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J A N U A R Y , 2 0 1 8
W
hen discussing what makes a great leader, a
question often arises: Are some people just
born great leaders with little need for training
or can people be trained to become great leaders? While
it is true there are individuals who seem to have innate
leadership qualities already with them when they step
into responsible positions, the majority of us could benefit
immensely from leadership training in the particular field
that we are expected to be effective leaders.
As board members and homeowner leaders, we are on
the forefront of handling issues impacting our communities.
The residents of our communities look to us for leadership
on matters of importance and to provide wise stewardship
on behalf of the community association. Like some medie-
val knight out of JR Tolkien’s world, a board member is on
an inner quest to prove their worthiness but not quite sure
how to achieve it.
In responding to that critical need for board members of
common interest communities to acquire solid leadership
skills, the Community Associations Institute provides to
members a free one day Board Leadership Development
Workshop for the state chapters to conduct on behalf of
board members seeking to become more professional in
their leadership role.
The Case for Board
Leadership Education:
A Board Member’s Tale
By Steve Kroll,
Fairways at Livingston
© iStockphoto.com
I was fortunate enough to attend the New Jersey chap-
ter’s CAI Board Leadership Development Workshop last
summer at the CAI-NJ headquarters. The high demand
for the workshop was quite evident because it was a full
house. A few late subscribers gained admission only on
the promise by those assembled that we would all become
great leaders! With that oath, the board member training
began.
The BLD workshop was well organized and ran smoothly
during the whole day. There were five subject modules
covered with three different industry experts leading them.
The five modules were: 1) Governing Documents and
Roles & Responsibilities; 2) Communications, Meetings, and
Volunteerism; 3) Fundamentals of Financial Management; 4)
Professional Advisors and Service Providers; and 5)Association
Rules and Conflict Resolution. These modules were selected
very carefully to ensure that the critical aspects of governing
community associations were covered. While the attendees
had various levels of experience as board members ranging
from the newly crowned to those who proudly displayed scars
from past battles, the workshop was conducted in a way that
benefitted all participants.
Our three instructors brought their theoretical knowledge,
practical expertise, and a sense of humor to the workshop.