Building better boards – a guide to finding new leadership

Article from Volume 13, Issue Number 2, 2025

Building better boards – a guide to finding new leadership

By Milan Kyler | Other articles by Milan Kyler | Feature

Out with the old and in with the new! You think your condo needs a new board but how do you achieve that?

When condominiums are starved of resources, fail to meet maintenance schedules and essential services are sacrificed, everyone loses.

Condominiums are an interesting convention to modern communal living. Those who live in them, and those who decide how they are run, inevitably hold varying opinions. Multi-million-dollar, non-profit entities are directed by an elected group of volunteer owners. Ideally, leaders act impartially for the greater good of these shared residential investments.

But what can be done when a condominium board grows stagnant? Or worse? Here are some ideas about how to address the unfortunate circumstance of when board members serve too long and how to change leadership.

Board stagnation can develop through innocent convenience. However, it can be dangerous to the health of condominium corporations. The threat in moving through the spectrum of political apathy to complacency and dictatorship has the potential to manifest unintended tensions. The process from apathy to dictatorship sees a gradual erosion of engagement and accountability, ultimately leading to a board that does not serve the best interests of its owners.

Should you find yourself in this situation, you can get by with a little help from your friends — and a little outside-the-box thinking. This is an optimistic approach that it is hoped will inspire owners to make a difference for the greater good. So what do you do when your home is controlled by a dictatorial board that thwarts attempts at change? Collaborate, communicate, incentivize, organize, collect proxies, grow, be open and inclusive.

Yes, collaborate! Get to know your neighbours! Be a “friendly Manitoban" and say hello in the hallway and parking lot. Few conventions in society create better opportunities for networking and making friends. Plan an evening potluck gathering in your condominium’s party room. Events like that provide a perfect opportunity for improving your community’s collective investment. It doesn’t need to be a massive group, nor need all attend. What is best is for these relationships to start small and develop organically. So make a new friend, or two.

Then meet up a few months before your Annual General Meeting to discuss who would be best to serve as members of the condo board. Determine how many good candidates are needed to replace those stagnant ones. Work together to develop a campaign of key issues that centre on transparency and improving conditions. The focus should not be on the candidate or their platform, but about learning what your community feels the big issues are. Then figure out how many votes are needed and from whom they might be found. Collect as many proxies as possible from those who you know will not attend. Use your creativity to locate owners who rarely attend meetings. Invite them to lunch or visit their place of business to show your concern and support of your mutual asset. If they plan not to attend the AGM, ask if you could represent them by proxy.

Collaborative efforts take time to develop, especially when living in fear and under bad boards. When relationships can develop naturally and have pure intentions, as the like-minded meet and share similar concerns, those most suited will naturally take the call.

Second to collaboration, open communication is essential. Advertize communal gatherings in shared spaces — on bulletin boards, in elevators — with a focus on fun and building community. You will find issues and ideas will flow naturally in these interactions. Many property management companies use online communication portals and should be managed professionally. They serve as an excellent tool for facilitating relevant communication. When boards resist, restrict or censor owner messaging or the adoption of such tools, owners can create their own online communities or chat groups on various digital platforms. These can also be used to distribute meeting minutes, news about upcoming events or building memorandums. Open communication creates opportunities for participation in dialogue for change.

If social or digital mediums are less popular in your community, in-person interactions are also effective. A team of two owners knocking on doors gives an initial credibility to open conversations. Create a list of no more than three talking points or poll owners with an informal survey for opinions on a hot topic. If owners seem disinterested in attending your AGM, seize the opportunity to gather proxies in this door-to-door exchange. These allies are some of the most important members to affect a change in leadership.

And consider running yourself! If you are still reading this far, you clearly have a vested interest. Be sure to circulate personal information about your background and experience as an owner, what you would like to see happen around your homes, and why. Remember to keep your message polite and positive. If you don’t succeed on your first attempt, don’t feel discouraged. In fact, it may take a few attempts and some work to get new members elected.

Finally, join the CCI! Groups like this help educate owners and provide priceless resources that help us protect our investment, love our homes and enjoy our property while living communally.

Milan Kyler has lived in a condominium since 2006, owns three units and recently became more interested in condominium governance and board effectiveness. Milan has been a member of CCI for five years and hopes to improve communal living for all.

Go Back