Dealing with Difficult People:
Lessons for Life, Work, and Your Community
Let’s be honest, everyone has that one person in their life who tests their patience. Maybe it’s the neighbor who files a complaint if your holiday lights stay up a week too long, the coworker who sends “urgent” emails at midnight, or even a relative who seems to thrive on drama at family dinners.
Now, imagine leading an HOA, condo, or lifestyle community here in Florida Orlando, Tampa, St. Augustine, Kissimmee, you name it. With so many different personalities living side by side, conflict is bound to happen. But here’s the thing: learning how to deal with difficult people isn’t just a nice skill to have. It’s essential if you want your community (or even your household) to thrive.
Why it Matters in HOAs and Everyday Life
The truth is, conflict isn’t always about the issue on the surface. A complaint about a parking space might really be about someone feeling unheard. A heated email about landscaping could be fueled by stress from work.
According to the Community Associations Institute (CAI), adapting to different personality types and building communication skills are essential for successful HOA and condo leadership CAI
Groups like the CEOMC (Chief Executive Officers of Management Companies) also emphasize people skills as one of the most important tools for successful association management CEOMC. After all, its people, not paperwork, that make or break a community.
Real-World Tips for Handling Difficult People
Here are a few strategies we’ve seen work time and again, whether we’re helping HOA boards, condo associations, or just navigating everyday life:
Listen first. Sometimes the loudest person just wants to know they’ve been heard.
Stay calm. If you get emotional, the situation only escalates.
Look deeper. That angry phone call may not be about the pool gate, it might be about someone feeling overlooked.
Offer options. Even when the answer is “no,” giving alternatives helps people feel like they have a say.
Know when to call in backup. Mediation or escalation isn’t weakness, it’s structure.
These aren’t just HOA strategies, they work at the office, at home, or anywhere you deal with people (which is everywhere).
The Empire Approach
At Empire Management Group, we’ve seen firsthand how strong people skills shape strong communities. Yes, we handle the financials, the vendors, the maintenance, but what really sets us apart is how we handle people.
An educated staff leads to an educated community, and an educated community. That’s where legacies are built. Whether it’s Orlando, Tampa, St. Augustine, or Kissimmee, our focus is the same: creating places where homeowners feel heard, boards feel supported, and communities thrive.
Let’s Talk About Your Community
If your HOA or condo association is ready for a management team that can handle both the numbers and the personalities, we’d love to connect.
Request a Proposal from Empire Management
Because at the end of the day, managing communities isn’t just about property, it’s about people. And when people are supported, communities grow stronger.
