The 5 Phases of Community Manager Development

by Julie Adamen

I’ve been thinking a lot about the new folks in community management, and in watching them grow into the business, it has struck me that there are 5 Phases we all go through to make it. If you’ve been in the industry awhile, you’ll recall the following critical development thresholds for a new community manager. And if you’re new – take heart! You will pass through them, we all did! It really (really!) does get better and can become quite fun if you just stick with it for a while.

Phase 1: Denial - Day 1 on the job to 4 months

You’re in denial, and by that I mean you’re in a state of shock. You’re thinking: "This isn’t happening to me. I didn’t take this job. Why did I take this job? What was I thinking?" During these first months, the work is overwhelming and some of it makes no sense; you’re drinking from a fire hose of information and trying to remember what you just learned yesterday. This is the hardest time in the business, it was for me and it is for everyone. This is exactly how you feel and it’s hard to get up in the morning and face another day. Even though you may not recognize it, you actually are making incremental improvements. To read the rest of this article, click here.

Special Assessment Success Through Communication and Transparency 

by Julie Adamen

I recently spoke with the President of a very large association, wherein a much-needed special assessment went to the membership for a vote… and was summarily defeated, and it wasn't even close. I won’t go into all the gory details; however, my analysis of why that vote went down in flames is that communication surrounding this wasn’t politically adequate to get the job done, resulting in the Board being perceived as not transparent to the membership. Unfortunately, special assessment failures are not a rare occurrence. The question becomes: How do we, as managers, guide Boards to best communicate issues (real or perceived) of negative impact to the owners in such a way as to make them understand the often grave necessity for that special assessment? By assisting those Boards in developing a complete communication plan that promotes transparency at every level. Is the communication/transparency plan going to be easy? I can tell you from experience the answer is no. It requires dedication, coordination and lots of work from all involved. Let’s take a look at how such a plan can be set up. To read more, click here.

Podcast!

If you’re stuck trying to pass a special assessment, this is the episode for you! Julie Adamen and Robert Nordlund share their expert insights on how to manage these challenging situations with transparency, clear communication, and strategic planning. Learn the importance of building alliances within your community, engaging in regular and proactive communication, and having a well-prepared plan to address potential crises.

More coming soon!