Condo Media - November 2020 - 31

ANAGEMENT
T
IN PROPERTY MANAGEMENT,
one constant that we all deal with is
change. Though common, change itself
is one of the most feared and anxietycausing events we as humans experience.
People literally fight change. It's worth
remembering, though, that change is
neither good nor bad. Rather, it is a
necessary and very real part of our lives,
both inside and outside of property and
association management.
Changes come at us from many directions. We are faced with technological
changes, legal and regulatory changes,
board and trustee changes, demographics,
etc. With this, our difficulties often come
when we (consciously or not) cling to past
emotions or practices. This is what could
be labeled as a fixed mindset. Even if this
does not wholly apply to an individual
or organization, each of us experiences
a fixed mindset in one or more areas.
We may be fully open to change in certain
areas, while still fiercely avoiding change
in others. It is worth noting again: each of
us is guilty of this in one or more areas.
PANDEMIC REACTIONS
March of 2020 brought new and unprecedented challenges to many of us with the
COVID-19 pandemic. In the early days
of various levels of quarantining, many
likely felt that after a few weeks' time that
everything would normalize and we'd
return to a typical pattern of operation.
Now, several months later, boards and
those professionally serving the property
management field have had to face numerous changes and impacts. In the early
days of the pandemic, unit owners and
residents were grateful for the support
and additional effort, but those feelings
passed as their own frustration, anxiety,
and personal challenges escalated.
As boards had to make difficult decisions about closing amenities, or how

to finance the additional expense if and
when those amenities were to open,
it has seemed if attacks and challenges
came from all sides. All of these stresses
have resulted in an increase in board
turnover, which brings an additional
set of challenges. The legal profession
has had challenges in performing their
role in association support due to state
guidelines. Management companies
may have had to adjust their business
and staffing models quickly to accommodate new realities.
As things have adjusted and settling is
starting to occur, longer-term decisions
and strategies need to be considered.
Rather than waiting for change to force
itself onto the board, the management
company, the accounting firm, or the legal team, change should be sought after.
Not simply considering how to navigate
the here and now, but what opportunities lie ahead and how to develop a strategy to assure continuity, growth, and
flexibility. However, this kind of change
is difficult for many
and can and will
bring new challenges perhaps not
previously faced by
an organization.
These challenges impact
our association
efforts. They may
reveal themselves
in an unaligned
board. Individuals
who fight for the old ways may leave
the board and take with them precious
institutional knowledge. Sometimes the
board is evolving and the management
company isn't ready for change and
cannot adapt fast enough. Each of these
and the many other possibilities, all can
cause additional stress and anxiety.

STRATEGIES FOR CHANGE
The opposite of the fixed mindset is the
growth mindset. Again, this isn't change
simply for change's sake, but rather
seeking to improve proactively, to view
things from all angles, and to explore
new and innovative ideas or processes.
This is not a perfect science, however.
When we do attempt to embrace (or
endure) change, we may try and change
too much, or perhaps we forget that
we will occasionally fail as we change.
When we apply our current cadence
to new and unknown variables, we will
almost always trip on something.
There are, however, strategies that,
if applied, can aid in this transition.
First, recognize that change is a
process, specifically an emotional
process. We move from an initial phase
of willingness to accept change (not
knowing what you do not know), to some
point where reality would set in. Similar
to a marriage, there comes a time where
the newness of romance wears off and

Change is neither good nor bad.
Rather, it is a necessary and very
real part of our lives, both inside
and outside of property and
association management.
you realize that a marriage isn't perfect,
that compromise must happen, and that
it takes work! At some point beyond this,
there is the decision point where a choice
is made to either roll over and give up, or
to move through the struggle beyond to
the other side. This is where comfort and
familiarity can reintroduce themselves.
November 2020 CONDOMEDIA

Condo Media - November 2020

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