The Fremont 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 Fremont 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.

Empowerment, to me, means to involve all employees in decision making. It also means to give them the power to make decisions and know they are contributing to the overall success of the company. When they feel empowered, my workload does not feel so heavy. When everyone is taking ownership of the community it lessens the load for everyone, including myself. One way I empower my team is when they are faced with an issue, I simply ask them, “How would you like to handle it?” This gives them the opportunity to be part of the solution instead of just relying on me to give them an answer.

I believe the biggest threat to the senior living industry is staffing. By empowering the team you have, you work to reduce your turnover rate. This also promotes employee referrals. In my experience this is a great way to gain dedicated employees.

Building trust based on empowerment will yield much better results. I challenge my team by asking them, “Why and how it could be done differently that could make the situation better.”

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.