Drive meaningful connections and purpose
No images? Click here
Together With
Good morning. Driving employee and leader engagement is complicated, and no one-size-fits-all approach exists. There is, however, a formula that is proven to work.
Meaningful connections ➕ Purpose ➡️ Engagement
But first, if you're stressing about staffing heading into the holiday weekend, check out our sponsor, KARE. They can help you quickly secure qualified, caring staff to fill your holes and build upon your hiring pipeline for both short-term and long-term success.
Elevate your Leadership
Here are five stats that support the formula above.
Stat: According to Deloitte's 2016 Millennial Survey, 76% of millennials believe businesses positively impact society, and 89% expect their employers to align with their values.
- Source: Deloitte, "The Deloitte Millennial Survey 2016," accessed from https://www2.deloitte.com/global/en/pages/about-deloitte/articles/millennialsurvey.html
Stat: A study by LinkedIn found that 94% of employees would stay at a company longer if it invested in their career development.
- Source: LinkedIn Learning, "Workplace Learning Report 2019," accessed from https://learning.linkedin.com/resources/workplace-learning-report-2019
Stat: In a survey by PwC, 61% of CEOs believed that their company's purpose should go beyond profit and focus on creating value for stakeholders, including employees.
- Source: PwC, "CEO Survey 2016," accessed from https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/ceo-survey/2016/key-findings.html
Stat: A report by Harvard Business Review highlighted that meaningful work is a crucial driver of employee engagement, with 9 out of 10 employees willing to trade a percentage of their lifetime earnings for greater meaning at work.
- Source: Harvard Business Review, "The Business Case for Purpose," accessed from https://hbr.org/2014/11/the-business-case-for-purpose
Stat: According to Gallup's State of the American Workplace report, 70% of employees feel disengaged at work, underscoring the importance of companies supporting their employees' personal and professional aspirations to boost engagement.
- Source: Gallup, "State of the American Workplace," accessed from https://www.gallup.com/workplace/238085/state-american-workplace-report-2017.aspx
Unlocking Meaning in Senior Living Leadership: A Guide for Inspiring Purpose and Connections
In the dynamic landscape of senior living, where compassion and dedication are paramount, leaders play a crucial role in empowering their teams to find meaning and fulfillment in their work. While corporate values and mission statements are valuable, they often fade into the background amidst the daily bustle. To truly engage and satisfy employees, fostering an inner sense of purpose is essential—understanding how their contributions make a difference.
Research, such as Deloitte's 2016 study, reveals that individuals feel a sense of loyalty towards companies that support their personal and professional aspirations—this sentiment is true across generations, from millennials to seasoned executives. Everyone seeks a personal sense of meaning in their work regardless of industry, career level, or role.
As senior living leaders, we can facilitate this journey towards purpose through meaningful conversations. One powerful technique is action identification theory, which recognizes that every action has multiple levels of description. Leaders can help employees find meaning even in seemingly mundane tasks by guiding them up the ladder of purpose. For instance, typing words into a keyboard transforms into creating better leaders through this shift in perspective.
Regular check-ins incorporating five areas of inquiry serve as another effective method for employees to explore and articulate their inner purpose. Leaders can pose the following questions:
1. What are your areas of expertise? Which work activities come naturally to you? What tasks do you willingly take on because you believe you excel at them? Reflecting on their strengths allows individuals to identify possibilities and harness their unique abilities.
2. What brings you joy? Amidst a typical workweek, what activities do you eagerly anticipate? What energizes you when you see it on your calendar? If you could design your job without limitations, how would you choose to spend your time? These inquiries help individuals rediscover their passion for work.
3. What feels most valuable? Which work outcomes fill you with pride? Which tasks contribute most significantly to your team or organization? How does your work align with your life's highest priorities? This line of questioning highlights the inherent worth of specific responsibilities.
4. What creates a sense of progress? What knowledge and skills are you acquiring that will shape your future? How does your current work bring you closer to your envisioned goals? Leaders inspire a sense of forward momentum by illuminating the connection between present efforts and future aspirations.
5. How do you cultivate relationships? Which partnerships at work bring out the best in you? Envision your ideal workplace surrounded by your favorite colleagues. How does your work enrich your family and social connections? Encouraging individuals to consider and nurture meaningful relationships enhances the significance of their work.
Guiding toward purpose is undoubtedly challenging, but employing these strategies can make a significant difference. As senior living leaders, we hold the key to unlocking the potential of our teams, enabling them to discover the profound meaning and impact within their daily contributions. By fostering conversations that delve into personal purpose and illuminating the interconnectedness of their roles, we can cultivate a culture where each individual finds fulfillment and thrives in their senior living journey.
Partners We Love
KARE recently conducted a study involving 1,300 senior living caregivers and communities. The findings include recommendations for where leadership will see the most value and engagement from their workforce as they build benefits programs. Download the document here.
