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How To Build Community Culture In Your Condo Building? – Steps To Follow
Last Updated on: October 26th, 2024
Living in a condominium is so much different than living in any other dwelling. After all, this is more than your living unit; this is your community. You are not just investing in property but in the people around you as well. Hence, you need to build a culture in your condo building.
While looking to build a culture of the community in your building may not be the easiest thing to do, it’s certainly worthwhile, as it will have a direct impact on those living in your condo. Why not strive to implement a long-term cultural development strategy that benefits residents today and increases your condo’s intangible value over time?
Building Community Culture In Your Condo Building
The first place to start is to assess what the current culture is like and how it differs from the type of culture you are looking to build.
Once you have identified where you are building sits culture-wise, you can begin to provide recommendations to your board on what type of community changes you would like (and be prepared to get involved!). A couple of ways that you can support building a culture of the community in your building include:
1. Involve Yourself with Major Events and Incidents
If you are keen on getting to know your neighbors but no one is organizing any events, why not reach out to your condo board and offer to start/join the social committee for the building? Here, you can manage an event in a common area, such as quarterly BBQs, building movie nights, building anniversary parties, etc.
By proactively acting, you are on the frontline to building the culture you want your condo building to have. Not only that, but you may inspire others in your building to become more engaged and active in enhancing the community.
If you are not sure what types of initiatives you and your board can start implementing to encourage a community culture, reach out to your condo management company.
While events and community building are the responsibility of your board, your condo management company may be able to provide insights into what other properties are doing to encourage the community in those properties.
2. Start Encouraging Open Communication Among Residents
Communication is key to building a community. Speak with your board about the types of communication that are currently offered for condo and building residents, and if they are not what you are hoping for, come armed with suggestions for greater transparency or frequency.
Many condo companies now offer private online portals for individual condo communities. Here, residents can contribute to specific conversations in community forums. Ask questions of your fellow residents about what type of condo culture they would like to build.
Outside of your condo building, connect with other condo board members to see what types of activities they are doing to increase resident engagement and community involvement. For example, several groups, such as Alberta Condo Owners for Change, set on improving communication and transparency in the condo management industry.
Here, you will have many options outside your building to incite change within your building. The key is to act on the change you want to see.
3. Establish Condo Committees
First, you can create a board of directors by selecting a team of four to five people. Then, this team can form committees in the condo.
The aim of these committees will be to ensure that residents engage in decision-making processes. A few committees that you can start with include the operations committee, events/social committee, and financial budget committee.
Furthermore, you can offer protection to the committees with the help of common insurance for the condominium. However, there might be cases where the committees are not available. In such cases, the manager takes on the responsibility to create a strong community atmosphere.
4. Ensure Inclusiveness
Inclusiveness and engaging all people within the community shall be the major goal of your committees. This will help you ensure a positive culture in the condo. Moreover, you must also encourage residents from diverse backgrounds to participate in community events. This will help build closer relationships and a sense of belonging.
Basically, once you start cultivating an inclusive environment, you will ensure that the residents respect and value each other. Hence, it will contribute to creating a positive culture in your condo building.
5. Develop A Sense Of Community
A sense of community culture is the most essential building block that makes a strong community. To do this, you can organize events, activities, and cultural get-togethers. This will help bring all the residents together. As a result, there shall be more interaction and collaboration.
Some examples are social gatherings, volunteer initiatives, fitness classes, food drives, annual events, community games, etc.
6. Define And Establish Clear Rules And Guidelines
Make sure that the rules and guidelines of the community are clear and understandable to everyone. This will help you to set expectations better and create a harmonious and peaceful living environment.
Apart from that, make sure that all residents get access to these rules. Additionally, the committees also need to be open to the residents. This is because if some residents do not understand a particular rule, they can ask at any time.
7. Make Sure Everyone Participates In Decisions
The managers of committees must ensure that all residents are encouraged to participate in the decision-making process.
For example, you can ensure everyone participates in selecting community projects, taking part in committees, or involving themselves in community improvements. Hence, this will enable a sense of ownership and empowerment among the residents.
8. Celebrate Diversity
Make sure that the committees embrace diversity within the condo community. This will encourage residents to share their traditions and cultures. Furthermore, it will also create a sense of inclusivity.
As a result, it will foster appreciation and understanding of different cultures. Also, all residents will start valuing and respecting each other.
Wrapping Up
Just as with any community association in a neighborhood, it takes commitment, a plan, and engagement to build a specific culture for your building’s community.
Are you not sure where to start building a community in your condo? CallCatalyst Condo Management and we can see what might work for you.
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