Even though the terms are often used interchangeably, there is a world of difference between being a good manager and being a good leader. Ideally, you would be able to fill both roles for your team – keeping the ship running efficiently while inspiring your employees to be the very best versions of themselves.
As you already know, burnout in the senior care industry is incredibly high. This is due to the dangerous combination of high stress, long hours, and emotional drain. In industries such as this, leadership is just as important as management – or more! Having leaders that your team can look up to will be the difference between turnover and tenure rates.
For this article, we pulled together a few quotes to help you think about and shape your own leadership style.
“The price of greatness is responsibility.” – Winston Churchill
As a leader in your company, you set an example each and every day. Whether you know it or not, your employees are watching, and how you act will directly inform how they act. Keep in mind that actions speak far louder than words – it is one thing to be able to recite your company’s mission statement, but it will be far more impactful if you actually put those values into practice. Demonstrate to your team how you expect them to treat clients and colleagues.
“Great leaders create more leaders, not followers.” – Roy T. Bennett
Perhaps the greatest difference between managers and leaders is empowerment. You do not want to develop a team that can only operate under strict orders and cannot otherwise think for themselves. This will never work in an environment as dynamic and ever-changing as healthcare. Instead, it would be best to give your employees the confidence and experience they need to make proactive decisions to better the company and the residents in your care.
“Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” – John F. Kennedy
Your job as a leader will never be over. To continue growing, you need to continue learning. Keep in mind that this can mean a lot of different things. Stay curious. Learn about the individuals on your team and what motivates them. Discover how they would like to develop their skillsets and help them find opportunities to do so. Beyond that, leaders are not afraid of making mistakes – and instead think of them as learning opportunities. The experience can still be precious so long as you remember to learn from the situation.
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