Grogan Associates: Accountability

THE BIG PICTURE

New board members need to become aware of the idea that the residents come first. There are two examples of what I mean. The first involves a long-term board member and the second a new board member.

BE SMART

In dealing with the issues, the long-term board member has always known what is right and what is wrong. In one case, he went ahead and secured a piece of equipment for the building in case there was a malfunction during the winter. In that case, he said, “I’m protecting the building from something that may happen in the winter. I’m keeping the building safe.”

In the second incident, the new member was very active and very knowledgeable in the real estate industry. However, when she was making her decisions, she forgot about who the decision affected. A shareholder wanted to make a small renovation that was really cosmetic. But this new board member made the process much more difficult and had the person jump through hoops. As a result, the alteration cost the person a great deal of time and money.

Through that process, the new member had to learn that, while technically you may be doing the right thing, you’re forgetting about the end result: the people – your neighbors. It’s always important to keep the integrity of the building in mind, but it’s just as crucial to respond to your neighbors in a positive fashion.