Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Great HOA Board Member?

Serving on the board of your homeowners association (HOA) can be a wonderful way to give back and play an active role in bettering your community. But while board membership can be incredibly rewarding, it’s also a tough job, and not everyone is cut out for it. Every association is different, but here are some common traits that many effective board members share:

  • Patience. Change can take time. There are a lot of steps involved in adding, modifying, or removing rules or policies. Developing and implementing a project can be a longer process than you thought. Results may not always be immediate. Are you good at sticking things out and playing the long game? You also must have patience in dealing with others who may not always share your views.
  • Creativity. When it comes down to solving problems, cutting costs, and planning projects, are you able to think outside the box? Do you keep an open mind and look at issues from multiple perspectives? As a board member, you’ll be part of a team, so that means listening to everyone’s input and deciding what is best for the community as a whole. The best idea may not always be your idea, but you’re open to making it work.
  • Commitment. Are you passionate about creating change and wanting to do what is in the best interest of the community and its members? Are you willing to educate yourself on issues related to running an HOA and staying in compliance with best practices and local, state, and federal regulations? You have to be committed to putting in the work necessary to be successful and weathering the hard times.
  • Honesty. The HOA board is often faced with difficult decisions. You must have a strong sense of integrity, honesty, and ethics to always be doing the right thing. Don’t cut corners because it’s easier. Maintaining transparency with members is essential and helps to build positive relationships and reduce pushback.
  • Humility. Effective board members are not afraid to admit when they don’t know something. They ask for help and seek out trusted, reputable resources. You don’t have to be an expert at everything to serve on the board, but it’s important to know what your strengths and weaknesses are.
  • Self-Care. Being part of the board can become a 24/7 job if you let it. Good board members know how to set boundaries and separate professional from personal. They have set times when they work on HOA tasks and time devoted to family and other obligations. Having a sense of balance can keep you from becoming burned out.

One of the amazing things about HOAs is that they bring together people from all different backgrounds and with varied knowledge and experiences. That can impact how well your board functions.  If you’ve weighed the pros and cons, done your research, and feel that board membership would be a good fit for you, go ahead and throw your hat in the ring. If it isn’t right for you, continue offering your insight and ideas in other ways such as serving on a committee, volunteering, or speaking at board meetings. There is something for everyone.

If your board recognizes that it doesn’t have all the answers and could benefit from professional support, contact Kuester today. We’ll work with you to improve education, communication, decision making, compliance, and much more, so you can operate as effectively as possible.

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Bryan Kuester

Bryan Kuester

Bryan is the CEO of Kuester Management Group. He has over 15 years of managing community associations throughout North and South Carolina.

His specialties include Community Association Management - maintenance, budgeting for operational and reserve funding, long-range planning, covenant enforcement, amenity management, onsite management, large scale management.