The life of a General Manager has dramatically changed due to the downturn in the economy. In the past you had a large supporting cast to assist you with making an association a fine tuned, well running model. Today you’ve had a contraction of those duties and the result has been a redefining of the role of a General Manager. Gone are the days of the “typical G.M.” and in its place has arisen the “All Purpose Manager”. Previously a typical G.M. merely needed to know the internal workings of a community and how to effectively maintain the day to day operations. The “All Purpose Manager”, is a hybrid of several different careers. There’s the therapist, the mediator, the foreclosure specialist, the paralegal and of course some of the more typical duties… manager, maintenance technician and customer service representative.
While most G.M.’s have accepted the change as easily as someone who went in to see the optometrist for their first pair of glasses. They take a little getting used to, but hey, it’s not the end of the world. Others have taken a step back and have begun seeking out positions as a portfolio manager. It is generally considered a move up to become a G.M. from the position of a portfolio manager. Something which I never quite understood because being a G.M. there’s a more likely chance of being confronted by a disgruntled homeowner. Of course dealing with homeowners issues…the good, the bad and the ugly is something that both groups of managers share in common. There difference is a portfolio manager usually handles these issues from the other end of a phone and the general manager is usually face to face with the homeowner.
I’m not saying the plight of the typical G.M. is comparable to that of a prize fighter throwing in the towel after a few rounds with Mike Tyson, but the fight to do a good job and not let yourself be overwhelmed by the added responsibilities is a constant struggle for some. And who needs more stress in today’s society, right?!
The basis for wanting to be a general manager is still the same. More control, more flexibility, better salary, increased benefits, etc. However the typical general manager has died and the all purpose manager is what’s required and sought after in today’s job market.
In the end, I personally will always prefer the thank you that comes with a handshake and a smile as opposed to the thank you that’s followed by a dial tone.
Sincerely,
Derrick Patterson – All Purpose Manager