COOKING, LIKE RUNNING A CONDO ASSOCIATION, CAN BE PERSONAL IF ONE IS TRULY
PASSIONATE ABOUT THEIR CRAFT. In both situations, people spend a lot of time and energy to try and create the best possible outcome, pouring time, energy, and heart into the task. Now, some cooks do not like to share recipes; however, being greedy with one’s recipe means that when that person is no longer in the kitchen, their successful recipe disintegrates with them, and that benefits no one. For some people, recipes are an outline - a roadmap - towards the end result while for others, a recipe is a strict set of rules that must be followed. It will be up to the reader to decide which path feels right for them. The following are suggestions for how to whip up condo association success.
To foster a smooth-running condo association, there are a few key ingredients one should consider including in their recipe. Please notice that the ratio of ingredients is equal since each ingredient is essential to the recipe of success.
INGREDIENTS: 1 part Communication 1 part Transparency 1 part Collaboration
To begin the recipe for condo association success, one should begin with COMMUNICATION. As a condo board member, one might find themselves communicating with many parties: fellow board members, the building manager, other owners or residents, and vendors - to name a few. Clear, calm, and consistent communication with the main stakeholders solves a plethora of problems; it truly prevents issues from boiling over and making an utter mess. While some spills are inevitable (it’s impossible to make everyone happy), as long as people are informed of important decisions and given reasonable rationale behind decisions, most people will respect the board’s decisions and will be understanding.
One suggestion for increased communication and understanding is to provide a community forum for people to voice concerns, suggestions, or questions at the start of board meetings, prior to calling the meeting to order. When the open forum was instituted at the Cinema Lofts meetings two years ago, it gave people a voice. Additionally, ensuring that the board’s meeting minutes are posted once they are approved also serves as a means of clear communication, especially to those who could not attend the board meeting. People are busy, so make information accessible to them – it goes a long way. No matter how big or small your association, owners want to have a voice and be informed about how their money is being saved and spent.
The next ingredient to consider adding to your recipe for success is transparency. Of course, there are certain topics,
such as an individual unit’s financial information, that cannot be discussed in an open forum. However, maintaining a healthy helping of transparency in the area of association finances, or the board’s decision-making process for large projects, is key to success. Being transparent and honest is a way to earn respect, which means that when tough or big decisions have to be made, people will trust that the board members have the owners’ best interests in mind.
TRANSPARENCY is also a way to avoid appearing like you are doing favors or playing favorites with owners. At times, it may be difficult for some owners to see the big picture, but the more board members can help owners understand the thinking behind a decision, the more likely people will accept the decision. Always rooting one’s decisions in what is best for the majority, and being transparent about why the decision is the best for the majority, goes a long way with people.
Finally, the last ingredient one should include - without a doubt - is COLLABORATION. Of course, board members are voted in by the association, so one does not get to hand-pick their fellow board members. Being a member of the board can truly be a test to one’s patience, but constantly keeping collaboration a priority amongst the board - drawing on people’s talents and expertise - can really transform a building into a community. Also, relying on the building’s property manager, bringing them into the collaborative space, can also elevate the success of a community. Depending on the relationship with the property manager, an astute property manager can really bring an important perspective to collaboration sessions, so include them when possible. Working closely with the property manager has truly improved the success at the Cinema Lofts.
Furthermore, not only should collaboration happen amongst the board, but it should also occur between the board and the rest of the owners, especially for expensive projects. Even people who have not volunteered to be on the board may want to join a committee, which is a way to encourage collaboration. Another simple way to sprinkle in some collaboration is to utilize surveys. Don’t make them too long or do them too often, or else people may get survey- fatigued. Before surveying the entire community, though, it is important to collaborate with the board and/or committee members to create a finite set of options from which people can choose. Aim for controlled chaos instead of the wild west of collaboration. For example, if you are updating the building’s interior, put together color combinations ahead of time to present to the community at large. Give people options and room for feedback. Sometimes with larger and expensive projects, a board might have to conduct several rounds of surveys with the owners to truly give people input. Sometimes your initial ideas are not always accurate, or could use some fine-tuning, so make sure you go back to the basic ingredient of collaboration continuously to ensure success.
Once all of the aforementioned ingredients have been carefully assembled, one might consider folding in an extra ingredient or two to spice things up. Maybe consider adding in community get-togethers or celebrations. However, it is highly recommended that novice cooks keep it simple, refer to the recipe frequently, and ask for assistance when it gets a little too hot in the kitchen.
www.cai-illinois.org • 847.301.7505 | 41
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