Working together is necessary in order to accomplish anything worthwhile. In fact, our world is designed to require cooperation. The seed salesman, the farmer, the tractor-maker, the harvesters, the truck drivers, the processors, the grocery stores, clerks, the car makers (after all, shoppers have to get to the market), the buyer and the cook all have to be involved just to get a home cooked meal on your table. This process is critical in business, and just as critical in an Homeowners Association Board of Directors or Condominium Association Board of Directors.
The story is told of an out-of-towner who drove his car into a ditch in a desolated area. Luckily, a local farmer came to help with his big strong horse named Buddy. He hitched Buddy up to the car and yelled, “Pull, Nellie, pull!” Buddy didn’t move. Then the farmer hollered, “Pull, Buster, pull!” Buddy didn’t respond. Once more the farmer commanded, “Pull, Coco, pull!” Nothing. Then the farmer nonchalantly said, “Pull, Buddy, pull!” And the horse easily dragged the car out of the ditch. The motorist was most appreciative and very curious. He asked the farmer why he called his horse by the wrong name three times. The farmer said, “Oh, Buddy is blind and if he thought he was the only one pulling, he wouldn’t even try.”
Think of Three Factors in Effective Team Work
First, we must pull the load together. When we feel we are working alone, we tend to give up. When others are assisting us our energy and motivation is multiplied. In a local HOA, it is important for every member of every committee in the organization to do his or her part fully. Also, the various committees should communicate and cooperate with each other. Pulling together will not just get you out of a ditch, it can keep you from running your organization into the ditch to start with!
The second act in Team Work is to remove the pride factor. The Atlanta Braves won 14 division titles in Major League Baseball. That has never been done in professional baseball. In fact, it has never been done by anyone or any team in any professional sport. When asked how they could have accomplished this feat, one person said, “Throughout that entire run, we never cared who got the credit. We all gave our best and we pulled for each other. No one blamed anyone who failed in a particular game and no one gloated if he was the star of a game. We were a TEAM and that is all that mattered.”
No organization can succeed for very long is one person has to get all the attention and always get his or her way. The word TEAM has been said to mean: Together Everyone Achieves More. Indeed, no one of us knows as much as all of us together. The Second act in Team Work is to pull your own weight. An indifferent, lazy or uncommitted team member can pull down the work of the entire team. Usually, a apathetic member on the team causes everyone else to work harder and sometimes leads to discouragement for the entire effort.
Lastly, the third act in Team Work is to complete the task at hand. Some people start out well but quit before they get to the finish line. For many years I was a runner. I ran up to 40 miles a week and competed in 5K, 10K and half-marathon races in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. As I neared 60 years of age, I was running a half-marathon near Atlanta. I became tired around the 10 mile mark, but I had 3.1 miles left to get to the finish line. I stopped running for the first time in a race. I just slowed down and started walking for one of the few times in my life while in a race. Some runners passed me and sensed my exhaustion. One person yelled to me and said, “Come on, you can do it. Don’t stop!” I started to run slowly again. Then, I picked up pace. Soon I was back to my normal self. In fact, before reaching the end of the race, I passed the group of runners who had encouraged me, much to their surprise! Team work requires going all the way trough to the end of the task or time of service. If someone becomes weary, some words or encouragement can help.
For additional help or resources for your HOA or Condo Board of Directors please visit this helpful website.