Condo Media - August 2012 - 43

thank the individual for their input. The board is usually empathic to your plight, (but was glad it wasn’t them) and understands through experience that the person is nuts, a jerk, or both, as do most normal people.

Conflict Among the Board Members
It’s pretty stressful for managers when there is conflict among your (several) client bosses and there is always the danger of a blow-up at a board meeting. The maneuver: The best advice is for you to remain as neutral as possible in and outside the meeting. No matter how much you strongly agree with any one or more members, you must let them know you respectfully decline to take sides. Your job is to help execute their policy and decisions, not take party to sides in a dispute. There is no quicker trip into the Twilight Zone and abject misery than by taking sides while a board is infighting.

The chaotic nature of the human element was Rod Serling’s playpen, and is ours as well: It is part and parcel of the job. Nowhere will it be on better display than at board meetings. The unknown can be very stressful if you don’t understand your role in what is happening, nor have the tools to deal with the unscripted process. Take heart that the “maneuvers” presented can help you mitigate what appears as inescapable social discomfort. Remember throughout all of this: You cannot control others, but

you are in control of your reaction to them and this control leads you to a healthy, successful career in community management. CM
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, Rod Serling

Julie Adamen is president of Adamen Inc., a consulting and placement firm specializing in the community management industry. Julie can be reached via email at julie@adamen-inc.com or through her website www.adamen-inc.com.

Conflict Within the Community
Eventually you will have a board meeting where people — a lot of people — show up because something big is going on and they are uninformed, confused, just plain angry or want to find out more and express their feelings. It could be anything from litigation to new paint colors to a special assessment. The maneuver: There are plenty of indications as to what meeting they will show up at, so it shouldn’t be a big surprise. Your job is to be prepared. Bring extra agendas, a sign-in sheet and plenty of pencils and service order forms. Be helpful and appear to be helpful to the members by action and attitude. These meetings seldom are simple or clean so emotional preparation is important as well. Remember, this is not about you, it is about process — their process. Action and attitude show the residents that you and the board care about their concerns and are bringing them into the process as much as you are able.

Working with Doug & Joe makes your job easier.
of Condo Association working for you.

Senior Vice President, Commercial Real Estate Lending doug.stevens@dedhamsavings.com

DOUG STEVENS

Senior Vice President, Commercial Real Estate Lending joe.cavallini@dedhamsavings.com

JOE CAVALLINI

CONDO MEDIA • AUGUST 2012

http://www.adamen-inc.com

Condo Media - August 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Condo Media - August 2012