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You're like all your HOA neighbors...Then this happens

by Harvey Radin
 
You're just residing in a homeowners association like your neighbors. Until that day you're talked into running for election to the HOA board. And you win! Then you discover you're a face of your HOA community. You're on the front line when neighbors have issues. And if a particularly thorny issue escalates and everyone, your neighbors and even news media, wants your side of the story, are you ready for prime time?

To put this in perspective, even if you're not ready, you're in good company. Lots of people, even CEOs in business, are reluctant spokespersons thrust into a challenging role. But the fact remains that whether you're a CEO or a director on an HOA board, what you say, how you say it and how you act can influence opinion.

So, like a kid playing tag, you're it, you and others serving with you on the board. Unless there's someone else, a professional property manager or an attorney, who can speak on behalf of your association.

But don't despair if you're one of the designated faces of your HOA community. Because even if you're pushed kicking and screaming into this role, maybe you'll benefit from the experience. If being on the front line helps you sharpen your listening skills, your judgment and your instincts. And your ability to think on your feet.

And what you experience on the front line for your HOA may help you in a number of other ways. In your career, for example. Maybe in meetings with your boss at work or with your staff if you're the boss. And in meetings with customers.

What people experience with an HOA mirrors so much of what we all experience in life, whether it's on the front line at work or even with relatives and in-laws, and others.

So maybe when you're elected to the board and become the face of your HOA community, you'll be able to learn a lot. And that's maybe a good reason to put on a happy face.

(After a corporate communications career, Harvey Radin turned his attention to homeowner associations. His articles about communication and public opinion have been published in Business Insider, American Banker and regional newspapers. Most recently, an article he wrote entitled What Homeowner Associations Can Teach Governments About Spending was published in the Educational Community for Homeowners publication, ECHO Journal and discussed on Minnesota radio. He has written two booklets, HOA Over Easy and At Least Some PR. He can be contacted through HOA Strategic: hoastrategic@gmail.com.)

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