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Good morning. Today, I want to talk about a powerful concept that can transform how we lead and operate within skilled nursing facilities: the Circle of Confidence. It’s a mental model rooted in self-awareness and humility, and it can help leaders like us make sharper decisions, delegate effectively, and avoid unnecessary risk.
The Circle of Confidence is simple yet profound: it’s not about knowing everything; it’s about knowing where your limits are. In other words, the goal isn’t to pretend we have all the answers, but to be very clear about what we don’t know. This can feel counterintuitive—especially in leadership roles where there is pressure to “have it all together”—but it is a practice that builds trust, sharpens decision-making, and fosters growth.
Be sure to check out our sponsor, TapestryHealth. They’re one of the few who are truly leveraging technology to save your direct Care team time while simultaneously driving higher quality outcomes. Learn more about TapestryHealth HERE.
Elevate Your Leadership
What is the Circle of Confidence?
The Circle of Confidence is a personal boundary of knowledge. It is an acknowledgment of where your expertise ends and unfamiliarity begins. Like a map, this circle marks the areas where you can confidently make decisions and offer insights based on experience and knowledge. Outside that circle are the areas where you’re less informed, meaning it’s wiser to seek guidance, delegate, or explore new information before making a call.
This becomes critical in senior living. Healthcare is a field where the stakes are high, and decisions often affect the well-being of residents and staff. Recognizing your limits is not a weakness but a strength that keeps your community safe and running smoothly. When acknowledged and leveraged, it also drives high-performing teams.
Why is This Model Important?
1. It Reduces the Risk of Overconfidence
Overconfidence is a silent trap for many leaders. Sometimes, we assume knowledge or make decisions without fully understanding all the variables. In healthcare, where the implications of poor choices can be severe, staying grounded is crucial. Leaders who recognize their Circle of Confidence won’t hesitate to pause, consult experts, or ask probing questions.
2. It Enhances Decision-Making
Within your Circle of Confidence, you are decisive. Outside it, you’re cautious—and that caution is your best friend. When you’re unsure, seeking input from subject matter experts (whether it’s a clinical director, financial advisor, or HR leader) leads to better-informed decisions. Understanding exactly where your knowledge ends improves decision-making precision.
3. It Builds Stronger Teams
Great leaders aren’t the ones who know everything but the ones who recognize when and where to lean on their team. Skilled nursing facilities thrive on collaboration, and a leader who operates within their Circle of Confidence allows space for others to step up. Whether it’s the Director of Nursing weighing in on a clinical issue or the finance team managing the budget, your team’s confidence grows as you rely on their expertise.
4. It Fosters Continuous Learning
By understanding what you don’t know, you open yourself up to continuous growth. Leaders who actively explore areas outside their circle push the boundaries of their knowledge. This is key for navigating the ever-evolving landscape of skilled nursing, where regulatory changes, technological advancements, and new care standards are constant.
How to Use the Circle of Confidence
1. Map Your Circle
Start by identifying your areas of expertise—clinical operations, regulatory compliance, leadership, etc. Next, define areas where you feel less confident. These could include finance, legal issues, or new technology. This map will guide when to take the lead and when to call in support.
2. Consult Others Regularly
Within your facility, you have access to a wealth of knowledge. Each staff member from your nursing team to HR specialists has a Circle of Confidence in their respective field. Tap into this by consulting regularly, not just when problems arise. Regular collaboration ensures well-rounded decisions and better outcomes for everyone involved.
3. Admit What You Don’t Know
It’s okay to say, “I’m not sure, but I’ll find out.” This kind of honesty fosters trust among your team and with external partners. Admitting what you don’t know removes the pressure to be perfect and sets an example for your team to ask questions and seek help when needed.
4. Expand Your Circle Gradually
While it’s important to acknowledge limits, that doesn’t mean you should stay within them. Push yourself to expand your Circle of Confidence gradually. Whether through professional development, peer learning, or industry conferences, there’s always room to grow. This balance—knowing when to lead and when to learn—is critical to long-term success.
Takeaway for Today
As a senior living and skilled nursing leader, your Circle of Confidence is a tool that can help you stay humble, sharp, and effective. Instead of worrying about knowing everything, focus on understanding your limits and surrounding yourself with the right team and resources. By embracing this model, you can lead with confidence and clarity, knowing that the strength of your leadership lies not in pretending to have all the answers but in the wisdom to seek them.
Wishing you a productive day ahead!
Partners We Love
Together with TapestryHealth
Okay, sure, we’re in this business because we care about people, and we all feel the kind of compassion for needy, vulnerable people that defines us as caregivers. But we all must make a living too, and if you run a SNF it comes down to filling every bed, every night. That’s why TapestryHealth is a partner we love. They do exactly that, by helping facilities create an environment where care is paramount, where the most current technologies are used to make every care giver on your staff more efficient and more effective, and where revenues are driven up and hospitalizations are driven down. All of that combines to give hospitals the level of comfort and trust they need to refer their patients confidently. Even high acuity patients that demand more sophisticated care are routinely placed in facilities that boast a partnership with TapestryHealth. Higher acuity patients and reduced hospitalizations are immediate boosts to any facility’s bottom line. Improved outcomes, enhanced reputations, and all at zero cost to the SNF. That makes TapestryHealth a partner anyone can love.
You can fall in love with just one call.
You can check them out HERE or you can Call, Text, or WhatsApp 845.694.7288
Whenever you're ready, there are a couple of ways I can help you.
- Leverage our partnership with CEUSrEZ and purchase NAB-approved, online, self-paced, continuing education courses at a 20% discount here.
- 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.
- Coming soon in 2024. Stay tuned!
