By Julie Adamen

I based these resolutions on situations that have come to my attention the past years’ conversations with managers from around the country, as well as my own experience.  Take what you want from this. If it makes you smile, shake your head or just lets you know that your concerns (and problems) are universal among your peers and that you are not alone.

1. I will not take it personally. We have a very intense, people and service oriented business.  And no matter how you slice it or sugar coat it, it’s pretty negative – my sprinklers don’t work, there’s dog poop on the lawn, the ducks are in the swimming pool… and you must not be competent because you can’t fix it right now despite all the money we pay you!  Hey – managers, it’s not personal. It’s just homeowners being homeowners.

2. I will not worry that the Board(s) didn’t take my advice.  Bottom line, it’s their community. They can paint the trees purple and plant them upside down for all you care. Not that you recommend they do it – but you can expedite their wishes (make sure and memo the file, though…).

3. I will let go of the result.   In our business, when so many things can spin out of control in such an amazingly short amount of time, it’s very easy to become a control freak. STOP! Do your level best, tell the truth, do professional work and let go of the result. Recognize that the only thing you can control is your contribution to the situation – and NOT the end result. 

4. I will take my vacation time. It’s a never-ending string of deadlines, projects and problems. Not taking the time due to you doesn’t change that fact. So, go on your vacation, even if you aren’t going somewhere exotic. Take all the compensatory time due you. Do not work more than, on average, 45 hours per week. And try to get yourself down to 40 hours per week. Seriously.

5. I will value myself as a professional. Treating yourself as a professional means their emergencies aren’t your emergencies. By not feeling guilty or defensive for charging your association(s) extra time at meetings, copies, supplies, etc.   By acting, and not reacting, in your career path. By asking for the increase that is due when you take on a new (ob community association.  By not accepting the mediocre, but by expecting more from your profession, and yourself.

6. I will not take abuse. Abuse comes in many forms. In our industry, the obvious abuse usually comes from homeowners in the form of yelling, cursing, nasty letters and worse. (I knew of one manager who had a dead rat thrown on her desk -albeit in a zip lock bag- because the association’s rat problem wasn’t being handled to the satisfaction of that owner). But abuse can take on more subtle tones: The unstated expectations to put in long hours, the sabotaging micromanagement,  the left handed comments in Board meetings. Many of these, by themselves, often mean little or nothing. When they shift from random events to a pattern of behavior, it is abuse in its most invasive form.

7. I will do something, for me professionally, which is positive yet out of my normal routine.  Go to the next National Conference, just to see what others across the country are like. Or join a local or (!!) national committee. Maybe take those advanced professional classes you’ve been putting off, write an article for publication (not all at once!). Step out of your self-imposed professional parameters- expand your horizons.

8. I will not micromanage my staff or contractors. Do not become one of those whom you yourself despise. Recognize that micromanaging your staff and/or contractors make them feel devalued, eventually destroying their morale. Give up your false sense of control. Allow your people to contribute by not second-guessing their decisions and action and allow yourself to go on to those things about which you should concentrate. Value those who help you do your job. People do make mistakes, but it’s the mistakes that help us grow. One should recognize this growth function of their people and accept it.

9. If I lose my position, I will accept it and act with dignity (and move on). As you can imagine, I deal with many people who are in crisis – they have lost their job. If I can impart just one thing to those of you who will face this difficult time in the future, it would be this: Take it with dignity and mourn your loss with a trusted friend or family member. Please, don’t go home fresh from getting canned and call everyone you know in the industry and tell them you got canned in a shocked/weary/tear-filled/desperate spate of ill-advised conversations. Take a deep breath, vent in private and when the mourning is done, start making your contacts. Being 86’d is often a hard reality of our industry, especially for on site managers. But remember – as one door closes, a window opens We see this every day.

10. If I must terminate someone, it will be done quickly and with compassion. I know many a supervisor who hates this part of their job – thus it probably doesn’t get handled as well as it might. If you are the one doing the terminating, please allow the “dead-manager-walking” their professional courtesy – even if you feel they have given you none. Terminate them in private, and allow them to say good by to their co-workers if they so desire (unless you feel as if they are truly a danger). Remember, everyone in the office sees how you handle this, and you will be accorded the appropriate respect – or not – based on how you handle it.

11. I will not procrastinate. Procrastination is the enemy of the community manager – on site, portfolio, and executive. Eventually, the hurtling pile of uncompleted work, unreturned phone calls, incomplete classes and everything else will squash you like a bug. Good work habits are procrastinations biggest enemy.

12. I will not take on more than I can handle. This really comes under the resolution about valuing yourself as a professional – but – this condition is so pervasive in our industry that I thought it merited its own resolution!  Because you want to help out, or be noticed, or get more money, or whatever, you will likely take on more than you can handle in terms of your workload. If you value yourself personally and professionally, you will avoid this malady. In the long term, it doesn’t work for you, your company or your association(s).

13. I will, on occasion, look up. Look up to see where you are going. Look up to see where you want to go. Look up to see the sun, the moon and the stars. Look up to see your loved ones. Look up to see the view. Look up to see yourself on vacation. Look up to see what you can do to improve your professional life.  Look up to see the open window, and not the closed door.

Have a wonderful Holiday Season. Thank you for all your support and friendship. With all our best to you and your loved ones. Thank you.