How Volunteer Boards and Management Companies Can Form a Championship Team
Just like in football, success in a homeowner association (HOA) requires teamwork, strategy, and clear communication. Volunteer board members bring passion and diverse expertise to the table, but without clear roles and coordination with their management company, even the best-intentioned boards can fumble. The most effective boards define responsibilities, avoid micromanagement, and let their management company play their part—executing plays, handling operations, and offering professional guidance.
Strong teams communicate. HOA boards should maintain structured channels, conduct regular meetings, and use digital tools to keep everyone—board members, management, and homeowners—in the loop. Open communication builds trust and ensures smoother operations. It’s equally important to trust in each other’s strengths, leveraging board members’ skills while allowing the management company to lead day-to-day operations. This also includes supporting new members with mentoring and making room for learning the playbook, not expecting them to run the field alone.
Finally, great teams reflect, improve, and celebrate. After major projects, boards should review what worked and what didn’t, and collect feedback from the community. Recognizing wins—big or small—builds morale and strengthens community spirit. Whether it’s finishing a capital project or hosting a smooth annual meeting, pausing to say “well done” can go a long way. The end goal is to move the ball forward, together—and with the right partnership and playbook, your HOA can win every season.
Read the whole article in our Fall 2025 edition of the Common Interest Magazine and find more editions of the Common Interest Magazine by clicking on the link below.
By Cheery O. Leader, CAI Staff Writer
CAI - Illinois Chapter
The Illinois Chapter of Community Associations Institute serves the educational, business, and networking needs of community associations in the Chicagoland Area. Members include condominium, cooperative, and homeowner...
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