Comedian Will Rogers once famously said: “The man with the best job in the country is the vice president. All he has to do is get up every morning and say, ‘How is the president?”.
As funny as this might sound in a political context when it comes to the running of a successful HOA, the case is a bit different. The role of Vice Presidents is crucial to ensuring that the association runs smoothly, and the community enjoys a good quality of life.
That said, it’s not a job anyone can do—it requires a serious commitment and a set of skills that are essential to interacting with residents and owners, as well as organizing logistics and decision-making. Do you have what it takes?
Here’s a list of the top qualities of a good Vice President:
Organization and Time-Management Skills
Just because you’re #2 doesn’t mean you can take the backseat and enjoy the ride. As the Vice President of an HOA, you’re responsible for overseeing a variety of tasks and activities—which in turn requires efficient management of your time. Understanding the internal complexities will allow you to prioritize tasks to ensure that everything is completed (in turn, this requires the ability to multi-task effectively, set priorities, and delegate the workload).
Efficient Communication
Interacting with board members, homeowners, and vendors is part of the daily grind of every VP. You will need to be able to convey information clearly and concisely while diligently making time to listen to concerns and suggestions. This requires active listening and empathetic communication skills to effectively address the needs of the community, breaking down information in a way that’s easy to understand (which in turn helps to build strong and positive bonds with the community.
An Eye for Detail
Luxury living requires that everything runs like a Swiss clock. Vice Presidents need to keep their eyes peeled to ensure that the community’s amenities are properly maintained, that landscaping is pristine, and that the overall aesthetic of the association is impeccable. You must have a sharp eye for detail to identify areas that require maintenance. This requires a keen sense of observation and the ability to anticipate issues before they arise.
Financial Management Skills
One might assume that Veeps don’t have to deal with numbers, but when running an HOA, you will need to understand the budgeting process, manage expenses, and work with other board members to ensure that the community’s financial resources are being used effectively. This requires a strong understanding of financial management principles, the local market and vendor relationships, and the ability to make informed decisions about how to allocate resources.
If Mr. Rogers was still around today and reading this article, he might have to rethink his perception of Vice Presidents—clearly there’s a lot of work that needs to be done when assuming that position. But worry not! These days it all turns out easier to achieve thanks to ONR, an all-in-one platform where you can keep track of service requests, interact with the community through our live board, and neatly organize all your documents—including financial reports—on our server.
Are you ready to give it a shot? Book a demo now or Start for Free!