methodologies and workforce challenges are just a
few major moving parts. Managing any change, even a
minor one, throughout an organization can be difficult.
Imagine now, in the midst of all of these challenges,
that you’ve been notified of something major – like
a change in ownership! That is the change that we
are dealing with in my organization. The timing of
this announcement and the subsequent challenges
for me and my team coincided with my IGNITE
Leadership Academy experience, which provided me
with an unexpected support during one of the most
challenging times of my career.
One of the first tasks that a leader must accomplish
in order to lead a team through change is to decide
– decide your own path, your own journey and
contemplate a direction for the team. Just like a
captain on a ship using a compass, navigating any
change can be accomplished if the leader has and
uses the right tools. Relationships are important
as well and they must be built before you are in a
crisis. Relationships forged through camaraderie in
advance of our struggle have helped to create an
armor of protection for the leadership team against
the stressors and struggles we encounter through the
journey of change.
Through the IGNITE Leadership Academy, I developed
and refined several skills, including communication,
team building and using my defining moments to help
form my future. Exercising and sharing those skills
are proving to be building blocks to our organization’s
strength and perseverance. Fear of the unknown has
been our worst enemy and we have navigated that
fear as a team through openness, active listening,
connectivity and building on previous experiences
and successes – all skills I have learned at IGNITE and
shared with my team.
The LeadingAge New York
IGNITE Leadership Academy
is a professional development
program designed to facilitate
the development and growth
of senior living leaders in the
state. The academy focuses
on internal and external
relationship building, the
sharing of best practices and
a passion for continuous
learning. It is exclusively for
members of LeadingAge New
York and our affiliates.
For more information on IGNITE Leadership Academy,
please contact
Diane Darbyshire, facilitator and senior policy analyst,
LeadingAge New York, at
518-867-8383 or [email protected]
Leadership Academy facilitators, coaches and class of 2018
leadingageny.org 26