to make a good first impression. “This applies to clients and team members,” Jason Hughes says. “We want to ensure our clients feel informed, confident, and appreciated. You only get one chance to make a first impression.”

14. Invite inspiring speakers to motivate your team. Jason Hughes has invited various speakers to elevate his team at Hughes Marino’s San Diego headquarters, including Jesse Itzler, Bill Walton, and Mike Robbins. “We like to supercharge our team,” Hughes says. “And we want our team to remember there are no wasted days. Every day is a chance to move closer to goals, learn from mistakes, and move forward.”

15. Enjoy the journey. “Never lose sight of where you’re going as a team and how you got there,” Jason Hughes says. “A neon sign that says ‘Enjoy the Journey’ proudly graces one of our offices. From weddings to new homes to babies to adventures in Peru and Australia, it’s all about the journey, not the destination.”

16. Remember that success is not an entitlement. One lesson Jason learned from former Starbucks CEO, Howard Schultz, is that “Success is not an entitlement. It needs to be earned every day. Jason Hughes reiterates that to his team regularly. “We never take it for granted. We’re thankful for our success and we’ve worked hard for it. Authenticity is critical to us too. Clients deserve the very best, and it’s our job to give it to them. Stay grounded and be humble.”

17. Deliver excellence in everything you do. “Make an effort to do everything right the first time and save yourself a hassle down the road,” Jason Hughes says. “We’ve made it our mantra to deliver excellence daily. Whether we’re restructuring a lease, planning a new project, or offering culture consulting, we’re ensuring the job gets done with the utmost precision and professionalism.”

18. Think big and be big. “Never stop following your dreams,” Jason Hughes says. “If you do what you love and love what you do, you’re always going to be successful. Never lose your passion, and never stop planning your next big endeavor. All of the great entrepreneurs of our time never put limits on themselves.”

19. Have more fun. “We believe in working hard and playing hard,” Jason Hughes says. “Fun is synonymous with our brand. From literally climbing mountains together to shuffleboard tournaments and ball games, we believe in thanking our team members for all their hard work throughout the year.”

20. Remember, there are no shortcuts to success. “We always strive to be the hardest workers in the room,” Jason Hughes notes. “We have even had T-shirts made with this phrase. Make every day count.”


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