Condo board members often struggle to manage a full-time job along with their board duties. This leaves little down time, which can lead to burn out and poor management. Here we share five ways your condo board can achieve a better life/work balance to improve member engagement in 2025.

#1: Use auto-response after hours

Following the Ontario government’s policies on disconnecting from work helps board members improve their life/work balance.

Using an auto-response is the best way to ensure residents feel heard while freeing board members from performing work duties after hours. The message should include office business hours and when residents can expect a response.

You should also provide a link for urgent matters, so residents understand the emergency process. A property management company can also handle after hours communication.

#2: Follow (and introduce) time-saving processes

Your condo corporation’s governing documents should include formal processes that streamline the way things are managed. Not only do processes help improve efficiency but they also protect board members from legal challenges.

When residents, owners, and board members all follow the same steps, you strengthen efficiency and ensure everyone is treated fairly and equally. Annual process reviews help ensure relevancy to effectively address changing condo corporation objectives and community expectations.

#3: Leverage technology

Technology such as AI provides a valuable tool that takes on time-consuming repetitive tasks. This helps reduce board member workload, such as:

• Improving response times using automated emails or chatbots
• Streamlining processes using online self-serve options for things such as condo fee payments, maintenance requests, amenity bookings, etc.
• Reducing collection efforts using automated text or email reminders for late fee payments
• Introducing automated payments for accounts payable
• Using time management software to schedule regular maintenance
• Making data driven decisions

#4: Create more committees and outsource

Enlisting more help alleviates workload. Recruiting resident volunteers for committee work helps improve efficiency and productivity for projects and planning. Examples of how committees can assist include:

• Standing committees to manage ongoing duties such as social events, research, financial assistance, etc.
• Advisory bodies based on specific areas of expertise such as waste management, funding opportunities, EV stations, etc.
• Ad hoc committees to manage specific projects or crises

Outsourcing to a property management company also alleviates workload while leveraging expertise in key areas including accounting, HR, and administrative duties.

#5: Become more results-driven in project planning

Becoming more results-driven strategically identifies essential projects that will produce long-term benefits. While it can be hard to resist exciting ideas that focus on short-term gains, the work demanded by such projects contributes to unnecessarily heavy workloads.

As a result, board members must assess whether projects are critical to financial, building, and/or community health to keep their efforts focused on achieving corporation goals. Learning to prioritize projects helps your board become more results-driven.

These five improvements can help reduce the demands of condo board members, improve your effectiveness, and provide a better work/life balance for 2025 and beyond.

CPO Management Inc., a property management company in Toronto and the GTA, can help improve efficiency and oversee critical functions to reduce condo board burn out. Reach out to us today to learn more about our condo services.