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.