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CONDOCENTRIC: Leadership In The Condominium Universe
As in any organization with multiple stakeholders, getting things done in a condominium complex can be a daunting task. Multiple players with multiple agendas, positions and perceptions often serve to grind forward progress to a halt, and this can prove extremely frustrating for a Property Manager or Board member who is trying to accomplish positive outcomes.
Appeal to Heart and Head
Leadership is about motivating others to want to struggle for shared aspirations. The operative word is want, and when intelligent people want to accomplish something, it is usually driven by both what they’re thinking and what they’re feeling. So the leader’s first task is to appeal to their logical minds and then arouse positive emotions by reconnecting them with the purpose of the organization (why we come here to do this work). When both heart and head are engaged, people are more open to new ideas and collaborations.
Focus on Shared Vision
To move forward requires leading people to common ground. If the organization has a clear vision, the leader needs to remind everyone of that vision in powerful ways; to reconnect them (here is where head and heart come in) to their shared purpose. If there is no vision, the leader needs to work with the group to create one, because shared vision leads to co-operation and commitment.
“Leadership is a dialogue; it’s about developing a shared sense of identity. It’s about enrolling others so that they can see how their own interests and aspirations are aligned with the vision and can thereby become mobilized to commit their individual energies to its realization. A vision is inclusive of the constituents’ aspirations; it’s an ideal and unique image of the future for the common good.” 1
To do this, try telling rich stories of where the organization has been, where you are now, and where you are going (the vision). This will create a sense of movement and progress.
Call to Action
You can then challenge your Board to come to agreement on next steps required to achieve the vision, and commit to action. The key is to phrase your request in terms of their contribution to the overall vision.
“People resist change but embrace progress. To be committed to act, each person must have a sense of things moving forward, with the potential to make a contribution that will lead to the new future at the end of the road.” 2
Conclusion
The hustle and bustle of everyone’s daily life tends to get us bogged down in our own issues. Often our myopia leaves us overly focused on our own agendas, and it’s no different for people on condominium Boards. We forget the original reason why we’re sitting on the Board.
For a Property Manager or Board member trying to effect meaningful change, remember to apply leadership principles: first get stakeholders energized in both mind and heart, then move them to common ground, the organization’s vision, so their own agendas diminish, and finally challenge them in a positive way to take action that serves the overall organization and its mission. Those leaders who apply these principles see quick and meaningful results.
From “Common Elements” Spring 2007
1. The Leadership Challenge, Kouzes, Jim and Posner, Barry 1995 p.124
2. Leading Out Loud, Pearce, Terry 1995, p.35
By Michael Darmody, Principal of Darmody & Company
Michael Darmody, is Principal of Darmody & Company, and helps small and medium sized businesses to bridge the performance gap between where they are now, and where they need to be. He lives in Mississauga and can be reached at michael@darmodyconsulting.com or (905) 614-1935.
All of the information contained in this article is of a general nature for informational purposes only, and is not intended to represent the definitive opinion of the firm of Elia Associates on any particular matter. Although every effort is made to ensure that the information contained in this newsletter is accurate and up-to-date, the reader should not act upon it without obtaining appropriate professional advice and assistance.
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