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Good morning. Not many things can stress an NHA out, like the relationship and perceived intent of "corporate." I've spent years on both sides of the equation, and today, I'll share my perspective on how you cultivate an effective and enjoyable relationship with your corporate team.
Elevate your Effectiveness
Nurturing a Fruitful Relationship Between Corporate and Community Partners in Skilled Nursing and Senior Living: A Guide for Senior Living Leaders and Nursing Home Administrators
Introduction: As senior living leaders and nursing home administrators, you recognize the significance of cultivating strong relationships for the success of your community. This holds particularly true for your interactions with corporate partners. These partnerships provide invaluable resources, expertise, and support. However, navigating potential tensions arising from divergent goals and objectives is essential. In this article, we will delve into actionable tactics to foster a productive and positive relationship between corporate and community partners in senior living.
Understanding Each Other's Goals: Forge a solid foundation by comprehensively understanding each other's goals. Familiarize yourself with the corporate partners' objectives and align them with your community's aspirations. This shared vision allows you to identify synergistic opportunities and collaborate effectively to achieve mutual success.
Ask Questions such as...
- What about our community keeps you up at night?
- In your ideal scenario, what does success for this community look like from your vantage point?
- What metrics and benchmarks will show you that success has been achieved?
- Who else achieved this level of success that I can learn from?
Be ready to articulate
- What dependencies should be monitored that impact success? I.e., marketing delivering XX leads/month.
- Community goals and priorities, especially if they differ from or contradict corporate goals
Transparency and Honesty: Embrace openness and honesty as keystones of your partnership. Maintain open lines of communication with your corporate partners, openly discussing challenges and concerns. This transparent approach builds trust and fosters a resilient rapport, laying the groundwork for a successful relationship.
When risk in meeting goals presents itself, bring it forward with a plan to overcome or reduce it. If you need more or less of something from your corporate team, set up the appropriate time to communicate that message.
Proactive Communication: Avoid reactive engagement by proactively communicating with your corporate partners. Regularly update them on your community's progress, initiatives, and potential hurdles. By providing timely information, you ensure that your partners remain well-informed and can offer the support you need to thrive. Ensure 1:1s are kept, and if they're canceled, be relentless about rescheduling.
Prepare for Visits: I don't expect community leaders to roll out the red carpet, but I am always impressed when they proactively put together an agenda and reach out to align on goals for my visit. Sometimes the only goal is to connect, but the upfront effort always makes a positive impression on me and shows the leader is organized and forward-thinking.
Celebrating Successes Together: Celebrate your community's achievements in unison with your corporate partners. Recognize and acknowledge their contributions, fostering a shared sense of accomplishment. Such celebrations uplift morale, motivation, and team spirit, fortifying the foundation of your relationship.
Things to Avoid: To foster a successful partnership, avoid common pitfalls. Firstly, resist defensiveness when receiving suggestions or feedback from your corporate partners. Embrace a receptive mindset, genuinely considering their insights and ideas. Secondly, don't hesitate to seek help from your partners when facing challenges. Leverage their expertise and resources to overcome obstacles effectively. Lastly, avoid making promises you cannot fulfill, as it erodes trust and hampers future collaboration.
Effective Phrases and Talking Points: In your interactions with corporate partners, employ these phrases to enhance communication:
- "I sincerely appreciate your support."
- "I'm thrilled about our collaboration and the potential it holds."
- "I'm confident that our shared goals are within reach."
- "I'm genuinely open to your valuable suggestions and insights."
- "I'm committed to continuous learning and improvement."
- "Together, we can achieve resounding success."
Conclusion: Senior living leaders and nursing home administrators can nurture a productive and positive relationship with their corporate partners by employing these practical strategies. Deepen your understanding of each other's goals, foster transparency, maintain proactive communication, embrace flexibility, and celebrate achievements together. Steer clear of defensiveness, seek help when needed, and uphold your commitments. By doing so, you can ensure that your community thrives with the necessary resources, expertise, and support in the senior living industry.
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