This morning as I was driving to work, I was thinking about the interpersonal conflict I have recently been observing in some HOAs.  While it may be convenient for folks to blame all of the nastiness on a full moon, I truly believe much of the conflict in associations simply comes from folks not listening to each other.  The truth is that deep down inside every person wants to be heard and treated with respect.  Even if folks don’t always agree with us, the simple act of listening without reaction and with empathy can work miracles.

To be fair, when I talk about conflict, I’m talking about everyone involved in the HOA world.  So I’m calling on all homeowners, board members, managers, association employees and HOA attorneys to stop for a minute and to truly listen to what the other gal or guy is saying.  If we take the time to really hear what the other person is saying and to acknowledge their feelings, we are much less likely to react with personal attacks and are more likely to find an acceptable solution to the problem.