WINNING THE WAR FOR TALENT
HOW HOA MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVES CAN STAY AHEAD
By Dee A. Rowe, CCAM
I
n today’s market, the war for talent is fierce — especially in the HOA management industry. Executives must stay ahead of the curve to remain competitive, retain existing talent, and attract new high performers to the industry and, more specifically, their company. However, staying ahead of the competition can be a difficult task. This article explores the strategies HOA management executives can use to win the war for talent.
STRATEGIES FOR FINDING AND RECRUITING TOP TALENT The CID management industry is at a crucial tipping point. The first Certified Community Association Managers to be sworn in have or are retiring. Shifting attitudes in the workforce caused in part by the COVID-19 reshuffle and remote work explosion and exacerbated by the competing problematic trends of hustling until burnout or quiet quitting have changed the recruitment game for even the best and biggest management companies. So, how can you, an HOA executive, stay competitive and keep winning the war for talent? What attracts new talent to this essential but demanding profession? Consider these three suggestions from a February 2023 article by Energage on TopWorkplaces.com: • Create job descriptions that accurately describe the role and expectations. This may seem counterintuitive, and it may be tempting to make the position seem 40
Vision Winter 2023 | cacm.org
less demanding than it is. Nevertheless, camouflaging the difficulty will only cause problems later. • Advertise what sets you apart. Does your company host an annual charity drive? Work a four-day work week during the summer so employees have more fun in the sun? Have the best health insurance plan on the market? Say so! • Build “brand awareness” for your company. Like it or not, every management company has a “brand.” Do you know what yours is? Do others? Ensure industry people know who your company is and what makes you great. You can have a phenomenal company culture, but it will only benefit you by retaining current talent if no one else knows about it. It is vital to not only attract new talent but also to find individuals that fit within the culture and values of your organization. Utilizing a combination of methods, such as wordof-mouth, posting on social media and job boards, candidate database searches, and industry networking, can allow HOA executive teams to find the right talent for their organization.
RETAINING YOUR TOP PERFORMERS In addition to attracting new managers to the industry and your company, retaining top performers is equally important. Perhaps more so. To do this, focus on creating an exceptional employee experience. It is a
complex, demanding, and often thankless job. You will keep skilled employees on your team if you balance out the negative aspects with positive ones. But how? I took an informal social media poll of approximately 30 managers in Southern California, and below is what they said was most important:
MOST IMPORTANT
20% Flexible work hours clients 17% Terminate creating a hostile
work environment
in-office 15% Minimal work requirements for managers
dress 11% Informal code except when
meeting with clients
to grow 10% Opportunity professionally
8%
Appropriate levels of support from staff and supervisors
5%
Excellent health/ dental/vision insurance
