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Is your HOA falling into one of these seven dysfunctions? Recognizing the pattern early can make all the difference.
✅ Is a Reserve Study right for you? 👉 https://www.reservestudy.com/

In Episode 183, Robert welcomes back board member and business consultant Paul Butler to talk about the seven dysfunctions that can quietly undermine an HOA. Drawing from both his professional experience and his work within his own association, Paul shares the patterns he has seen that can weaken leadership nd create conflict. Robert and Paul share together how boards can recognize these problems before they become deeply rooted, and what it takes to build a healthier, more effective association. The goal is not just to identify dysfunction, but to understand how better leadership and clearer decision making can help an HOA avoid it in the first place.

Chapters:
00:00 What values keep an HOA Board focused on its owners?
01:14 What are the seven dysfunctions that can wreck an HOA?
04:18 Why should boards revisit their mission, vision, and values every meeting?
07:25 Where does HOA dysfunction really come from?
09:56 Why did this board ban saying “I’m just a volunteer”?
13:36 How can mission, vision, and values keep an HOA aligned?
16:56 What are the seven HOA dysfunctions?
20:39 Ad Break - ourFiPhO.com
21:10 Why do boards expect too much from their HOA manager?
22:30 Does every HOA Board member need financial knowledge?
24:12 What happens when a board ignores state law?
25:35 How much work does effective HOA Board service actually require?
26:51 Why should homeowners understand where their assessments go?
28:29 Why do owners need to understand HOA Reserves?
29:59 What are the three core responsibilities of an HOA Board?
31:43 How does trust change life for HOA Board members?
33:30 How much does vendor quality affect an HOA?

The views & opinions expressed in this program are those of the Hosts & Guests, intended to provide general education about the community association industry. The content is not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual or organization.

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Tired of surprise fee increases? See how one HOA board used better planning and reserve forecasting to finally get ahead of rising costs.
✅ Is a Reserve Study right for you? 👉 https://www.reservestudy.com/
📊 Learn more about Telemtryx 👉 https://www.telemetryx.app/

In Episode 182, Robert is joined by risk management expert and HOA Board member Jennifer Helle to share how her community brought repeated mid-year fee increases under control. After digging into the association’s finances, Jennifer discovered that deferred maintenance, rising costs, and a lack of long-term planning were all putting pressure on homeowners. She explains how the board used better forecasting, clearer reserve planning, and more transparent communication to create greater financial stability. By understanding the risks earlier and involving homeowners in the process, the association was able to move away from constant surprises and give residents more confidence in the decisions being made!

Chapters:
00:00 Why does deferring HOA maintenance make future costs harder to control?00:48 How can risk management help an HOA Board prepare for what is coming?03:59 Why did repeated midyear fee increases push Jennifer to get involved?06:53 What was really causing the HOA’s financial problems?
07:38 Why were HOA Reserves driving assessment increases?
10:38 How did deferred maintenance create a financial perfect storm?
12:30 Why was homeowner communication part of the solution?
13:45 What financial guardrails did the HOA Board put in place?
18:26 How does planning major HOA projects five years ahead help?
20:43 Ad Break - Association Reserves
21:15 Did the HOA Board actually stop the midyear fee increases?
22:30 How did active cash management strengthen the reserve fund?
25:08 What are the financial risks of delaying an HOA project?
27:00 How did stable fees change homeowner confidence?
28:48 Can any HOA Board learn to manage financial risk?
29:57 How can boards bring reserve, banking, and project data together?

The views & opinions expressed in this program are those of the Hosts & Guests, intended to provide general education about the community association industry. The content is not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual or organization.

Podcast Links:
Full Episode List
Watch On Youtube

Engage in the conversation!

Call our 24/7 voicemail line at (805) 203-3130 or send an email or voice memo to podcast@reservestudy.com

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Julie Adamen

Kevin Davis, CIRMS

Robert Nordlund, PE

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The “Do you know who I am?” mindset can quickly create difficult HOA board members when past authority collides with shared leadership.
✅ Is a Reserve Study right for you? 👉 https://www.reservestudy.com/
📧 Get in Contact with Julie 👉 https://www.adamen-inc.com/
📬 Get in Contact with Rolf 👉 https://www.omnicommunities.com/

In Episode 181, Julie and guest host Rolf Crocker take a closer look at one of the personalities that can make community association leadership especially challenging: the “formerly important person,” or FIP. These individuals may bring years of leadership experience but struggle to adjust to a volunteer board where decisions require teamwork and collaboration. Julie and Rolf discuss how this dynamic creates difficult HOA board members and how strong leadership experience does not always translate seamlessly into a volunteer community setting. They also share why recognizing the difference between leading and controlling can help boards work together more effectively and make better decisions for the association as a whole.

Chapters:
00:00 Can difficult HOA personalities become future leaders?
01:25 What is a “formerly important person” on an HOA Board?
02:42 Why do some retired leaders struggle to give up control?
03:36 Why are former executives drawn to HOA Board service?
05:00 How should an HOA orient a strong new board member?
07:35 Why can retirement make HOA issues feel more important?
08:57 What happens when experienced leaders try to take over?
10:36 Why does serving on an HOA Board make you a politician?
11:40 Why does hierarchy fail inside an HOA?
14:41 Ad Break - PiPhO Score
15:44 Why can HOA decisions feel so personal to some homeowners?
17:17 How do boards separate urgent problems from important ones?
19:55 How can you give a frustrated homeowner a sense of agency?
21:44 How do you set boundaries while still making someone feel heard?
23:47 What should board members learn before trying to lead an HOA?
26:15 Is the current complaint really what the homeowner is upset about?
27:51 How can giving difficult people a role strengthen the community?

The views & opinions expressed in this program are those of the Hosts & Guests, intended to provide general education about the community association industry. The content is not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual or organization.

Podcast Links:
Full Episode List
Watch On Youtube

Engage in the conversation!

Call our 24/7 voicemail line at (805) 203-3130 or send an email or voice memo to podcast@reservestudy.com

Nominate yourself or a Board Hero you Know!
Board Hero Nominations

Boardmember Merch Store!

Connect with Hosts on LinkedIn

Julie Adamen

Kevin Davis, CIRMS

Robert Nordlund, PE

Support Our Sponsors

Association Insights & Marketplace

Association Reserves

Community Financials

Kevin Davis Insurance Services

Stoke Light Video & Marketing

The Inspectors of Election