The Top 10 No-No's for Board Newbies

With the co-op and condo board election season now in full swing, it’s a safe bet that many boards will soon be welcoming neophyte members. Here are the Top 10 mistakes newly elected members should avoid:

10. Making most discussions about themselves
A board can quickly become dysfunctional if meetings must be rescheduled to suit a new member, or if decisions are delayed so new members “can look into it some more.” It’s okay to take time to get up to speed, but don’t derail the process simply because you can.

9. Showing up the managing agent
Some new board members start criticizing the managing agent. Not a smart move. The agent is a key member of the board’s team, and a good working relationship between the board and managing agent is critical. Don’t ruin it.

8. Advocating for specific individuals or their causes
When a new board member advocates on behalf of a specific person, it creates the impression that no one but the new board member cares. This invariably creates a rift in the board and is a poor way to work as a team member.

7. Trying to change every policy
Most boards develop their policies after consulting with their managing agent and attorney, so the policies are often based on years of combined experience. Be realistic: not everything the prior board did was wrong. Newly elected board members are best advised to pick their battles carefully.

6. Taking up every cause
New board members will quickly learn that not every complaint is valid, and that advocating for a complainer generally means advocating against someone else. Failure to learn this lesson will damage the new board member’s credibility.

5. Failing to learn the lessons of history
Most co-op and condo policies were born from trial and error and have been modified to minimize future errors. Before proposing something, particularly major changes, please do some research.

4. Wanting to put an imprint on every board decision
This mistake leads to senseless proposals, which usually get shot down – after wasting everyone’s time and energy. Think before you propose.

3. Trying to set the agenda
Some new board members start circulating lists of “priorities” and “new procedures.” The current ways are simply not good enough. The next few meetings drag on for hours. Generally, it’s best to work within the system to propose your changes.

2. Going rogue
After the election, a new board member starts investigations, forms committees, calls contractors, proposes a new accountant, and generally operates solo. Or maybe the member forms a caucus with a few other members. In a few weeks, everyone learns this person can’t be trusted and, to the extent possible, is excluded from everything but formal board meetings and votes. Once again, the solution is to be a team player.

1. Suffering from “smartest person in the room” syndrome
As soon as he or she is elected, this board member starts investigating everything,
then introduces a series of proposals to address the perceived inadequacies he “uncovered.” What were generally routine exercises now become enmeshed in minutia and pointless debate. Little is accomplished, but everyone is aware of just how un-intelligent the new board member is.

Becoming a board member at your co-op or condo can be a rewarding experience. But board service is about teamwork. If putting others first is not your thing, we recommend another line of work.

(The authors are partners in the law firm Bleakley, Platt & Schmidt.)