5 TRAITS OF A GREAT BOARD
MEMBER
By
Rafael Aquino
Published April 13, 2022
Do you have what it takes to be a good board
member? Chances are you do.
If you have a mix of some of the following traits
and skills, consider running for a seat on the board.
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If you can give
others respect and expect it in return, you can help keep board
discussions civil, productive, and on point. We’re looking for
people who can lead by consensus, not command.
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Good listener:
People want to be heard. Can you listen to board members and
residents with sincere interest? You may have a few ideas, but
everyone benefits by sharing and discussing.
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Thick skin.
Sometimes, residents—even other board members—can be mean and
insulting. Are you good at turning a conversation around and
finding out what’s bothering people?
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Egos aside. If you
can give others credit, the board will operate better as a team.
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Agenda aside.
Members who come to the board looking to help only themselves
are a problem. A board is more productive when members don’t
have a personal punch list. Are you able to look after the
community, not just your own interests? Are you willing to
compromise?
An association is a business. So having board
members with accounting, organizational behavior, and teambuilding
backgrounds can help. Someone with financial knowledge, for example,
might make for a good treasurer.
The ideal board comprises a mix of management
styles, professional skills, and temperaments. If you know people
with some of these traits or relevant skills, ask them if they’d be
interested in joining the board. Some people don’t think about
running for a seat unless asked.
You don’t have to know everything when you join,
but you should be familiar with the governing documents and the job
responsibilities. Fellow board members and managers can help you
with the transition and train you on board responsibilities, current
work, projects, and hot issues.
Leaders can come from different places and
backgrounds. There’s no one mode that fits all. Share your knowledge
and passion with the community.
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As the Co-Founder and CEO
of Affinity Management Services, Rafael P. Aquino leads his team to
redefine excellence. They serve community associations
efficiently |
and effectively with
dedication and passion. Rafael’s energy and positive
spirit is the foundation of Affinity Management
Services’ company culture, which instills enthusiasm and
excitement when providing expert advice to its board
members and relieving the day-to-day burdens of running
a community association.
Since 2007, Rafael has
developed a work culture that values responsive and
high-quality services. He has led his team by following
a proactive vs reactive philosophy. The same approach
Rafael instills in the day to day operations of each
association. Today, Affinity Management Services
maintains its success and benefits as a result of the
foundation Rafael has built and continues to foster by
providing educational seminars, continuing education
classes for association managers and board members
alike.
Rafael and his team help condominium and homeowners’
associations save money and improve their communities.
His calm, personable, and service-oriented nature helps
him to establish strong relationships with ease. Rafael
is known as a sincere and honest leader who looks out
for the best interests of his clients and communities,
and he strongly advocates for their needs. His role
requires coordination and communication, as such he
takes logical and intelligent steps to approach
challenges head-on.
As a graduate of Florida International University’s
electrical engineering program and a licensed community
association manager, Rafael’s education and skills equip
him with unique insights to tackle complex problems
through critical thinking. He understands how each
component within a system works together in order to
effectively arrive at solutions, techniques, and
conclusions. Therefore, as he manages the multiple
challenges of running a community association management
company, he understands how each property is its own
unique system and tailors’ specific services to assure
that all their needs are met.
For more information about Rafael P. Aquino and Affinity
Management Services please visit
www.ManagedByAffinity.com or call 1-800-977-6279
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Doral Office: 8200 NW 41st ST
Suite 200
Doral, FL 33166
Broward Office: 150 S Pine Island RD Suite 300
Plantation, FL 33324
O: 800-977-6279 ● F: 305-325-4053
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