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Good morning.  Effective feedback is a cornerstone of successful leadership in senior living and skilled nursing communities, fostering both individual growth and team excellence. Research has consistently highlighted the optimal ratio of positive to constructive feedback as around 5.6 to 1, meaning that for every constructive comment, a leader should aim to provide nearly six positive remarks.

Where does your ratio fall and how do you need to pivot?

Elevate your Leadership

How to Genuinely Deliver Positive Feedback

Giving sincere and impactful positive feedback involves more than just the occasional compliment; it is about reinforcing and building on an employee’s strengths. Here’s how senior living leaders can effectively incorporate this into their leadership approach:

1. Be Specific and Observational: Effective feedback should go beyond general compliments to include specific details about what the employee did well. For example, instead of just saying “Great job,” specify what exactly was great, such as “Your detailed approach to organizing resident medications has decreased errors and increased safety”.

2. Public Recognition: Acknowledging achievements in front of peers can significantly boost an employee’s morale and set a positive example for the team. This could be during team meetings or through community newsletters where specific accomplishments are highlighted.

3. Timeliness is Key: Offering feedback soon after the observed behavior ensures that the recognition is relevant and reinforces the behavior you want to encourage. This timeliness makes the feedback more meaningful and memorable.

4. Encourage Continuous Improvement: Positive feedback should motivate employees to continue their good work and even improve further. By linking their achievements to the broader goals of the senior living community, you help them see the impact of their efforts on the residents’ quality of life.

5. Personal Connection: Take the time for face-to-face interactions. A personal discussion can be more impactful than an email or a note. This shows genuine appreciation and interest in their professional development.

Implementing Effective Feedback Practices

For senior living leaders, integrating an effective feedback system involves regular reflection on the balance and quality of the feedback provided. It’s beneficial to:

• Schedule regular check-ins with team members to provide a consistent opportunity for both giving feedback and receiving it.

• Train all levels of management on effective feedback techniques to ensure a cohesive approach throughout the community.

• Use employee recognition programs to further highlight and reward positive contributions in a structured way.

By focusing on a positive feedback ratio and genuine interactions, leaders can cultivate a supportive and thriving work environment. This approach not only enhances employee satisfaction and retention but also directly contributes to the overall quality of care provided to residents.

For more detailed techniques and examples of giving effective positive feedback, you can explore resources and methodologies suggested in leadership literature such as “Radical Candor” by Kim Scott, which offers insights into improving communication and feedback within teams.

Incorporating these strategies into daily leadership practices will not only boost morale but also foster a culture of continuous improvement and respect within your community.

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About Prime Care Technologies

Prime Care Technologies provides integrated data and technologies to make real-time, performance-impacting decisions—an Atlanta-based company and industry-leading data warehouse. Empowering senior care operators to achieve care goals.

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Whenever you're ready, there are a couple of ways I can help you.

1. Leverage our partnership with CEUSrEZ and purchase NAB-approved, online, self-paced, continuing education courses at a 20% discount here.
2. Use our free AI-powered Chatbot trained on all 900 pages of CMS Nursing Home Regulations plus proprietary processes and information from decades of skilled nursing leadership experience.  Click here.
3. Coming soon in May 2024.  Stay tuned!
    

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