7 minute read
What Work-Life Balance Looks like for a Community Manager
Community management isn't a 9-5 job, but with proper boundaries and planning, it offers a quality of life that other careers don't. Still, the "Manager Life" isn't for everyone.
By Justin Sacoolas, CCAM
Community management as a career choice offers a unique work-life balance. A traditional job often comes with a “9-5” schedule. Sometimes, this schedule feels like a dream. As someone who has been in the industry for 12 years, I have often found myself envious of people who can pack it up at 5:00 pm on a Friday and not have any work to do or think about until Monday morning. Even the idea of being done for the day at 5:00 pm on a random Tuesday sounds pretty nice.
The Job That Never Ends
A fact of life is that if you truly care about your clients and your work product, stress and anxiety comes with that. I find my brain doing meeting prep during dinner or thinking about an email I may have missed while I’m brushing my teeth. I’ve been at the gym and left to make calls about one thing or another more than once. Sometimes, this makes me feel that my career intrudes on my life. There is not a clear line drawn showing that I am “at” work or “off ” work. Community managers do not clock in and out. For those of us who prioritize excellent client care and the well-being of those living in the communities we manage, this is certainly more than a full-time job.
I’ve thought of this dichotomy many times. I’ve asked myself if I would be happier or more balanced in a field that offers very clear lines of what is expected of me and what work hours are. I have felt overwhelmed at times. I remember one Christmas Eve, I got a call from a board member at a prominent account about an irrigation leak. About two hours later, I got a call from another board member asking if a car could be towed because an owner was in visitor parking. These two phone calls on Christmas Eve were sobering. What am I doing with my life?
In the past three years, my life has changed a lot. I now have two daughters. My priority is their happiness and well-being. A notable part of that is financial security. However, quality of life is far more complex than money. There are nights when managers are in meetings until 11:00 pm after working all day. There are days when our phone won’t stop ringing, and our inbox seems to overflow.
Is the Manager Life Right for You?
It is crucial for every manager to ask themselves, “Is this career for me?” Without knowingly confronting the possibility that maybe this career path is not for you, I don’t believe it can ever be truly chosen or appreciated. Below are two important areas of self-inquiry that I considered to help me choose and appreciate community management.
Not everyone is naturally self-motivated and accountable. Many people prioritize having tasks done over having tasks done right.
Quality of Life
It’s easy to spot the negative. Humans are excellent at this. It is much harder for us to be grateful. Negativity bias makes it very easy to spot what is wrong, and quite hard to step back and experience gratitude for what you have. If you ask most managers what they don’t like about their job, you’d likely hear complaints about stress, late nights, being overworked, verbally abusive homeowners, and a list of other injustices community managers face. All these complaints are true and valid. It is the choice of the individual to instead focus on the benefits and advantages of this career.
With young children, time at home is precious. I was uncomfortable with attending evening meetings when my first daughter was born. I felt like I was abandoning her and our evening routine of singing her songs and tucking her in when I had a meeting. While considering this, I also thought about all the times I could come home for lunch and play with her for a minute. Or the afternoons that I could work from home and play with her for five minutes in between appointments. That is a pretty amazing thing.
With support and understanding from my wife, we can plan for nights I’m working, and I can take advantage of slower days. Somedays, when all my ducks are in a row, I will walk away from the computer and play with her or walk to the park for an hour. I’m able to keep an eye on my email and take any calls that come in, but I am also present with her at a time that is traditionally considered “work hours.” When my wife was pregnant, I could plan my week around knowing there was a doctor’s appointment 2:00 pm on Tuesday and actually be there for it. These are not small quality-of-life matters.
“With Great Freedom Comes Great Responsibility”
This career path is not for those who want to do what must be done and walk away. A good manager is always planning ahead, seeing potential issues and conflicts, and staying ahead of them for their clients. In many ways, you are your own boss. I’ve managed teams of association managers and can quickly spot those who will succeed and those who will flounder. Not everyone is naturally self-motivated and accountable. Many people prioritize having tasks done over having tasks done right.
Those who conduct themselves as craftsmen can find great freedom in it. When all of your accounts and boards are well taken care of, there is a level of peace that is added to interactions and even problems that arise. Having some credit built up with boards and members can go a long way. Each person is responsible for their own reputation. If someone truly strives to serve and displays the competency to make others’ lives better, they will be someone others are grateful to work with and have on their team. This fosters a relationship of trust and even love. If you have served a client well, they will want you to be happy and stay a part of the team.
Boundaries Set You Up for Success
People have the capacity to be pretty amazing. For example, I recently started swimming laps. I find it peaceful and a way to unplug. Just last week, I was on a call with a client and we compiled a pretty long task list. I told them, “I’m going to go swimming for about an hour, and then I’ll get back to you all on this.” I was hesitant to make such a statement early in my career. These days, I respectfully set boundaries to protect my well-being.
Living authentically and owning my own schedule is freeing. I may have to work some nights, but I can also take a midday break to go swimming. I may have some rough conversations with people who are upset, but I can also help a lot of people who need and appreciate my assistance. There are some 14-hour days, but there are also some six-hour days. I have grown to appreciate that my schedule is not “9-5.” I prefer being in charge of my own days and my own time on this planet, even if that means working a little harder.
