The mechanism we choose to convey our messages can give them more impact, or have our words being lost in the noise of modern life. Communication plays a crucial role in the happiness and health of a community. When communication flows freely, in both directions, between residents, committee members and building management teams, a greater sense of community cohesion is achieved.
Similarly, when the mechanism we choose for our message is inappropriate, it can damage relationships, erode trust and create a climate of conflict rather than cooperation. We’ve all experienced – or at least heard of – the inappropriate use of ‘reply all’ in an email, or the laborious level of communication when a message needs to be repeated over and again for individuals within the same group.
Having, and using, the right communication tools for managing your community can enhance the lives and relationships of everyone in it.
Group Communication
BuildingLink’s emergency broadcast functionality via the GEO app, allows security officers to send text messages to all building occupants or groups of residents, even when away from the building. This is a fast and convenient way to share crucial information with a wide audience. Impending storms, updates on building safety, or imminent work for facilities can be shared in a format that is immediately sent and most likely to be digested quickly. SMS is an excellent choice for messages that have a certain urgency. Text messages are often read within 3 minutes of receipt.
Similarly, group emails can be sent to residents by management teams using the GEO app. This is perfect for less urgent issues impacting shared facilities, unexpected work and other issues impacting a resident’s use of the building. Sending group emails reduces the time spent communicating with a large group of people and an email format matches the lower sense of urgency for the message. Roughly half of emails are read within 6 hours of receipt.
When gauging a group’s sentiments on an activity or proposed course of action, a survey is an ideal way to ensure everyone has the opportunity to share their ideas and thoughts. BuildingLink’s survey functionality makes it simple for building management teams and committee members to share surveys and plan for the future with confidence.
Private Messages
Not all communication needs to be shared far and wide. Yet one to one communication needn’t be difficult or time-consuming just because it’s between two parties. BuildingLink’s resident app smooths communication between individuals and the building management teams and creates a record of interactions too.
Whether sending instructions to the front desk about an expected delivery or a visit from a friend, the resident app ensures all of the necessary information can be communicated quickly and easily.
BuildingLink’s resident portal also allows residents to take control of their records. The pet park functionality lets residents add their furry friends to their apartment records and the handy app enables fast communication of any maintenance issues – with images – when they arise.
Committee members can also access information and hold private conversations and discussions about committee matters with BuildingLink’s committee only portal access. This secure space allows members to carry out their duties on behalf of their building community with ease and confidence that everything they need is at their fingertips.
Public Announcements
Important building announcements, local news and weather and community events are best communicated publicly to ensure everyone is kept in the loop with the latest updates. BuildingLink’s public displays ensure that residents are passively kept informed as they go about their daily business.
The resident bulletin boards enable residents and building management teams to share non-urgent and urgent information. Whether this is the sale of items, a recommendation for local businesses or gentle reminders about building policy, the bulletin board is a shared space in which community members can share information easily with one another.
We believe that communication is the glue that creates strong and resilient communities people want to be a part of. Learn more about our communication tools with a bespoke demo of our software today.