CAI-NJ December 2020

MANAGEMENT TRENDS

What We Learned from 2020 — Community Manager Edition

By Denise Becker, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, Corner Property Management, AAMC

“I know that they’ll be better days That sunshine ‘bout to come my way May we never ever shed another tear for today Cause I know that they’ll be better days” “Better Days” — OneRepublic

A s 2020 comes to a close, most will remember the past nine months as filled with quarantine, confu- sion, frustration, sadness, and separation. While that is understandable, we also must applaud ourselves for what we were able to accomplish. While no one needs a reminder of what we have been through, it is helpful to look back to see how things have evolved since March. Our places of work look different, with conference rooms closed and the water cooler no lon- ger a place for employees to gather to tell each other about their weekends or the latest TV show or movie (remember when Tiger King was a thing?). Home life is different, too. Two working parents sharing internet time with children learning remotely. Graduations videoed, dance recitals done by Zoom, and visits to grandparents by Facetime or Skype. Public life is masked faces that elbow bump hellos instead of shaking hands and giving hugs. For months, lunch dates, educational courses, concerts, and nightlife were (at first) completely cut off and then transitioned to being held virtually. Likewise, our communities have closed their clubhouses, pools, tennis courts, and fitness centers. Vehicles barely moved with many residents working from home. Board

meetings, committee meetings, and elections have been held online. In-person social events have all been indefinite- ly postponed. In some cases, community participation and communication increased (as did complaints). Yes, the world is different now, but that does not mean that it is worse. Let’s look at the good news. We conformed, contorted, and innovated ourselves to be productive and make the best of our new “normal.” Employers did their best to keep the fires burning. We figured out how to work safely and not skip a beat. There may be plexi-glass dividers between the cubicles and shift work, but we kept it going for our communities. I have not stepped foot into my office since March; my home is now command central with my laptop and printer perched on my dining room table. Thank goodness for the mute button on Zoom, because more times than I can count my dogs start barking at a passerby with no care or appreciation that I was in the middle of a board meeting or assisting a client. In addition, we saw compassion in our communities. Many residents reached out to assist the elderly by mak- ing a trip to the pharmacy or grocery store. We heard our residents clapping from their balconies honoring the

fongleon356/iStock/Getty Images Plus

CONT I NU E S ON PAGE 37

34

D E C E M B E R , 2 0 2 0