Homeowners’ association (HOA) board members must communicate clearly with community members. With consistent communication, everyone in the association is clear about expectations and rules. Also, communication promotes transparency and fosters trust. Board members can use different communication tools to communicate with residents. Plus, communication won’t be an issue if the board members get in touch with the HOA manager.
Strong communication is vital to a strong community. Residents look to the board for guidance and support. Those who run the HOA should be attentive, address the needs and concerns of residents, as well as act in the community’s best interest. The following are ways your HOA board can improve your communication:
Listen Actively
Being available and listening can benefit HOA members physically and emotionally. This is particularly important for HOA board members, residents, and HOA managers as they collaborate frequently. To communicate, you need to be present and listening. Your presence can come in many forms such as phone calls, in-person conversations, and emails. You must acknowledge the messages of residents and respond to them promptly. In turn, this promotes awareness of community activities and builds trust in leadership.
Lets Residents Speak Up
A lot of residents do not feel heard when they discuss concerns and issues with the HOA board. If board members do not listen, residents may feel their association is not concerned about their well-being and interests. To improve communication within the community, allow residents to speak up during every HOA meeting. This way, residents can address significant issues and topics professionally and promptly.
Take Transparency Seriously
To increase community communication and engagement, you must maintain transparency. The more community members know the better off they will be. But with the many responsibilities of the board, it can be hard to consistently streamline communication and transparency. To improve transparency, you should concentrate on effective communication by listening actively, giving constructive feedback, and showing empathy. In addition, exercising transparency means exercising honesty. Nobody likes a hidden agency, particularly when issues arise unexpectedly. By communicating honestly, you build trust and engagement for everyone involved.
Take Advantage of Modern Technology
To maximize communication within the HOA community, you should leverage technology. Technology is a great way to share information, keep homeowners updated with community news, and more. For instance, you can use HOA software as a digital communication source between the HOA and the community. With this tool, the board and HOA manager can create assignments and tasks that are visible to residents. An HOA manager can also introduce other communication tools the board can take advantage of.