We’ve all had those moments where we wish we could have done better. Or, maybe we missed the mark a bit. Failure and mistakes are part of life, but we believe failure is where success is found. Making mistakes generally comes from trying – trying something new or trying something challenging – and if those mistakes or failures are managed correctly it can teach your board and community valuable lessons.
Today we want to talk about five important lessons your board can learn from the most common mistakes that board members can make. Don’t’ worry, we’re only human, and we all make mistakes.
- Lesson #1 – Get to know your job. What we often see happen is new, or existing, board members trying to wing it rather than investing time to train for their position. Initially it may feel like too much of a time commitment, but we assure you that educated board members will save your HOA so much time and additional work because they know what and how things need to be done. Continued education is important, in any role! Our Boardline classes are a great asset!
- Lesson #2 – Know your limits. This is more than “don’t bite off more than you can chew”. It’s about knowing what legal scope of authority the board has. Just because your board wants to change something, doesn’t mean it is legally permitted according to your governing documents or even local or state laws. Always reference your governing documents and if you’re still in doubt, consult your community manager and/or legal counsel.
- Lesson #3 – Don’t change too much, too fast. When a new board is elected it is common to see them eager and ready to work. This is great, unless that energy is directed at changing the lifestyle of the community. For example, if your board starts by making huge budget cuts that impact the amenities homeowners expect AND pay for, you’re going to run into a lot of trouble. If budget changes are necessary, make sure your board goes about it in a diplomatic way and communicates things clearly with homeowners.
- Lesson #4 – Learn about existing policies and why they are in place. Previous boards may have made decisions the current board doesn’t like. But, don’t just amend or get rid of the policy without working to understand it. If your board removes a policy without understanding it, there is a good chance you’ll create a series of bigger problems that need fixing too.
- Lesson #5 – Learn from your (and previous board’s) failures. Not learning from old mistakes is the biggest mistake we see boards make. Like we said above, mistakes happen and policies may be failures, and that is OK! The real problems start when boards refuse to learn from them and they miss the opportunity to improve the effectiveness of the board.
While the list of lessons and mistakes a board could make is longer than any blog post we could write, these five lessons are important because they give your board the upper hand. By going in already feeling empowered, your board not only avoids silly mistakes, but you are better equipped to avoid bigger mistakes. We hope you can take these lessons back to your board for practical application! And if you’re looking for more help for your homeowners association in Austin, we are always glad to help.
