In much the same way, board members of af homeowners association achieve success when everyone is focused on the same goal and performing. As Kerri Strug stated when asked about the achievement, “There were seven women on that team-none of usf could have done it alone; I know that!” When translated into the land of condominiums, townhomes, cooperatives and homeowner associations, every board member brings an individual level of strengthf and dedication. Some have an expertise in a certain area and others simply have a desire to serve and seem to have an endless amount of energy.
f However, no board is able
to achieve greater success when only one or two people are committed. What follows are a few tips that a board or board membermay want to implement in order to achieve a higher level of successf
through individual and team efforts.
Understand the desired results, and the “end goal.”
In a gymnastics competition, there is an end goal for the individual as well as for the team. Each of the seven women on that Olympic team competed on an individual level as well as for the team. They understood that success could be achieved on an individual level but that they were also competing for their team and ultimately for their country. If eachf
to beachieved, it is easier to take their individual talents and begin the process of movingf
person on the Board understands what is forward toward success.
However, the goal - or objectives needed to reach the goal - need to be clear and discussed to the point that all involved are moving in the same direction. Duplicate efforts or incomplete work willk
frustration while delaying completion of thef to your strengths and ask fork If yourf
strength is that of anf
a communicator, keep the information flowing in a clear and concise manner. If youf
the moving parts in the right place for all to see. If youf are the dreaded “task master,”
k
keep everyone focused on the prize, helping to move in the previously agreed-upon direction. They just might thank you when the project is done.
Compromise and collaboration
There are several keys to being successful in gymnastics. Two of thosef
main keys are flexibility and strength. Board members can sometimes feel their opinions are not being
only create confusion and project. Play
assistance when necessary. organizer, be the one to keep are
heard, which can create a combative situation or cause a person to simply shut down and elect not to contribute any further in the process. As we learned from the United States Gymnastics Team, each member had something to contribute. No one person is going to hold all the answers to the problems at hand. There needs to be a level of flexibility to listen to the ideas of others. Gather together the ideas offered and sift through them to find the best of each and create the optimum solution. Using strength in the wrong manner in gymnastics can cause a muscle tear or other injury. Using strength to force an issue at your community association can cause another board member or unit owner to dig in their heels and become an obstacle to the solution. It can also have a long-term negative effect on the interpersonal relationships that exist on the board. Crafting a compromise or collaborating to arrive at a solution will generally provide a stronger level of commitmentf final solution. A greater level of trustf
to the can arise from this
effort and the board can become stronger and use that strength to tackle the next big issue that is certain to come along.
Implement Service Leadership.
A great gymnastics coach understands that simply barking out commands or using intimidation does very little to build a winning team. The coach needs to demonstrate they are genuine, that they understand the sport, can transfer the necessary skills, and build the confidence of thef
athlete
to perform at a higher level. On the association board level, there are leaders who sometimes choose to take the path of intimidatingf
others, attempting to dictate terms
or their own personal agendas. Often times, this leads to a frustrating end, and even when successful, damaged or broken relationships lie in the wake. “Service Leadership” is most commonly associated with churches, but rest assured, this is not a sermon delivery. Actually, the practice of Servicef
Leadership has taken root in many areas of
corporate life including many not-for-profit organizations. In an article published in the Dallas Business Journal, Glen Bounds wrote, “It requires a leader to have a natural desire to serve first. How is this implemented in the everyday work world? Service leaders listen to, respond to, and support others. They remove barriers and obstacles which would prevent others from growing as individuals and performing well in the workplace. A service leader embraces people- building and development, offering care and support while upholding the organization’s expectations of one’s performance.”
f
50 | COMMON INTEREST®
• Summer 2024 • A Publication of CAI-Illinois Chapter
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