Vitalia Strongsville Strives to Empower Their Team Members

As leaders, we hold the power to inspire, uplift, and bring out the best in our team members. By fostering an environment of empowerment, we can unlock their potential, drive organizational success, and ultimately enhance the lives of the older adults we serve. As the Executive Director of Vitalia Strongsville, I want to explore what empowerment means to me, its impact on the workload, and the strategies I use to empower my team members, as well as the current threats to the senior living industry and how empowerment can be a catalyst for overcoming these challenges.

Empowerment, to me, means giving others the ability to have control and power to lead their teams. Allowing them to feel empowered, reduces my workload by decreasing the number of decisions I’m required to make. Empowerment also allows the team to grow and learn. I stress to them we will all make mistakes and that is okay. I encourage staff to keep making decisions to the best of their ability and we can fix problems together if needed. Also, I remind them, “Be true to yourself.”

The greatest threat to the senior living industry is staff turnover. Empowering your team can help reduce staff turnover as they feel they have a voice. At Strongsville, I allow my team to handle challenging conversations among themselves to come up with the solution.

In conclusion, as a leader, empowering your team members is not just a noble goal; it is a strategic imperative. By fostering an environment of trust, autonomy, and continuous growth, you unlock the full potential of your team, reduce your own workload, and enhance the well-being of the aging adults you serve. Empowerment becomes a powerful tool to navigate the challenges faced by the senior living industry, fostering resilience, innovation, and sustainable solutions. So, let’s embrace the transformative power of empowerment and lead our teams toward a brighter future.