Four Traits of Rockstar Board Presidents

With great power comes great responsibility—and all association presidents know this very well. Considered to be the most important role in a homeowner’s association, those willing to take on the presidency of their building must be well aware of the influence and leadership they must assume. Although seriousness and organization are the main parameters of successful management, presidents must also be friendly and approachable to create bridges between their office and the community, representing their interests and needs while maintaining the standards that help each building operate properly. 

At an elemental level, the main duty of a president is quite simple: run daily operations successfully. Think of this role as being similar to that of a CEO who is granted the authority to oversee all the moving parts of a company—from making sure that rules and regulations are followed, to supervising logistics, and making sure that owners and tenants are happy. Proper functioning of an association will require scheduling board meetings, appointing committees, discussing budgets, and organizing voting sessions, as well as procuring service providers and signing official documents.

As you can see, it’s not a role for the faint of heart, and previous experience in management is preferred. The calling is for those who truly believe in the community’s well-being; this role is usually reserved for veteran volunteers who have attended board meetings, showed up at association gatherings, and developed close relationships with the staff and neighbors, being familiarized with the local rules and regulations. If this is you—congratulations! It’s time to put your name forward so that your name is considered on the ballot when it’s time to elect a new president. 

So…what exactly makes a good president? 

Here are some key characteristics of successful association leaders:

Leadership Strategy

The role entails being at the helm of every single aspect of the association—but this doesn’t mean a president should micromanage all activities. Being organized is important when developing a game plan, and delegating responsibilities are crucial. Maintaining control of deadlines and objectives is essential, but allowing others to execute their duties will keep things running smoothly.

Approachable Qualities

When you assume as president, everyone in the association will know who you are. Although having proper communication channels open will help solidify a cross-pollination of ideas/needs that have to be met. Besides email, having features like ONR’s public community forum will help you keep your ear on the ground and know what’s going on beyond what’s on your to-do list. That said, many interactions will happen in unexpected meetings that occur in hallways and on elevator rides. Charisma is necessary when it comes to listening to others’ requests and complaints.

Communication Skills

Be ready to share relevant information promptly. You will be in charge of overseeing budgets and expenditures; with the help of the treasurer, presidents must communicate all financial movements to guarantee transparency and accountability. With ONR, presidents will be able to send e-notices and alerts, strengthening the interaction between inhabitants and the management office.

Transparency

The guiding principle of presidents should be to serve the community—but oftentimes it has been a position where abuses can occur. It’s paramount that presidents don’t favor providers or pick sides when it comes to resolving neighbors’ complaints. A fair president will stick to the community rules and codes of conduct.

Running an association is no easy task and only those who answer the call will know they’re fit for the role. There are many more traits that you will have to put into practice to address the specific circumstances and needs of your community (we suggest patience and good communication skills), but rest assured that there will be lots to do on a daily basis. Worry not: ONR is here to assist you every step of the way.

ONR is an essential tool granting board members the ability to make data-driven decisions: viewing, measuring, and improving all community services by allowing owners, residents, and management to interact in a simple, favorable, and safe way, addressing the most pressing issues with a tap of your phone. Want to know how many service request tickets have been submitted in the last week, month or year? How many votes have been cast for the current election? Looking for a way to deliver mass notifications of crucial reports and track amenity usage? Gather and interpret your association’s data to maximize your energy with the help of ONR.