Being a volunteer board member can sometimes be stressful and time consuming, but before you decide to throw in the towel and never look back, make sure you aren’t the one getting in your own way! Here are a few tips for becoming more effective as a community association leader.
Get Informed. If you are a brand new board member, get yourself up to speed on current projects by reviewing past meeting agendas and minutes, and by asking other board members to fill you in. Make sure your set of governing documents and rules & regulations are up to date and read through them – if you don’t even know what the rules of your own community are, you won’t be very effective as a leader. If you have a management company providing you with financial reports and other information prior to your meeting, review this information so you are ready to make an informed decision at your meeting.
Get educated. Don’t be a board member in a vacuum – there are lots of resources out there for homeowner association board members to learn more. Probably the biggest resource is Community Associations Institute (CAI). CAI offers many seminars, in person and online on all sorts of topics important to board members. If you are working with a management company, ask them for resources as well. Aside from CAI, there are a multitude of blogs, newsletters and websites dedicated to community association leadership. If your state doesn’t have a local CAI Chapter (Wisconsin does), just start with an internet search.
Talk to your neighbors. It’s a bad idea in general to join the board of directors in order to further your own agenda, but forgetting to listen to the other community members or get their input on board decisions isn’t so great either. You might think your big idea to spruce up the community is going to be the best thing since sliced bread, but if the rest of your neighbors aren’t on the same page as you your idea may not succeed. Remember that as a board member, it’s your job to act in the best interest of the community as a whole, so keep your finger on the pulse of what the community really wants and needs.
Know when to let the pros handle it. Realizing when something is outside of the scope of your knowledge as a board member is important. There are times when that old adage “If you want something done right, do it yourself” just isn’t correct. You might have re-painted your guest bedroom once, but that doesn’t make you a painting contractor – there is a reason why the “pros” are so-named. We’ve seen many board members attempt to save their association money by taking on a project themselves but often this isn’t the best idea. Your fellow homeowners don’t expect you to handle everything. When something is over your head, call in a professional.
Don’t micromanage. There is no quicker way to board member burnout than micromanaging. If your association has hired a management company or other professional contractor, let them do their job. It’s okayto request regular updates on the project (and most contractors will provide that information anyway) but don’t tell them how to do their job. If you feel that they are not performing to your expectations, sit down and discuss your concerns and give them the opportunity to fix the situation. A micromanaging board member can have a negative effect on the association’s relationship with a contractor. Maintaining a good working relationship with your community’s contractors is in everyone’s best interest.
Prospect Management Company 