How to Avoid HOA Community Manager Burnout

From managing finances and maintenance to overseeing vendor contracts and board meetings, homeowners’ association (HOA) community managers have a lot to do. And with that may come job burnout. Luckily, there are ways community managers can prevent burnout and stay engaged and enthusiastic about their work. Read on to learn about community manager burnout, signs and symptoms of job burnout, strategies to avoid burnout, and more.

What is Job Burnout?

According to the Mayo Clinic, job burnout is a type of work-related stress. A reaction to constant or prolonged pressure, stress, and overwhelm, job burnout is a physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion. HOA community managers dealing with job burnout may have decreased feelings of accomplishment, productivity, and appreciation and identity loss.

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of HOA Community Manager Job Burnout?

Understanding the signs and symptoms of job burnout is critical to identifying and managing it. Typical signs and symptoms of job burnout in HOA community managers include:

• Excessive stress
• Fatigue, depletion, and exhaustion
• Self-doubt
• Trouble falling asleep
• Disinterest in work
• Decreased performance
• Reduced efficiency
• Difficulty concentrating
• Irritability and impatience

What Causes HOA Community Manager Burnout?

In a recent Deloitte marketplace survey, 77% of respondents stated they experienced employee burnout at their current job. Employee burnout has no boundaries and can be felt in almost every industry. While every situation is different, there are a few main causes of HOA community manager burnout. HOA community manager turnover and job burnout often stem from the following:

• Competing priorities
• Diverse community demands
• Administrative burdens and paperwork
• Unstable work-life balance
• Lack of support and recognition

How HOA Manager Burnout Can Impact Communities & Job Performance  

Job burnout can negatively affect a community manager’s performance and the communities they manage. When community managers suffer from burnout, it can lead to:

• Minimized productivity
• Reduced engagement
• Increased absence
• More errors
• Higher turnover
• Poor customer service

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7 Strategies to Prevent HOA Community Manager Burnout

The good news is that there are steps community managers can take to stop burnout and improve their mindsets. Follow these seven strategies to recover from or prevent burnout at work:

1. Establish clear boundaries and expectations.

Gain control by establishing boundaries and realistic expectations with homeowners and board members. For example, consider defining dedicated working hours and communication response times.

2. Cultivate a supportive board-manager relationship.

It’s important to remember that community managers and board members are on the same team. Everyone is working towards the same goal: maintaining the community and helping it thrive. Cultivate open and transparent communication with the board and determine how you can support one another.

3. Promote self-care.

Taking care of mental, emotional, and physical health is necessary for long-term satisfaction and productivity. Prioritize good sleep habits, exercise, and nutrition, and make time to do the things you enjoy. Take regular breaks and vacations to reset and recharge, too.

4. Form committees.

Comprised of a group of resident volunteers, committees are tasked with overseeing specific community aspects that may need additional attention. Community managers should recommend forming and training committees to reduce workloads and become more efficient. Popular HOA committees include:

• Welcome Committee
• Neighborhood Watch Committee
• Social Committee
• Budgeting Committee
• Maintenance Committee
• Education Committee
  

5. Prioritize goals and tasks.

To ensure sustained engagement, community managers should have reasonable and achievable tasks and goals. When everyone is on the same page, it’s easier to focus energy, stay motivated, and positively impact the association. Use these task and goal-setting best practices:

• Set goals that match capabilities and expertise.
• Confirm goals are aligned with the HOA’s vision and objectives.
• Make goals measurable.
• Break down larger goals into manageable tasks or milestones.
• Prioritize goals to help manage workloads.‍
• Set realistic timelines to avoid creating unnecessary pressure.
• Regularly review and adjust goals.
  

6. Utilize technology.

Without the right tools, managing an HOA can be time-consuming and challenging. Fortunately, technology can automate tasks, centralize information, and streamline processes to make a community manager’s role less stressful. By leveraging an HOA software solution like TownSq, community managers can seamlessly:

• Improve communication
• Reach residents
• Keep everyone up to date
• Organize business processes
• Increase revenue
• Boost resident satisfaction
  

7. Foster a culture of appreciation.

If people feel undervalued or unappreciated, they can become discouraged and disinterested. Be sure to acknowledge efforts and celebrate wins and achievements with the community.

Staying on Top of HOA Community Manager Job Burnout

Job burnout is a real issue that can be detrimental to community managers and communities. However, when you learn about HOA community manager job burnout, recognize its signs and symptoms, and implement strategies to prevent it, it’s possible to recover from and avoid it.

TownSq, the all-in-one community management software solution, empowers community association managers to feel motivated and take charge of their success. Click here to request a demo today!

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