HOA Strategic

by Harvey Radin Saying whatever comes to mind and slamming political correctness is trendy right now, especially for the self-described outsiders who are running for president. It's their flavor of the day. Well, sorry to burst the politicians' bubble, but the fact is...leadership requires thoughtful communication and -- yes -- political correctness, as well. This is important for leaders in many organizations, and most definitely for the volunteers on homeowner association boards and committees. Saying the right thing and exercising political correctness isn't easy. It's very challenging for HOA leaders. They're volunteers. By nature, they're not necessarily neighborhood diplomats. And you can bet that most of them haven't signed up to field questions from the news media. That's why it's not surprising that much of the news about HOAs is negative. Editors and reporters know a good thing when they see it. Just about anything involving HOAs is b...

Here we go, it's the holidays! And you can bet there will be headline news about excessive, over-the-top holiday decor on HOA homes. Because news media do what they do. There will be news about huge displays of lights, elves, reindeer and Santas on someone's home. Stories about 'evil' HOAs penalizing homeowners for going overboard. On TV, in newspapers and online, offended and offending homeowners will be talking about unfair homeowner associations. And of course, someone will bring up god-given rights. This is fodder for news media. Like hogs at the trough, they gorge on controversies. Volunteers on HOA boards will be thrust into the public eye, under pressure from reporters demanding to know what's going on. Are HOAs victimizing homeowners who simply want to celebrate the season? When reporters are at the door, sometimes the less said the better. Less is more. Especially if you need time to sort things out. Maybe you need to touch base with your property man...

How you communicate -- the tone of communication -- can either fuel or mitigate problems. Fueling problems when the tone of communication is negative usually wastes time, and you know what they say...that time is money! Of course it is, when everyone -- the architectural committee, the board, the property manager -- has to squander time and resources revisiting and sorting out problems. Here's one example of cordial communication about architectural guidelines: "If you're considering home improvements, you'll want to check the association's Architectural Guidelines. This reference guide provided to homeowners features helpful guidelines for home improvement planning." Such wording may help set the stage and serve as a reminder to homeowners when their requests can't be approved and the answer is...'NO.'