IGNITE Leadership Academy LeadingAge New York 2014-15 2014-15 | Page 10

Mary Costigan Let’s TACKLE the Problem 4 (Continued from page 7) How do you hope your project might unfold in the months and years ahead and what impact do you hope it will have on the field at large? On a micro level, it is my hope that this project will continue to shorten the drill times, which sustains quality assurance standards and ensures resident safety. Further, after describing this tool to our CEO, he asked a peer to meet with me regarding their needs and another level of care. Hopefully the idea is a tool others can use. More importantly, I feel this project, though simple in nature, represents that change doesn’t have to be so hard. Although this kit will be what it will be, it proves we didn’t need to recreate a policy; we just changed a way we implemented it to make it more effective for our residents and staff. It signified an “easy win;” a change process concept from our reading. It is this easy win that may make staff more inclined to be open to future changes. On a macro level, I hope to share this concept with peers. 5 How has the action learning process in the context of the Leadership Academy experience contributed to your growth as a leader? This project, in the context of the Leadership Academy experience, has demonstrated that incremental change is obtainable. As stated previously, this project proved to be an “easy win” with improved results during our drills. As such, positive outcomes may lead staff to be more amendable to future change. Also, my “emotional intelligence” has been questioned in a constructive way, which has contributed to my growth as a leader. I have become more self-aware of how my emotions affect me. Learning through my project that we didn’t have to reinvent the policy, we just needed to find a more practical and better way to improve the way we were implementing it. As one of the non-health care leaders said, “Innovation can be taking something that already exists and improving it.” The Leadership Academy, along with my coach Diane Darbyshire, were instrumental in processing, within myself, my leadership style and my growth as a leader. Ignite Your Leadership Flame! LeadingAge New York launched the New York-based Leadership Academy in June of 2013. This transformational leadership platform is designed to foster growth and relationships among our current and next generations of leaders within New York’s non-profit providers of care, housing and service to seniors. The program is modeled on national and other state leadership programs — most designed by consultant Michele Holleran — but focuses on topics of interest to New York members. Applications for the 2015-16 Class are available now. For more information, go to leadingageny.org under Members. There you will find an Ignite Your Flame graphic. Click on it and you will find links for the brochure and application or feel free to contact Diane Darbyshire at [email protected]. LeadingAge New York 10