As I was completing a busy morning that began with a 6:00 AM meeting with my husband and business partner, Robert, I also attended to a sick pet, fed and watered four cats, sent a slew of e-mails, and started making breakfast (spinach omelettes with sun-dried tomatoes, bacon and cheddar) which I happily do every day. In the meantime, I remembered that we’re having pot roast for dinner, so I prepared the roast for the slow cooker, and began to get ready for the day. Game on, girlfriend!
I share this detailed morning schedule because it occurred to me that this behavior is why girls (women) make excellent community managers! Think about it… in every property management office, pre-licensing course, property management company and community association; the staff is dominated by women! I believe I know why, it is because women are:
Willing
Women are willing to listen. We are not ego-driven; we can take direction, criticism, and instruction without be being devastated by the adjustment. We just course correct, and keep it moving. We are also willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done. Recently, I was standing at the elevator and I smelled the cigarette butts in the ashcan. I just picked it up, emptied it in the trash, washed my hands and headed to the meeting. No calling the maintenance man or housekeeper. I am capable, and I was there. We do what needs to be done.
Wise
Women can take a step back and look at a problem in a holistic way. I call it the “girl-eye”. We analyze how to solve a current crisis, while we determine how to eliminate the issue for the future. What is the best solution for everyone. How can we minimize the inconvenience for the elderly or infirm resident, and still accomplish the project goal on schedule. Is possible to do the “noisy work” before or after nap-time for the moms on a particular street? These accommodations matter to us, because they matter to our residents whether they know it or not.
Warm
Women are hard-wired to nurture. There is no substitute for this attribute. Many problems in community associations are people and personality related. There is a great deal of loneliness, disappointment, rejection, illness and financial concern in our communities. These sensitive conversations often require an attentive ear, an extended hand, or a friendly embrace to someone in need. This comes naturally to women community managers, and we care deeply about how other’s “feel”.
Workers
Another great quality that makes women great managers is we started at or near the bottom of the ladder. We have developed excellent administrative and people skills, and we don’t mind hard work. If one of our staff is out, we can pull together any report, document, financials, seating chart, or social event on short notice with aplomb.
Oh yeah, “Who runs the world?” Girls!
Tanoa Lynne has earned a solid reputation in the field of property management, and has a personal goal of helping property managers realize their full potential in the industry. She currently resides in Delray Beach, Florida with her husband and furry, four-legged adopted children.
- Juggling Concurrent Projects in Your HOA - May 30, 2019
- 5 Basic Habits of Highly Effective CAMs - November 13, 2018
- Who Runs the (CAM) World? - February 22, 2017
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Good Article…There is much truth in this.
If a man gave this kind of argument he would be ridiculed and ostracized. I think this is a bunch of baloney. Well written, but, baloney! I’ll work any of you under the table and am a great manager! Has nothing to do with gender. It’s called experience and work ethic!
I couldn’t agree more. And while many of the companies have a significant female staff, quantity does not necessarily translate into quality.
My experience is this goes back to the days when most apartment managers were female, and the building engineer was a male. The industry was definitely more populated with the fairer sex at that time, and has continued to be so. Personally, I don’t see much difference in the management style or talent, be it a male or female manager.
Then why our boards dominated by men?
Yeah, what Barry said…
Great cartoon, bad article. Work ethics + experience = “Job well done”. Gender plays no part in this equation. To assign qualification’s to a gender in 2017, will only take you back to the 1950’s. Men can’t be Nurses and Women can’t fly planes. Sounds silly right?