A homeowners association (HOA) should benefit the neighborhood, but the many horror stories online show that is only sometimes the case. As an insurance agent, you may have clients who live in a community with an HOA association or serve on the organization’s board. Consequently, these 10 leadership mistakes may play out in real-time.
10 Mistakes to Avoid
HOA leaders must take accountability. Here are 10 leadership mistakes they should avoid.
Failing To Manage Conflict Inside the HOA Association
Minor disagreements can grow into resentment, poisoning the professional environment and affecting the efficiency of an organization. Leaders must directly address conflicts and mediate a compromise to avoid big blowouts.
Forgetting the Human Element
HOA leaders must prevent themselves from focusing too much on the logistics and not enough on the people. Leadership is, at its core, a relationship, and the best directors nurture connections with individuals — even people “below” them in the hierarchy. When the human element gets lost, morale tends to drop.
Not Communicating Clearly
Communication is key to getting anything done, especially in a large organization. HOA association directors must communicate clearly with each other and the community. Otherwise, people will have differing expectations, leading to confusion and delays.
Choosing the Wrong People for the Job
Since HOA directors are all neighbors, assigning project roles can have social repercussions. However, leaders should prioritize finding the person with the right skills rather than the person who drops the right names.
Not Being Proactive
There’s nothing worse than facing a crisis without a plan. D&O and other insurance policies can prevent financial catastrophes if someone brings a civil suit against the HOA. Being an insurance agent, you can help by discussing the many benefits of D&O insurance.
Not Responding to Change
All organizations must change with the times or get left behind. Leaders should embrace innovation to stay ahead of the curve. That includes staying up-to-date on social issues that affect their communities.
Failing To Listen to Feedback
An HOA association must listen to dissenting feedback from the community and its members. Otherwise, residents may feel like they don’t have any say in what happens in their neighborhoods.
The best approach is to create a feedback system, such as an email address where homeowners can send concerns. That way, directors can address issues before things get out of hand.
Refusing to Delegate
Even the most efficient leaders can’t do everything. Taking all responsibility for a project does more harm than good. HOA directors should delegate tasks to qualified members to prevent burnout and improve outcomes.
Not Creating Actionable Goals
An HOA should have goals for the neighborhood. Likewise, these goals should include creating and maintaining public spaces, eliminating sidewalk hazards, and maintaining property values.
To achieve these, directors must agree on smaller, actionable objectives. Setting vague or unattainable goals will backfire.
Forgetting the Purpose of an HOA Association
The point of an HOA association is to benefit the neighborhood. The board should make and enforce guidelines to achieve goals, not play out power fantasies. A good leader keeps an organization’s purpose at the forefront and ensures others do.
About Kevin Davis Insurance Services
For over 35 years, Kevin Davis Insurance Services has built an impressive reputation as a strong wholesale broker offering insurance products for the community association industry. Our president Kevin Davis and his team take pride in offering committed services to the community association market and providing them with unparalleled access to high-quality coverage, competitive premiums, superior markets, and detailed customer service. To learn more about the coverage we offer, contact us toll-free at (855)-790-7393 to speak with one of our representatives.