Partner Post: Causes of Condo Association Board Burnout

This post was republished with permission from BetterCondoLife.com.

Serving on a Condo Association Board is both a privilege and a duty.  There are numerous reasons why serving on a Condo Board is good for you personally as well as your community.  Over time, it is inevitable that you will start to feel the impact of burnout, which has recognizable symptoms that diminish your capability in the position.  There are numerous causes of Condo Association Board burnout.

Unequal Distribution of Work

Being on a Board is a marathon, not a sprint.  However, when apathetic Board members are slacking, it shifts the burden of work to others.  This becomes very hard on Board members who are pulling more than their fair share. Being overworked can lead to more rapid Condo Association Board burnout.  To try to prevent this from happening, ensure everyone is doing their job and that the balance of work is fair.

Serving for an Extended Period of Time

The most innocuous and least hostile form of Condo Association Board burnout simply comes from time served.  The vast majority of Condo Owners don’t serve a single Board term. Very few serve even two or more. Over a long enough period of time, most people will start to burn out.  The different challenges you face – whether typical duties, hearings or finding truth – simply grow old. You can only see so many instances of abusive Owners, inept Management, or bad Board members before you’ve had enough.  

Unusually Challenging Times

Typical Board duties are fairly straightforward. Your most stressful issues will be dealing with a contentious hearing, or maybe the occasional angry Owner.  There are other times, however, such as a special assessment or a particularly hairy major project, that can be particularly hard on Board members. If you’re taking a leadership role, your Board time and emotional commitment increases dramatically.  This can lead to more rapid Condo Association Board burnout than during calmer times.

What Happens After Burnout is Up to You

Serving on a Condo Association Board is volunteer work.  Burnout is nothing to be ashamed of – it happens to everyone.  You can serve to the best of your ability, but at a certain point, enough can be enough.  Learn to recognize the causes of Condo Association Board burnout, as well as their impact, and make sure that you’re taking care of yourself first.  Being healthy and happy is key to a better Condo life, and sometimes that means recognizing that you’re burnt out.