It began with flying to Atlanta for an excellent experience learning about strategic talent management. As we eagerly listened to Marc Effron, author of One Page Talent Management, we learned the importance of identifying, developing, and investing in High Potential talent.

For me, a key take-a-way was this: the most important thing we can do to help high potential talent grow and develop is to offer them real, meaningful “experiences.” It didn’t have anything to do with sending them to school or going to some canned training. It quite simply was about providing unique “experiences” that would help develop, grow and prepare them for future opportunities.

The light bulb went off!  Experiences have to be custom-tailored to each individual for each specific opportunity…just for them…a personalized experience!  Experiences are so personal!  It makes perfect sense! It is only through our firsthand experiences (both positive and not so positive) that we learn and grow. Only through experiences and exposure to opportunities do we get wiser.

Fast forward to later in the week, and I had a much different experience. It was a very emotional, moving, and personal experience. We found ourselves in the midst of a cultural crisis in which we were asked to please come to a facility and help. We spent many hours listening to managers, stakeholders, and patients talk about the “problems and deep sorrows” they were having with adjusting to new change in leadership. What we actually were doing was listening to their firsthand experiences. At times, it even felt as if we were experiencing it with them. It was personal, very personal.

By the end of the day, I became confident that this wonderful group of stakeholders will grow from these difficult experiences and will use them to weave new, great, life-changing experiences. They have a lot of hard work ahead of them, but they are resilient and committed to reclaiming their culture. How do I know this?  Because my experience with them told me that they are amazing people with beautiful hearts! They were having very deep, sad experiences with new leadership, culture divides, systemic failures, etc. – you name it, they are experiencing it. But with all of this, there was a common theme we heard over and over again: “I’m not here for the money…I stay for our patients!”  This level of commitment and dedication is why Signature HealthCARE will change the landscape of long term care forever.

We also had the pleasure of visiting patients/residents during our visit. I had the privilege of meeting a resident who was near the end of his life’s journey. He was in tremendous pain from a cancer that was ravaging his body. The pain was great. My heart was in agony for him. I was with a small group of people (the CNA, the Chaplain, and others). We gathered around his bed, and we prayed for him. I have never had an experience like this. It was extremely emotional. It was uncomfortable. I felt awkward.  I cried with him. It was one of the most meaningful things I had ever done in my life. I will never forget him or those moments that I spent with him. It was then that I understood the deep meaning of what we do. We Change Lives.  I know that as a result of this experience, my life was changed.

In reflection, as leaders, we have to do our part. We have to keep in perspective that we are always generating and weaving experiences for our stakeholders, and that experiences are deeply personal, very personal. We have to radically change the type of experiences that we give our stakeholders. We have to stay true to our Mission, Principles and Values. If we do this, we will radically change the landscape of long term care forever!

That will make it personal for everyone!

We are winning many of these crucial battles but have much more to do.

The Clinical Excellence team, led by Donna Sroczynski, is fully engaged in delivering clinical/educational programming.  The Triage team (Donna, Lynn Fieldhouse and Teri Fallon) continues to battle 24/7 against medical malpractice.  Clinical and legal have partnered to continuously elevate our levels of expertise.  Lessons learned and clinical performance improvement will lead the charge into the future.  But, this team cannot do it alone.

Stakeholder readiness is our secret weapon against the Revolution.  Each of us must make this a personal battle because that is exactly what it is.  It’s not just business … it is personal to each of us.  Our residents depend on each one of us to enrich their lives at a time when they need it most.  Our co-workers depend on us to provide job security for each other; our own families depend on us for their livelihood; our communities depend on us to provide a sacred service to members of the communities we serve and to also provide economic security for the community; and our Signature family depends on us to win this Revolution that will change the landscape of long term care forever.

You’re darn right … It’s Personal!

So let’s get personal…Let’s make a personal pledge to:

• Be ready, willing and able to see the big picture and to commit to making it “personal” each and every day.
• Celebrate our unique differences as individuals.  Seek opportunities to show unconditional love for our diverse cultures and faiths.  Weave your heart, compassion and love around everything you do and what others do.  Our new service values will soon be finalized.   Values that each of you have said is important to you, our residents, and the Revolution.  Make it personal … it’s powerful!
• “Collaborate and Coordinate” with each other in our individual roles, our buildings, and company-wide.  Let’s really capitalize on the power of Knowledge Sharing.  Let’s invest in one another by sharing our knowledge to help us get stronger, smarter, more flexible and versatile.  It is important that each one of us knows that we have more than one role in the Revolution… our day-to-day role and then the responsibility to constantly seek ways to improve what we do and how we do it.  Make it personal … invest in each other!
• Hire smart, work smart, and be servant leaders of the Revolution.  Good onboarding will make deep, long lasting connections to Signature’s Mission and Vision; service values; our residents; departmental goals and objectives; their job; and to one another.  Make it personal … Make meaningful connections!
• Seek opportunities to participate in training and education that will enrich you personally and professionally; engage your mind, heart, spirit and passion in support of the Revolution.  We will soon be rolling out an exciting new way to learn – mobile learning.  It will provide rich interactivity, total connectivity, convenience, fun, and rewards.  Make it personal … Get enriched!

Now is the time the Revolution needs you to go “all-in!”  Make it PERSONAL!