We Can’t See Out?
By Julie Adamen

Recently I was talking to a friend who used to manage associations in the early 1980’s. He then went to apartment management for several years, and in the late 90’s returned to HOA management for a year or two before landing a position with a vendor. We were discussing the industry, and how it doesn’t really seem to change. He made the comment, “Other than using a computer instead of a typewriter, the job hadn’t changed at all.”

Of course, he knew there were more laws to keep track of, more knowledge expected of him as a manger and the like, but his comment rang true: Fundamentally, the industry hasn’t changed in darn near 20 years. Our fundamental challenges remain the same:

• For the most part, we do everything for everyone for one low price.
• The communities we manage demand TMM (Total Mediocre Management).
• Apathy.
• Professional Organizations need to meet the real needs of managers.
• We think we are a universe unto ourselves as an industry – and regular business principals don’t apply to us (or we think we don’t have time to apply them)

In the coming months we are going to talk about these issues and more, and we want to hear what you have to say: Especially you on site and portfolio managers in the trenches. So let’s start a discussion – a real one. Let’s talk about our very real challenges, and talk about them globally, not regionally. Let us not bury our heads in the sand with rah rah about what a great business we are in – we can get that at the next industry luncheon. Let’s talk about what’s real to our everyday lives. Now, the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step, and that first step is dialogue.

The Full Service Contract

For the most part, we do everything for everyone for one low price. The problem is, we aren’t painting cars – we are providing professionals services, the majority of which should be billed by the hour.  The full service contract is what devalues our services to the public - and until it dies, we are bound to it like Jimmy Hoffa to cement overshoes.

Communities and TMM

The majority of our communities demand TMM: Total Mediocre Management – not to be confused with TQM, or Total Quality Management.  Why is it? What can be done about it? How can we meet that level of demand and still keep our self-respect? How can we (or should we?) educate the consumer?

Manager Apathy…

Go to any industry function in any region and for the most part you will see the same few (manager) faces. The vast majority of managers either don’t see a reason to attend, think they don’t have time to attend, or can’t afford to attend those functions. Well, here’s a chicken and egg situation if there ever was one: Managers don’t come because (in a nutshell); the meetings don’t meet their needs. The meetings don’t meet their needs because enough managers don’t participate in the process. They don’t participate because… well, you get the picture (or live it).

Professional Organizations – are they REALLY in touch with the Industry?

Ironically, professional organizations often share the same challenge as community associations: When you depend on a lot of volunteers to make the smaller things happen (luncheons v. large educational course offerings) the end result may not be ideal, despite the efforts of some very talented (paid and unpaid) individuals. What can managers do to make the organizations more relevant to their everyday work lives, in addition to giving them “the big stuff”? What would meet your needs and expectations?

The Final Frontier – are we a universe unto ourselves?

Shockingly, almost all standard business practices apply to the community management industry – And if we continuously applied them a lot of our self-made challenges would no longer be a part of our lives. Remember, we can’t lose money on every deal and make it up on volume!

Well, I’m sure I’ve touched a few nerves with this article. I hope so. Are you mad? Are you nodding your head? Are you saying “Yeah! And then there this! And then there’s that! And what about …. Whatever!” Next month we are going to further explore these subjects, hopefully with your input.  Let us know how you feel, what you think.