Servant leaders need to be able to build community within their association.  When we think of building we usually think of constructing something like a house. You start with a vision, an architect reduces that vision to a set of plans, and then construction artists follow those plans and construct the home.  Is building community the same as building a house?  I think so.

  • You must first decide what you are building.  In other words, what is the vision for the community?  Every association is different and the people within the community are diverse. What do they want from their community?  A close-knit, small town feel?  An urban, high-end, prestigious feel?  You only know this as a leader by listening and understanding to all the residents in the community.
  • Once a vision is developed an architect then designs the plans. But who is your architect?  You are.  You must take the time to plan how to achieve and maintain the feel you want to cultivate.  Your plan likely needs to be diverse, repetitive and resonate with many residents.  Here are some other ideas of ways to building community.
  • Once your plan is in place, you will need “construction artists” to carry it out. This is where volunteers, your management team and other business partners are essential.

Building community takes a strong foundation and vision, a well thought-out and designed plan, and motivated construction artists to carry it out.  After reviewing our Servant Leadership series, you should now have the tools to make this happen!

One response to “Building Community
  1. Loura’s post is oh-so true. Unfortunately, many boards feel THEY are the community, and take liberties to force it to go where they want, instead of where the members want. This goes along with many-other actions that boards take to make residents feel uncomfortable living there, such as failing to remember that board members are supposed to be representatives of their constituents, the owners. Each community I have ever managed has had its own, unique personality, and it has been my job to work within those parameters, instead of trying to change them. Again, and unfortunately, many managers manage each “property” in exactly the same manner, without allowing that there are individual differences in each that HAVE DEVELOPED OVER TIME, and have become the norm.
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