Condo Media - August 2020 - 14

Digging DEEPER
ALIGNING THE BOARD
I am assuming that the previous commentary about digging deeper and
active listening make logical sense, and
may even sound easy to implement.
I do want to caution, though, that
these ideas are easier said than done.
This most often comes down to board
alignment. In most cases, people make
emotional decisions. Later, they will
justify their decisions with logic. For
example, you might purchase a particular car because of the gas mileage,
or cargo capacity, or any other logical
justification. However, how the car felt
or looked was the real deciding factor,
or even if the vehicle itself was aligned
with a personal social cause such as an
electric vehicle.
If we accept that people typically
make decisions emotionally, then simply presenting active listening and a
5-Why process may not gain traction
without first working to align the board.
Boards do not need to always agree,

DIGGING DEEPER

is an active effort on the
part of the board, committee,
management company, or any
organization to seek for the real
meaning or intent behind an
issue. With proper alignment and
intent, productivity and efficacy
will increase as less time is spent
on symptoms of challenges, and
instead focused on the real cause
behind the issue. This effort also
results in greater unity within the
organization, even if individuals
differ in philosophies.

but if they can agree upon a direction and assume they are all sharing
the same intent of the betterment of
the community rather than personal
interests, then this will help. If personal
grudges, egos, or politics cloud the discussion, then it will be difficult to listen
and find real meaning. People may lash
out emotionally, then later justify their
frustration because of some current
or previous issue or incident. In our

Practicing Condominium
Association, Real Estate, Litigation,
Employment & Bankruptcy Law

Attorneys left to right: Dan López, David Chenelle, Rob Anctil, Scott Eriksen, Charlie Perkins, Jr., Rhonda Duddy, Kim Alley.

Solving your problems today and
strengthening your association for tomorrow.
We bring the knowledge that we have
obtained from decades of experience of
representing more than 750 associations
to each client's concern.

company, we have a mantra of "assume
best intentions." If we work to always
assume the best intentions, this allows
us to stay curious enough that even if we
do not understand or agree, we can at
least operate under the precept that the
other individual is doing what they
believe is best and that they are not
specifically acting out against us.
PROCESS AND PATIENCE
In summary, the process of digging
deeper in community management
can be broken down to three focus
topics: Active listening, asking why to
understand real intent, and aligning as
a board. We teach these subjects to our
management team in workshops and we
provide them to boards we work with.
Sometimes having a mediating voice
can help. In any case, though, it will be a
process. Just as digging deeper is a process, learning how to do so effectively
is also a process. If you try some or all
of these steps and stumble, have grace
with yourself and your team. These are
not practices taught in school or in
most workplaces. They take time to become part of what is normal for a board.
However, once implemented, you will
find shorter - yet more effective - meetings, less time spent between meetings,
and great feelings of productivity in the
work that you do.
n BRYAN HUGHES, CMCA,
IS PRESIDENT - NEW ENGLAND
AT FIRSTSERVICE RESIDENTIAL.

6 Lyberty Way, Suite 201 | Westford, MA 01886 | Tel (978) 496-2000 | info@perkinslawpc.com

CONDOMEDIA August 2020

Condo Media - August 2020

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