Identifying, Scouting and Retaining HOA Board Members

Identifying, Scouting and Retaining HOA Board Members

Having a strong Board for your Homeowners Association is essential. Developing that HOA Board, and the individual Board members, can feel like an insurmountable task at times, especially during times of hardship or conflict.

Creating a culture within your Board that includes appreciation, expectations, and imagining what can be achieved are all part of creating a healthy HOA Board that will serve your community for years to come. So, how do you find, recruit and retain these volunteer leaders, especially when times get tough?

Start with the Rules

It’s important to review who can serve on your Board, and be up to date on state law and your bylaws. The rules can be tricky to navigate, but will be essential to ensuring that your Board is free and clear to work on behalf of your community without unnecessary disruption. Once you are familiar with who is legally allowed to serve on your HOA Board, it’s time to think about who you want to join. This is a volunteer position, and individuals who stand up to take on this important responsibility will have different motivations.

Recruit Positively, and Strategically

Before you recruit just anyone who wants to serve, consider what types of personalities are most likely to do this work effectively, and how to recruit them. The “Multitasker”, the “Maestro” and the “Conductor,” and more, will have important roles to play. Considering who in your area will most likely perform well in these informal roles. Once you understand more about personality types that are most likely to be effective as leaders, you can begin to better understand what tasks to assign to personal skill sets. Need help? Visit our blog, the 5 Most Effective Personality Types for the HOA Board for some guidance.

When and How to Recruit

Any time that you are reviewing your Board strengths, you may identify skill sets that are missing and would strengthen the collective. When it’s time to scout for new leaders, remember that volunteers have to value the work enough to find the time to do it effectively. This is a challenge for individuals and organizations, alike. That being said, member involvement is crucial to responsible management of your HOA. Check out this compilation of effective HOA Board recruiting techniques for you to consider on the road to your best Board.

Keys to a Successful Board Election

HOA Board elections can become contentious, time consuming and complicated. To prevent this annual event from getting hung up on overlooked details, we’ve compiled a list of the most important items to check off before you launch your next HOA Board election.
If you have reviewed this and would like more support, contact any of our community managers at Planned Development Services.

You Have Excellent New Board Members! Now What?

Your first time Board members are in a new and challenging position. They have property and value to protect, at the same time as they are representing their fellow homeowners. Here are a couple of key concepts to share with your new HOA Board members to alleviate the stress of new roles and new leadership responsibility, including tips for an easier transition and logistics to consider.

Preventing, and Understanding, Board Member Burnout

Volunteering isn’t always what we thought we signed up for. In addition, interests and needs for individual Board members will change. It is helpful to anticipate this, and remember not to take it personally. We recommend keeping an eye out for “red flags” of volunteer burnout, and addressing them thoughtfully and with kindness. Perhaps the Board member would be happier in a new role, or transitioning off of the Board entirely? A personal approach will help you understand more about the reason for burnout, how to address it, and, if necessary, how to fill unexpected vacancies in your HOA Board.

Showing Appreciation on a Budget

You can’t predict when or why a Board member may need to leave a volunteer leadership position. However, there are ways to show your gratitude for this important work, even within a budget! We recommend including Board Member appreciation into your regular agenda. A little gratitude means a lot! Here’s a quick list of 10 Ways to Thank a Volunteer, With Little (or no) Budget.