10 Information Technology

The following article was included in the November/December 2006 issue of CEO Insights email magazine, published by the Community Associations Institute.

It pays to be involved within the industry

With all the demands of managing a company, it can be challenging to find time to network and get involved  -- to stay plugged in -- within the wider industry. But it pays to take a step back from the daily grind to put it all in perspective.

Industry publications. A good starting point is the various electronic and printed industry publications from various providers, from CAI publications to manager Julie Adamen's HOA Manager Newsline. Community Associations Network is an electronic publication that gathers industry-specific articles from across the country in one venue, along with articles written by selected industry professionals and service providers.  What I value is the bringing together of information from and about our fragmented industry on a national level. In addition to national publications, it helps to flip through publications created in and for your area of the country. In Florida, we have the Florida Journal of Community Living, a great resource for this particular market.  One other publication worth noting is Association Times from the folks at Associa.

The power of networking. Belonging to organizations within the industry is another way to stay plugged in.  Interaction with others in the industry is extremely important; I've gathered so much information during casual conversations at conferences and events. Whether you attend a meeting, join a committee, or attend a local, regional, or national conference, each of these gatherings allows you to stay on top of issues and topics of debate that may or will influence the way we manage in the future. For some, listserves are a viable alternative if time is limited or you have a specific question or concern. 

Outside the box. I also look outside the industry for news and trends that can be applied to our industry; this could be self-help, motivational, or historical in nature. To be an innovator or to have a competitive advantage, it's important to think and look outside the box. Follow your interests. For example, I'm more technology-oriented, so I read technology publications on a regular basis. My current homepage is MSN, which pulls from various sectors from around the world. Another good homepage is Google, which allows you to pick and choose the news and information providers you want to see on a daily basis. 

Time management. In short, to stay involved and plugged in, you have to decide how much time you can devote to this key aspect of your job, so you can then determine the optimum information sources to use.  Making reading and information-gathering an enjoyable experience goes a long way toward keeping yourself informed and on the cutting edge of emerging trends and developments facing our industry.

Bruce R. Gran, CMCA, AMS, PCAM

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