From Firefighter to Forward Motion: The Key to Strong Leadership in ALF

Feeling like you’re constantly putting out fires? It's a common feeling for leaders, especially in assisted living. You might have the best care plans, documentation, and processes in the world, but if your team doesn't know how to carry them out, even your best-laid plans can fail.

When we get into the cycle of fixing issues, it's easy to feel like we need to just focus on putting out fires. But taking the time to work with your team is an investment that will save you countless hours in the long run.

It Starts with Your Team

As a manager, your team is your greatest asset. Take the time to get to know each team member's strengths and weaknesses. Use that insight to improve your entire operation. Do you have a team member who shows great leadership and is excited to help their coworkers? Bring them on board to help mentor others who may be struggling with a certain task. If you have a team member who struggles with redirecting resident mood changes, take a few minutes to step in and demonstrate good redirection options and talk about it together after.

By focusing on building up your team, you're not just improving their skills—you're building their confidence. A confident team is a proactive team, which means fewer problems for you to solve.

Lead with Clarity

As a leader, you must plan for your weakest link. Think about how to clearly write your delegations using simple, short, and easy-to-understand terms. Have someone on your team read your instructions. Do they understand what is written and do they feel confident in carrying out the service? A great exercise is to ask yourself, "Would my 16-year-old daughter/son/niece/nephew, who has no healthcare knowledge, understand and be able to follow these instructions?" If the answer is yes, you're on the right track.

Investing in your team's development will reduce the amount of time you need to spend solving problems that may have been prevented. This shifts your role from being a reactive firefighter to a proactive leader.

Let's Chat

Finding the time to manage all the tasks in a leadership position can be extremely difficult. We're here to help you through the hardest days and help you focus on the bigger picture.

Reach out to us to chat and let's work on it together!