For the majority of time that apartment living has existed, it has operated behind closed doors. But with the development of technology, smart phones and the shift to the right now mindset this can not continue. The engagement of owners into the operations of every strata building is required, or each strata manager and committee will find themselves quickly in the minority, and pushed out.
Sure every owner is invited to the Annual General Meeting (AGM), but are they made welcome? The legislation is often quoted and used as a wall and obstacles to owners that people don’t want to work with or find difficult. As a strata manager or committee member it is important that these actions are stopped, and replaced with an attitude of inclusion.
The closed-door intentional exclusion attitude is evident is several parts of society, including business and world politics. In business it can be accepted and people have the option to leave. But in a system where everyone is supposed to have input, and membership is compulsory exclusions will result in the downfall and shift of power. Just like we saw in the US election where Trump invited people into his plans and the lack of transparency from other candidates and parties left Trump with a majority.
Intentional Inclusion
The inclusion of people starts by making a clear decision to include others. Including everyone starts with the AGM. I urge everyone to look at the AGM not as a meeting where we must do with all these legal things, but think of the AGM as a party, a time for everyone to catchup and share your future plans with each other.
“If you can’t see the difference, your days are numbered”
Step 1 – Change your language
Go look at your AGM agenda, and tell me, does it make you want to go? Now look at an invite to a party, or the launch of a new development. We all know what excites you more.
Now tell me, why would you go to a party that is only going to cost you money, compared to a party (AGM) where you could increase the value of your apartment? Change the language and tell them what you are really there to do.
Drop the legal talk and start talking to everyone like a human that you want to have at your party.
Step 2 – Communicate communicate communicate
Don’t communicate to the minimum, communicate to the maximum.
To many people send one notice of the meeting, that is hard to understand and then hope people don’t turn up. But then something happens, like levies go up or something sits broken for to long. Then they all arrive with a mission and a bag of anger.
Communicate to everyone in the building, help them understand that the meeting is coming and what will be considered. Help them and don’t hide. Tell them the matters that they need to be engaged with and those that they should approve to enable the building to run.
How long would it take to do this for each building?
+ send calendar invite when the date is set
+ send the meeting in the post or email
+ send a summary of what to expect at the meeting
+ send a reminder invite close to meeting date
Step 3 – Be present and be honest
When you come to your meeting; be early, be prepared, be present and be honest.
If you have executed on step 1 and step 2, step 3 is easy you just need to continue the message you have been communicating from the start.
