Five Shared Attributes of Effective Association Board of Directors

By Bill Ramacciotti CPM® CCAM®, Senior Portfolio Manager
Packard Management Group

A well-run community is largely a reflection of its association board of directors. This elected board primarily consists of a president, vice president, secretary and treasurer, each working individually and collectively, to ensure the needs and goals of the community are being met within budget.

The board is responsible for making a number of decisions governing the community, such as reserve budgets, collecting assessments, establishing and enforcing rules and penalties, as well as determining and prioritizing physical maintenance repairs and upgrades, among many other things. Therefore, every board member must possess these key attributes to do their job well.

• Have a genuine commitment to the association and community it serves: While an association board is operated by volunteers, the board of directors must still take their job seriously. At the very core of any successful association board is the willingness and desire among each of its board of directors to make a meaningful difference for their community and its residents.

• Be active participants: The most effective association board of directors play an active role in board meetings, community events, and are always present to cast their vote on important decisions pertaining to the association and overall community.

• Maintain open and clear communication: Strong communication skills are essential when serving on an association board. This includes being responsive and accessible, when necessary, to build consensus on issues and decisions, such as maintenance and repair requirements, budgets and reserves, and the rules and regulations governing the association.

• Intimately understand their roles and responsibilities: Before taking on the challenge of overseeing a community association, board of directors must do their due diligence to understand their responsibilities, the association’s governing documents and CC&Rs, budget and reserves, and overall, what needs to be accomplished for the good of the community. A professional association management company can help the board define and clarify their roles and responsibilities, and give each of its directors a framework of knowledge in order to be as effective in their role as possible.

• Be selfless in their pursuits: Being a giver, not a taker, is essential for any good association board of director. Every director must always be committed to making decisions, based on what is right for the community, and not in their own self interest.

Whether you serve on an association board yourself, are considering it, or are a member of the community, it’s in your vested interest to pay attention to who is on the board, and recognize whether you/they have what it takes to succeed.