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Good afternoon, leaders.  Sometimes, the simplest changes can have the biggest impact on caregiver engagement. Let me tell you a story to illustrate this.

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Elevate Your Operation

The Day I Found Linens in the Ceiling

One afternoon, I was walking through the community when I stopped by a resident’s room to chat with the caregiver on duty. As we talked, I noticed something odd—one of the ceiling tiles was slightly ajar. When I asked about it, the caregiver hesitated momentarily and then admitted something shocking: she had hidden extra linens up there.

Her explanation? "We always run out of sheets, and I just want to ensure I have what I need when I need it."

This wasn’t a case of bad behavior. It was a sign of a broken system. She wasn’t hoarding linens for personal gain; she was trying to ensure she could adequately care for her residents. This caregiver went to great lengths—literally climbing on chairs to stash sheets—just to overcome a hurdle in her daily workflow.

The Lesson in the Ceiling

That moment was an eye-opener for me. It made me ask questions I hadn’t thought to ask before:

• Why were we running out of linens in the first place?
• How could we make it easier for caregivers to get the necessary tools without resorting to creative (and unsafe) solutions?

It also made me realize how often operational inefficiencies go unnoticed until they reach a boiling point—and how those inefficiencies can drive disengagement.

The Research on Fixing Hurdles

A study published in Harvard Business Review highlights that employees are more engaged when unnecessary obstacles are removed from their daily work. The research explains: “When employees encounter hurdles that make their work harder than it needs to be, it signals to them that their time and effort aren’t valued.”

Improving workflows doesn’t just help with efficiency; it directly improves morale by showing employees their needs matter.

Action Steps to Take Today

If you want to make an immediate difference for your team:

1. Audit your systems. Are linens and supplies consistently where they need to be?
2. Ask your caregivers. What processes frustrate them the most?
3. Take swift action. Even small changes, like adding extra storage areas or improving inventory management, can have an enormous impact.

The Bottom Line

The story of the linens in the ceiling taught me that operational fixes aren’t just about saving time—they’re about supporting your team in the work they do. If you’re looking to improve engagement, start by removing the unnecessary hurdles that make their jobs harder than they need to be.

Let’s continue to lead by tackling the small things that make a big difference.

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Thanks for reading.  Have a wonderful day.

Kevin Goedeke, Publisher and Founder