Is Your Community At Risk of an Energy Crisis?

October 7, 2018 by Emily McAleer Leave a Comment

I worked at a senior living community that was gorgeous. From the architecture to interior design to landscaping, the property was lovely. Although each visitor and guest commented on the luxurious setting, there was one observation, one comment that always made me feel the most proud. When the remarks first began I thought “oh how nice”. But then I noticed these comments were becoming status quo (if not the first thing people said, certainly the last).

What was it!? ENERGY.

OK… I promise not to get too meta here. But, yes… people were always commenting on the energy, the feeling they felt while in the community. What a “special” place it was, how good it felt to be there. It’s true, there was a certain energy happening there.

Have you ever noticed when you walk onto a college campus (and it can be any campus, anywhere) there is a distinct energy automatically felt? The sense that anything can happen, anything is possible. It’s not just college campuses, certain companies and homes have it too.

So what is this energy? Where does it come from? How do we get it? I’ve spent time trying to connect the dots and I think it all comes down to stimulation. When minds are highly stimulated and engaged, the “sense of possibility” inevitably comes too. Thus, the energy vibrations are raised. Stimulation and engagement delivers deep satisfaction, euphoria even.

I was so proud to hear visitor’s comments on the energy they felt in our community because I knew I had a major part in creating that energy… that stimulation and sense of possibility.

It is thru the programming and daily activities of a community that we create a stimulating and engaging environment, which in turn creates THAT energy. But to do this, the programming and daily operational activities simply can’t be expected, routine, vanilla, same old-same old, day after day after day.

Just as on a college campus, senior living programs should push some boundaries and comfort zones. Programs should challenge residents (and team members) in what they thought they were capable of, and expand and open minds, allowing for true growth and engagement.

I encourage you to stop and take a minute to check the energy levels in your community.

To learn more about energy in the workplace I invite you to visit https://www.zingtrain.com/content/creating-good-energy and to learn more about creating a contagious culture please visit http://www.anesecavanaugh.com/ You’ll be glad you did. Promise.

Taking Chances: When a Program Bombs

August 14, 2018 by Emily McAleer Leave a Comment

We’ve all been there.

That time you painstakingly planned the perfect event only to watch it take a turn for the worse, spiral completely out of your control and bomb – leaving your residents disgusted, baffled, or the absolute worst – just plain gone – GASP – a room of empty chairs.

Oh, the war stories I could tell.

From foul-mouthed comedians to seemingly normal presenters turned crazy conspiracy theorists, to over-imbibed entertainers – I can honestly say not much surprises me anymore. (Keep in mind, I live in Austin – and we do our best to keep it weird).

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Explaining the WHY to the WHAT

May 5, 2017 by Emily McAleer Leave a Comment

Have you ever planned a great program, only to be disappointed by low attendance? This inevitably happens at times, even in the most active community. But if this is a persistent challenge, consider how your programming is promoted. Enrichment professionals wear many hats indeed – sales professional included – as much of the job is spent not just planning programs but promoting them. For there can’t be a program, if no one attends. When promoting, we must be sure to not only explain WHAT the program is — but WHY it is (or could be) of VALUE to the resident.

For example, let’s offer an Afternoon Improv Class. There are two ways to promote it:

Afternoon Improvisational Class

We’ll learn to think on our feet and have fun while doing it! Join us in the Great Room, Tuesdays at 2pm

– OR –

Afternoon Improvisational Class, Great Room, Tuesdays 2:00pm

A fundamental principle in improv is the “yes and” technique – where participants build on — or heighten — a suggestion. NO isn’t allowed in improv as “no” stops the action… while “yes, and” allows participants to not only further the action but make it better. It’s no wonder why improvisational workshops are a staple in the corporate world. Numerous Fortune 500 companies offer and require employee participation in Improv classes because it develops cooperation, communication skills, and promotes innovation. Join us in an afternoon improv class. We’ll learn to think on our feet, develop flexibility, and have fun while doing it!

If I were a resident, I might read the first example and keep on reading, with no intention of attending. If I read the second example – that corporations require employees to participate, I might pause and consider, because now I can see and understand the value in attending. And in understanding the value, I’d be more enthusiastic about my community’s programming in general, simply because I understand the purpose of the offerings.

As humans, we constantly evaluate… we ask ourselves, “Why should I do this, what purpose does this serve me?“

At Ripe, we offer the WHY with all of our program ideas. We provide the benefits and the reasons why a resident should participate and in some cases, the risks in why not. The best part — there’s no need to spend your precious time researching all the WHYS — simply copy and paste ours into your own promotional materials.

Heck, start an Improv class, (if you haven’t already) and just copy and paste the example above! We promise we won’t tell. It’s as easy as that.

We’ve all been there.

As humans, we constantly evaluate… we ask ourselves, “Why should I do this, what purpose does this serve me?“

Let’s Get Started