Create your own rules | NHA Stand-Up

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Good morning. I like to take a different approach to New Year's resolutions. Inversely to goals, I commit to "rules" to follow. Each year, I create a half dozen or so of these rules to apply to my personal and professional life to help me elevate my game.

I write this article as the Omnicron variant is tearing through the country and creating what feels like the worst wave we have experienced. Teams are tired, vacancies have increased, and the positivity rate continues to climb. As I take a deep breath and a step back, I realize that it's a critical time for me to commit to new rules that will help me be happy and healthy, so I am bringing my best self for my team and residents.

Hang in there. We're all in this together.

Elevate your leadership

The exercise of creating rules is pretty simple. Ask yourself, what is important to you? Where are you struggling? Where do you want to get better? What is draining the most energy from you? What is providing you with the most energy? Once you align on your rules, I like to save them in a recurring weekly meeting on my calendar so they automatically stay front and center. I also complete this exercise with my leaders as a teambuilding opportunity and so we can help to hold each other accountable to follow our own personal rules. Here are my rules for 2022.

Rule 1- Leave my phone on top of the fridge after work through about 8 pm when my kids go to bed. That way, it's within earshot if there is an emergency, but otherwise, I'm focused on family time.

Rule 2- No meetings before 9:30 am. I am in a better headspace and more productive if I get a workout done in the morning and eat breakfast with the family, albeit a quick breakfast. This rule sets me up for good habits and a healthy year.

Rule 3- One hour of scheduled rounding on the calendar every workday. The single most crucial task for any senior living leader is rounding. If I don't plan it and block it off the calendar, it consistently gets pushed to the side.

Rule 4- No meetings on Fridays. No explanation is needed here, and this one sets the expectation for my team to do the same.

Rule 5- Give five specific compliments every day. This is a continuation of a practice I have had for the last three years. I carry around five pennies in my left pocket, and each time I compliment someone, I take a penny from my left pocket and put it in my right pocket. I try to give compliments that are specific and authentic in real-time.

Rule 6- Utilize my commute for professional development. I spend 8-10 hours/week in the car. I have utilized this time to listen to leadership and business podcasts, masterclass episodes, and audiobooks for over a year now. To date, I have soaked up over 400 hours of content. This helps me arrive at work in the right headspace and with fresh strategies to tackle challenges.

Good luck creating and implementing your own rules.

Partners We Love

Together With HealthDrive

HealthDrive has over 30 years of experience as the leading provider of on-site healthcare services in long-term care. With nearly 500 medical and dental professionals and one million patient encounters per year, HealthDrive is fulfilling its mission "to elevate health outcomes and improve the quality of life." HealthDrive offers a variety of Dental, Podiatry, Optometry, Audiology, and Mental Health services within their markets. Innovative technology, administrative and regulatory support, as well as reliability, are just a few of the things that drive HealthDrive's commitment and continued success.

Not only is HealthDrive a partner of NHA Stand-Up, but they're also a partner I have utilized in the communities I support for years. Their model, ability to execute consistently, and reliability are spectacular. If you're interested in learning more, visit their website here and reach out to Rachel Wells at rwells@healthdrive.com

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It's been one helluva few years for NHA's, including your bitter rival down the road you despise for stealing your referrals. On your way home from work this week, buy a bottle of wine, a six-pack of Bud, or a Hershey's bar and drop it off with a thank you card at your rival's front desk. Why? Like you, they deserve appreciation for running towards the chaos while others run away, and the rest of the world points fingers at our industry. It is more important than ever before that we stick together and support each other, no matter what logo our paycheck has on it. It will make their week and leave you with a smile.

Grab your coffee and make it a great day. We appreciate you and your dedication to your team and residents. -Thank you!