By Leslie Ashford, RealManage
When setting goals for the community, it’s helpful to evaluate three aspects: Current Conditions, Budget and Engagement. Turning a crisis or a wishlist into a good goal requires these three important steps. Whether starting with a single goal, or evaluating several goals, follow the steps to create a goal and action plan that is more likely to succeed.
Current Conditions
Evaluate the current conditions around the goal for the community. The repair, replacement or improvement of physical assets may be among the goals a community is considering. An audit of the current condition will set the foundation for a good goal. Understanding the history and useful life of a physical asset can shape the timeline for achieving the goal. Whether the goal is to maintain, repair, or replace a physical asset, the goal is only achievable once the current conditions are established. A Reserve Study completed by a professional reserves analyst can help establish the current condition of existing assets.
Goal setting may also be related to the environment within the community, including the grounds, amenities and shared spaces. An evaluation of the current conditions might include an audit of what shared spaces exist and whether they are still appropriate for the community. An audit of current conditions might also include owner feedback, economic factors, and how a community functions. Goals related to how members of the community interact and whether changes or improvements can be achieved rely on a good evaluation of the current conditions. An informal survey of community members may help establish the current conditions. Other data to establish the current conditions may be amenity usage data, housing prices or current technology.
Once the current conditions are established, to further develop a good goal, it needs a budget.
Budget
Evaluate the existing financial position of the community, the budget for the coming year, and the long-range possibilities for funding a goal. A good goal requires a funding plan created to match the milestones for the goal. Research the costs associated with a goal and implement a budget tied to the goal. Once the funding surrounding a goal is known, it can be inserted into the larger community budget. When there are significant budget constraints, you should look at many funding possibilities including one time special assessments, fundraisers, loans or financing plans. Just be sure the priority and severity of the goal is matched to the type of funding, interest payments or risk.
Remember, not all goals are costly endeavors. A goal related to the environment in the community may be to repurpose existing amenity spaces, start a new community event or create an online chat group. Even when the investment may be small, it is still important to have a funding plan in place.
Engagement
An achievable goal is one that the community agrees is good or important. Engagement in the process of goal setting by members of the community can predetermine whether a goal can be achieved. Board members, owners, vendor partners and Community Association Managers are all important contributors to achieving community goals. Involve community members in the selection of goals for the community. Share ideas for funding the goal. Most importantly, campaign within the community for the goal.
Recruit others to join in the achievement of the goal. Contributions as simple as spreading the word will help a community achieve its goal. Similarly, community members with expertise can shape the path to a goal. Often more human resources can decrease the budget and increase the chances of success. Engage as many advocates as possible to be goal cheerleaders.
When the current conditions are defined, a funding plan is in place, and engagement is high, a good goal has every chance of being reached.
Tips:
-Don’t let past experiences or patterns of behavior stop goal setting before it starts. Most communities have a past project that didn’t get funded or a past goal that never came to fruition. Some communities report less participation. If goal setting seems like a losing proposition, don’t give up. Set a goal that honestly evaluates the current conditions. Create a budget and funding plan. Engage community members in varied ways, including spreading the word. Get that goal accomplished!
-If goal setting still seems overwhelming, separate a goal into short-term (next 12-24 months) and long-term (3-10 years) sections. Breaking a larger goal into a series of smaller goals can increase the chances of success. Success can build momentum.
Whether a community begins with short-term or long-term goals, start with current conditions, create a budget, engage resources, and achieve.
About the Author: Leslie Ashford has been a member of CAI-RMC for eight years and holds her CMCA and AMS Designations. She lives and works in Northern Colorado, managing Common Interest Communities across the Front Range, Boulder West, and I-25 corridor. Her love of Colorado is steeped in the diversity of clients and communities across her region. RealManage provides professional Community Association Management across the State and across the Nation.
