The Princeton Senior Living 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 The Princeton Senior Living, 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.

To me, empowerment is nurturing and sharing information with my team to encourage them to grow, learn, and problem solve on their own. When providing support and feedback consistently, department heads can grow in their roles. By empowering our teams, it improves overall customer service because responses aren’t waiting on one person. Staff feels more fulfilled and able to continue growing and taking on more responsibilities, which allows the Executive Directors to focus on the big picture.

I empower by team members by being a good listener, taking time to determine what their goals are, and how soon they would like to achieve them. Trying to gain consensus when tackling an issue and taking all suggestions before deciding is also important.

Lack of quality staff is the biggest issue I hear from our residents and their families. We as leaders directly impact the attitude and commitment of our staff by engaging, supporting, and showing we care and want them to succeed. By being an innovative best place to work, retaining quality staff, and promoting from within, we set ourselves apart from other companies and organizations.

With taking on the preceptor role, it helps me commit to supporting, empowering, and nurturing the individuals I am mentoring. That doesn’t mean I “control” those individuals, but rather support them with training, information, and allowing them to fail if needed, to allow for growth.

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.