Collaborate with condo board members the way Joe Biden chose a VP
By: Shamontiel L. Vaughn
Tags: Conflict Resolution, Leadership, Joe Biden, Management, Condos

When reality show host Donald Trump described Senator Harris as a “very, very nasty woman,” I shrugged. It was the same recycled insult he’d given to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

According to Trump, “She was very disrespectful to Joe Biden and it’s hard to pick somebody that’s that disrespectful.”

Trump’s idea of “disrespect” bleeds into his mentality with his own team, including former FBI director James Comey, who he’d given a speech to about “loyalty.” In the past four years, voters have quickly figured out that his idea of loyalty is to never publicly or privately disagree with him. And he’s not alone in this. There are plenty of higher-up managers who also have this peculiar need for people to always agree with them — even if they’re not right.

This personality type is someone who needs everyone to be his publicist. Disagree with him? You’re fired. Sometimes you can even agree with him, and he’ll still dismiss you. Of course if you want to get things done, it’s counterproductive to have someone on the team who always goes left when you go right. But there’s also a happy medium that board members need to have, and that’s what it appears Harris and Biden have agreed on.

Why a “yes” person is a grave mistake for condo board members

You will be making lots of decisions on an everyday basis, depending on how big or small your condo building is. Some days may be church mouse quiet, and you’re just making sure bills are paid. Other days you may wake up to a contractor calling to clarify a payment plan, no hot water, no electricity, text messages at midnight and still have to make it to a two-hour virtual meeting for your “real” job. (I wish I were making that last line up as an extreme example, but that genuinely happened to me this week. I kid you not.)

In the meantime, you must have a team that is ready to work with you — not just do whatever you tell them to do. If there’s a board meeting, actually encourage the other board members to share opposing opinions. Ask if they think something is not a good idea. Do not just shut them down when you really want to get something done; check the bylaws and figure out the pros and cons before hitting anyone with the “because I said so” logic.

Whether you’re a volunteer board member or talking to a property manager, nothing good comes from shutting down or throwing a tantrum if someone doesn’t agree with you. In fact, you may find that by having a team that can share their honest opinions, you stop yourself from making grave mistakes. It’d be difficult for me to believe that anyone reading this post right now has not had a “great idea” blow up in his or her face. Did you ask people about the idea ahead of time? How did you respond to the person who told you it wouldn’t work? How did you respond to the people who agreed with you? This behavior will tell you how you tend to feel about “yes” people, and why dismissing them as “nasty” for disagreeing with you is pointless.

As frustrating as it may be sometimes when one (or more, depending on your team) condo board member holds out on a vote, or votes “no,” just remember that “no” the next time a big decision needs to be made. Was that “no” person’s opinion valid? Did (s)he end up being right? What can you learn from it for next time?

You may find that that “last” person in the room isn’t disagreeing with you for kicks. In a perfect condo association world, your team (and I say this wholeheartedly with my own) is as invested in the property as you are and only wants the best for all owners. And sometimes your choices or opinions may not be the best of the bunch. Choose your board members wisely, and don’t be afraid to let them get the “last” word.