Identifying a good trustee for your complex

As in previous article, I quote again:

“I ascribe to Mark Twain’s theory that the last person who should be President is the one who wants it the most. The one who should be picked is the one who should be dragged kicking and screaming into the White House.”― Bill Hicks

This is also Socrates’s idea from the republic. If a leader wants to be leader, then he is more likely to use his situation for personal gain. The true leader resists because he feels how heavy the responsibility is.

Before I become politically incorrect with what I say below, I would first state the following:

There are always exceptions to generalizations.  I am just stating what I have experienced and read about extensively.  I would wish that the exceptions are what you experience in your complex – kudo’s to you and the good fortune that you have.  But if I were a betting man, the opinions below would be what I would favor the odds on.

Every complex probably has this problem: overwhelmingly, those that volunteer for trusteeship with vigorous energy are 10 to 1, those you DON’T want in the position, yet those you KNOW would be of service to the complex just WON’T volunteer or show any interest in going for the position! Yet the undesirable’s get elected due to the energy they put in to secure the position – there is just no-one else and someone has to be a trustee.  We all know it, support it even though at the back our heads, there’s a nagging voice whispering that you’ve seen this somewhere before(country and ward elections). What to do here?

What works:

We have found that it is the owners living in the complex that demonstrate the energy to be involved and are the first ones that should be on the list to elect.  Simply because they have ‘skin in the game’ – the running of the complex affects them directly everyday and they live in the complex.  Investors just DON’T.  As long there’s no explosion and dire tragedy about to unfold, as long as their investment is providing the return in the form of monthly income, they really can’t be bothered.  Unfortunately, it does seem to the be case in most complexes in urban areas, the majority of owners are investors and don’t live in any of their units.  A small percentage in comparison, are residents. These owners need to be identified.  But beware of the following! ‘Career Trustees’ (as I have experienced) can have the following game plan:  Buy into a complex, serve on the BC, then sell after a few years of ‘service’ and move on.  Astonishingly, an overwhelming majority of previous trustees have left our complex in 14 years of existence.  You can read between the lines.  

It would be easy to weed out the undesirables above when you are aware of these factors and the right questions are asked. 

So, from the owners living in the complex, there are 2 segments you can turn to:  

Retirees!  Yes, this has worked for us.  There are many retirees who could fit the bill.  Many are looking to occupy their time in more useful ways.  If they can be identified and encouraged to become involved, this can be a win-win for the BC. Especially as they are more than likely to stay in the complex for the foreseeable future.  

Single owners who are in their 40’s and above.  Generally, these owners have a bit more time to dedicate to a cause and can be driven by a different perspective in life.  I know I have!  There are some of us who do want to see things improve and not subscribe to the usual nonsense that afflicts our society in general.  What better way to make a difference than on your own doorstep where the difference can be tangible and far more in your control?  Some of us do want to empower ourselves and those around us.  

Heads of growing families just don’t have time to attend to the duties of trusteeship – and if they do, see paragraph above. 

Trustees need to be supported!

However, a crucial part of this setup needs to be addressed.  Owners need to be involved enough to get to know the trustees they choose to elect.  They need to provide support to these trustees and hold them accountable.   Support, in being there to understand decisions being made and supporting and advocating this in their complex in small ways ie WhatsApp groups and speaking to their immediate neighbors.  Keeping Trustees accountable and appreciated enough.  All of this can be achieved by regularly sitting down and talking to elected trustees – providing assistance where possible on projects happening in the complex.

I submit that most normal people can get a sense of who a person is by just sitting down and talking face-to-face while maintaining eye contact and conversing in a calm and friendly manner.  The more often this is done, the better the ‘getting to know’ process.  Trustees should encourage this conversation and meeting of concerned owners – be approachable and communicative.  Red flag if not! Owners should first assess the character and motivation of a trustee via these conversations, but most important, assess over time how the trustee is making decisions and the motivation thereof.  The proof is in the pudding!

Unfortunately, this last part seems to be the most challenging and everyone is guilty of this in our society.  I mean people live next to each other with just a wall separating them and don’t make ANY effort to get to know each other at all.  We vote at a certain time in a year – a small sacrifice of time – part of a day in a year and then expect our chosen leaders to be accountable and deliver on their promises for their term of office due to just the vote being cast.  It doesn’t work that way and we all know it.  

There is hope!

I would submit that when you are living in a structured community that is literally on your doorstep, and when you have elected trustees that live among you, you have the potential to take part in the running of your environment in a way you can’t possible effect to such an extent as the running of your suburb, municipality or country.  Grassroots is where it’s at and it really would take much less effort and time than you think.  More so when there are enough owners involved – it does not necessarily have to be an overwhelming majority, though this would be ideal.   I will speak more on this in future blogs, however, I hope the above helps those pulling out their hair on what they are experiencing in their own complex.  There is a way!