CAI-NJ Nov. 2018 (w)

LOOKING AHEAD LARRY THOMAS, PCAM | CAI-NJ CHAPTER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

E very community association, or for that matter, every organization, needs to get their team(s) to be pro- gressive thinkers and planners. Planning ahead is a crucial part of every association and if not carefully thought out and not getting the “buy-in” of the management and committee members can make or break a community’s budget and deter the long-term plans and functionality of the community. Careful planning is much more than creat- ing a budget and evaluating the income/ expenses on a regular basis. A community’s board and management team must be proactive as opposed to reactive when looking at the upcoming projects. A careful and timely review of your upcoming projects is critical and should be discussed and determined well in advance of any assignment. Assessing risks is a vital step in planning ahead. Discuss what may happen and develop steps to get your project back on track should an unexpected event pop up. I do caution you, however, that overthinking the “what ifs” can create hesitation and may delay your plans. Be realistic and con- sider the major items that can impact your mission. Again, be proactive, not reactive when planning out a major ren- ovation or improvement.

Planning ahead will also improve performance. Good preparation and task assignment ahead of time will allow everyone involved to know what their role is and will avoid any confusion as to who is doing what. It is imperative that everyone’s roles are clearly defined and conveyed (in writing) to all participants. Another great way to improve success is to create small teams to oversee specific details of the project.

“Planning ahead is a crucial part of every association...”

Try to assign your teams based on expertise and per- sonalities so that the small groups work well together and complement each other. If you plan your project well in advance, it will allow you to revisit and make revisions and updates. I know that from several years as a community manager, someone or something throws a wrench in the works and projects get delayed or off course. Following the above steps can help you prevent the unforeseen and cope with them in an efficient and practical manner when they arise. n

CAI-NJ 2019 Awards Dinner Call for Nominations is Now Open! See nomination forms on pages 26 - 31 of this issue!

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