Want to Reduce Board Resignations? Use These 4 Tips
Homeowners' associations (HOAs) aren't immune to abrupt board member resignations and other unanticipated structural changes. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to predict when changes will occur and how they will affect not only the composition of the board but also the entire community.
To ensure your HOA is prepared for anything, it’s wise to implement a plan to reduce board resignations and enhance continuity within your community's structure. Read on to unlock four board resignation tips to help your HOA avoid disruptive role changes.
1. Arrange an annual orientation.
Serving on your HOA board of directors is a role that requires no prior experience. The HOA industry is unique, and many people don't have the knowledge they need to succeed right off the bat. However, knowledge is power, and your board or community management company can provide resources to educate, motivate, and empower new board members.
One of the best educational tools is an annual board orientation. During a board orientation, current board members and other third-party partners can share relevant information that helps new board members understand the scope of their role. After attending an orientation, people will know exactly what to expect and understand that they have resources available to them if needed.
During an annual HOA board orientation, you should:
- Share the history of the HOA
- Introduce the community association management company team members and other key players
- Review technology tools and programs
- Explain communication services and expectations
- Detail board meeting protocols
- Review the annual calendar
- Introduce maintenance plans
- Discuss long-term goals and projects
- Hold a question-and-answer session
- And more
2. Create HOA committees.
Burnout is a common reason for board resignations. Fortunately, your HOA may have the power to create committees to support and help reduce the workload of the board. If board members are stretched too thin and have too much on their plates, a committee may be able to provide oversight and fulfill specific duties. Your governing documents will outline permitted committees and how to create them. Popular HOA committees include:
- Architectural Review Committee
- Welcome Committee
- Social Committee
- Landscape Committee
- Education Committee
- Neighborhood Watch Committee
- Budget Committee
- Contract Review Committee
3. Clearly communicate board duties.
It's important to clearly communicate board functions and duties for all new board members and homeowners to see. This will assist any “recruits” in easily becoming familiar with their potential roles. It will also help them understand that the roles performed by directors will differ from their roles as homeowners. Board members often resign when they realize their role is more than what they signed up for. Transparency is key to board cooperation and stability. Fortunately, in most instances, the list of duties will be shorter than most recruits imagine.
RELATED: The Top 4 HOA Board Leaders: Who They Are & What They Do
4. Find the right people.
A community is only as strong as its board of directors. In fact, the welfare of the community depends on level-headed and concerned volunteers. When recruiting new board members, it's necessary to diligently seek to identify potential candidates who will strengthen the board instead of weakening it.
Board members should be of high character and integrity, active and positive in the community, willing to devote sufficient time to fulfilling their responsibilities, and free of any interest that would violate laws and interfere with proper performance. When you have a great team in place, volunteering on the board is much more enjoyable and rewarding.
RELATED: How to Assemble a Team of Volunteers
What to Do When a Board Member Resigns
Implementing these board resignation tips will help you deal with board resignations and limit your exposure to changes in governance, procedural interruptions, and ineffective operations of your community association.
Unfortunately, some HOA board resignations are unavoidable. To make the process as smooth as possible, check out our article: How to Handle a Board Member's Resignation. In it, we outline the steps you should take when someone steps down from their leadership position.