A homeowners’ association or condo association elects a board to collaboratively navigate all the minor and major details of association management on a day-to-day basis. But what happens when the board loses sight of its fiduciary duty to act in the community’s best interest and devolves into condo or HOA politics?
Boards struggling with internal conflict only accomplish about half of what they set out to do. They are also about a third slower than boards that share a common vision. Put another way, HOA board politics leads to disruption and ineffectiveness, two things no board should allow to happen.
The Importance of Strategic Alignment
Homeowners' and condo association boards need to consistently advocate for residents while promoting neighborly well-being. Fortunately, most HOA boards do just that. As a board member, it’s crucial to recognize and understand HOA politics when they occur. Members must quickly resolve the issues before they get out of hand.
Achieving board alignment is challenging, but it’s absolutely necessary for a board to make decisions and speak in one voice, especially in times of crisis. When a board lacks strategic alignment, the negative domino effect can be swift and detrimental to the community at large. Yes, it’s difficult to get board members to agree on every single issue, but if they can collectively find common ground on the most important issues, it can prove to be a productive board.
How to Resolve HOA Politics and Board Conflicts
Most of the conflicts that occur on a board have to do with the board decisions that are passed. There are always going to be times that a tough decision must be made because it’s beneficial to the association. But when board members make decisions based on poor judgment or personal politics, it flies in the face of what being a board member is all about.
Here are some tips on resolving HOA politics and conflict.
- Stick to the rules. The HOA governing documents help you stick to proper procedures and keep personal politics out of decision-making. Board meetings are not a social event. They’re professional assemblies designed to accomplish critical procedural rules and regulations.
- Form committees that split up duties and responsibilities. Rotate members if necessary, to keep any one person or committee from becoming too entrenched in their ways.
- Prepare and stick to an agenda. It establishes a sense of order and control and limits the possibility of personal politics gumming up the works.
- Ask for resident feedback. When board members know they’ll be held accountable by the community’s homeowners, they’re more likely to adhere to what’s right for the common good.
Allied Property Group is an award-winning property management company with nearly 20 years of experience. We assist condo and homeowners’ association board members who enjoy what they do but want to keep personal politics out of it. We know that board members are a crucial component of any homeowners’ association and play an integral role in its success. We’re committed to providing you with the tools you need to do just that.
