Tips to Survive Holiday Stress in Your HOA
It's effortless to become overwhelmed this time of year. Stress affects everyone differently, but here are some tips to help managers and their communities effectively deal with this hectic season and the conflict that often arises. They help you manage the stress of the holiday season and allow you to have a more effective and thriving community.
Communicate
Secrecy often breeds contempt. If managers and board members are not actively keeping members up to date on the news within the community, members may feel as though something is happening behind their backs. Distrust is never reasonable and will only result in additional stress and conflict. Send out e-blasts, post notices in common areas, and invite members to attend board meetings so you can help them feel informed about what is happening. I've never had community members complain about receiving too much communication from their board or management company.
Focus on the Essentials
Find out what matters most to your community. Ask for feedback from your members about the items that concern them and determine what actions to take to address those issues. Find out what makes your members happy, too. A newsletter or gathering can liven up the community, for example.
Adopt a Civility Pledge, and Adhere To It
Community associations contain people who have different values, ideals, and inclinations. You should be able to talk about these differences, listen to each other, and civilly disagree. That's what makes community associations so wonderful. Adopting a civility pledge to guide communication expectations for your association sets the standard with your members. It shows members how you will handle communication and encourages them to do the same.
Stop and Smell the Roses
We all get overwhelmed, and often, the hardest thing to do is to slow down or tell someone "no." If you are already feeling overwhelmed or overburdened, take some time to consider what's being asked of you before you accept additional responsibilities. These responsibilities may mean reducing items on the agenda at a membership or board meeting, talking with a supervisor or colleague regarding assistance, or having a conference with the association attorney regarding ways to conduct association business that may ease some of the burdens on managers and board members. Ask colleagues and industry colleagues what they do to manage their workload. Many professionals in this industry have been where you are and are ready and willing to offer some advice or assistance to help you succeed.
Give Thanks
"Thank you" and "I'm sorry" are simple words that can make a difference. If you've done something wrong, apologize for it. Sincerely. If someone has done something good or kind, thank them. Everyone wants to feel appreciated and valued, and these are a few words that can go a long way toward helping avoid stress and conflict.
Contact Us
In need of some assistance in your community? Don't fear! Contact Condominium Associates. We are here to help you find the right style for your community with managers that care.
