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“No news is good news,” was a quote from one of our local elected leaders in an article about the city’s budget discussions. What caught my eye wasn’t the article itself, but the fact that, as much as our city leaders have been conditioned to understand, they are happy when people are quiet.
Several city leaders I spoke with said they want to listen to people, even when they’re upset, but anxiety comes with any communication: By the time people want to speak up, they’re usually frustrated, upset or angry, making communication even more difficult.
So the question is, why wait until you reach a boiling point before reaching out? Perhaps a more reasonable question is, when you reach out, are you informed, or do you believe you are informed?
A blunt question, and perhaps some offense. Either way, it’s a good question. As a small HOA leader (read on before you judge), I’ve learned that expectations are usually learned. Change is subjectively upsetting. Reactions to new or upsetting information are usually lacking in detail.
Taxes and fees are great examples of communication prompts. These financial obligations remind us why adulting isn’t our favorite pastime. They’re a great way to emotionally engage and “speak our minds” with those we supported during election season. But when I think about how little I know about taxes and their life cycle, I realize I’m not cut out for the job I left to someone else. And when I see improved roads, new businesses, and overall community growth, I conclude I’m still home.
What on earth am I even telling you this rumor for? This is about sharing more than just negative feedback with people who choose to do something most people don’t do every day. This is about opening up an avenue of communication with people who represent your voice at a higher level. This is about you becoming part of the community, or at least a part of it.
This doesn’t mean that if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all. There is an appropriate place and time for hateful, destructive comments too. This means making an effort to offer positive feedback just as much as negative feedback. Silence is golden, but positive words are motivating.
