HOA board members work as a team to improve the community. However, as most board members have never worked together before, it’s only natural for them to struggle collaborating at first. Here’s how to improve HOA board teamwork for better community management.
10 Ways to Improve HOA Board Teamwork
Board members within a community usually don’t know each other at first. Hence, it can be hard to get each director to cooperate when setting goals, conducting meetings, or fulfilling their roles. This is why HOA board teamwork is so important. Here’s how to foster better collaboration within your board of directors.
1. Pick Good Leaders
No matter how many team-building activities you conduct or how you designate roles, there’s not a lot you can do to improve HOA board teamwork if one director refuses to cooperate. This is why it’s important to choose good leaders from the start. Homeowners should seriously consider their options and elect good board members during election season.
What makes a good board member? Homeowners should keep an eye out for the following traits before electing their leaders:
- Open to Learn. HOA board members should be open to learning new things from professionals and fellow directors. They must be eager to learn and be able to adjust if they make mistakes.
- Transparent. Board members must be transparent about their work and honest about what’s going on within the community to build trust with the residents.
- Positive. Board members must lead by example and stay positive. They should be open to feedback, provide timely responses, and inspire resident involvement.
- Able to Manage Risk. Board members must be able to handle stressful situations and manage risk. They must be able to think and act quickly during a crisis.
- Cooperative. HOA members must be team players and able to work with others. They should be willing to adjust even if they don’t get their way.
2. Designate Clear Roles
Nothing creates more conflict than unclear responsibilities. The HOA must establish clear roles and duties for each board member and officer to avoid overlap and miscommunication. Clear roles allow each director to understand what they need to do. It also simplifies operations and keeps the board on track.
In addition, it’s essential to set expectations and rules for the board members. Doing so will keep each director accountable for finishing their tasks.
3. Set Goals
An excellent way to boost HOA board morale is to set common goals that all the directors can support. Shared goals foster teamwork, especially if everyone agrees with them. Moreover, they help unify the team and create a more harmonious environment.
4. Prioritize Communication
Miscommunication is one of the main culprits in disputes. Make sure to prioritize communication by establishing dedicated communication channels. Board members can utilize technology by giving updates via email, social media, or the HOA website. The board members should also communicate often to keep things on track.
5. Plan Ahead
Teams that do not plan can lose sight of their projects and fall behind on operations. It can compromise engagement as the board members might not know what to do next. Create concrete plans with action steps to achieve the community’s goals. That way, the board members will be more proactive in fulfilling their duties.
An excellent way to plan is to have a shared community calendar. Connecting with contractors before any major projects is also a good idea. Moreover, the board members should always be well-prepared for every HOA meeting. Set a clear agenda and appoint a chairperson to keep the meeting from derailing.
6. Conduct Team-Building Activities
Team-building activities allow board members to get to know each other and how they work. It also strengthens cooperation, communication, and trust. Moreover, it will enable them to bond and have a sense of community. Here are some team-building activities you can try:
- Neighborhood scavenger hunt
- Group outing at an escape room
- Camping
- Taking a personality test and talking about the results
- Holding a simple lunch or dinner where board members can showcase unique skills
- Community service
7. Streamline Duties Using Technology
HOA board members no longer need to send letters or meet to discuss community issues. Today, they can use technology to communicate, assign tasks, and discuss neighborhood problems. Technology improves teamwork by helping streamline the boards’ duties and allowing them to collaborate anytime.
Consider leveraging technology by creating a community website or using HOA management software to store documents, communicate with community members, and coordinate with vendors. It’s also a good way to send residents announcements and collect dues.
8. Hire an HOA Management Company
HOA board members might feel overwhelmed by the work they need to do. To foster better teamwork and offload some of the burden, the board can consider hiring a professional management company to handle daily operations. This way, the board can focus on significant issues and set goals instead of minor tasks.
A reliable HOA management company has experience fulfilling all kinds of tasks. They can handle dues collection, meeting preparation, dispute resolution, rule enforcement, billing, vendor coordination, and maintenance.
9. Encourage Consensus
HOA board members should encourage consensus to avoid unnecessary conflict. It’s especially important when handling sensitive issues such as delinquencies, board member recalls, and disciplinary actions.
The board should remain calm and professional when discussing these topics. Allow every board member to weigh in and stay respectful. It’s also crucial to hone conflict resolution skills because disputes will happen regardless of how well you manage difficult issues.
10. Express Gratitude
Board members should create a culture where the directors always express their gratitude to fellow directors. Positive reinforcement builds camaraderie and boosts motivation. A simple “thank you” or token of appreciation is enough to show gratitude.
An Effective HOA Board
HOA board teamwork is vital if the board wants to be effective. Interpersonal relationships can make or break an HOA and even set the tone for the rest of the neighborhood. While operations might be vital to community success, fostering teamwork and creating a harmonious environment is just as important.
Elite Management Services provides professional management services to HOAs. Call us today at (855) 238-8488 or contact us online to get a proposal!
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