What does it take to lead in senior living? It starts with understanding that leadership is about more than skills and characteristics.
True leadership in senior living communities is grounded in values. When difficult decisions must be made, senior living leaders rely on deeply held leadership values to guide them. These values not only shape leaders but also impact residents, families, and communities.
We sat down with Solinity Founder and CEO, Josh Crisp, to highlight five essential leadership values and showcase how they can start to change the way you lead. The five leadership values are:
- Commitment
- Respect
- Integrity
- Servant Heart
- Passion
Follow to get an inside look at how Josh has used these values to lead Solinity and coach other senior living professionals.
What Are Leadership Values in Senior Living?
What are values, and how are they different from characteristics or skills? Values are deeply held beliefs that guide decision-making and behavior. Unlike skills or characteristics, leadership values determine how senior living leaders act under pressure and lead their teams.
These values come from the deepest part of a person, so what matters to a leader will come out in their leadership values
Five Leadership Values for Success
Commitment in Senior Living Leadership
Commitment is dedication to a cause, goal, or relationship. It involves responsibility, reliability, and perseverance. For me, it’s a standard of life. Senior living is a difficult business, and leaders will be challenged.
When times are tough, are we going to be committed to the mission and to each other? True commitment means doing whatever it takes to fulfill the promise of care and service.
Respect in Senior Living Communities
Respect guides our interactions with residents, families, clients, and team members. It means valuing others and treating them with dignity, regardless of differences or disagreements.
In senior living leadership, respect becomes crucial in conflict resolution and in fostering a culture where all individuals feel heard and valued. Respect sets the tone for trust and belonging in senior living communities.
Integrity in Senior Living Leaders
Integrity means operating with honesty and strong moral principles. Senior living leaders must act with integrity in every decision and interaction. When people trust us to do what is right, regardless of pressure, we earn the immediate opportunity to serve.
Integrity is about doing what’s right, not just what we have a right to do. This standard is non-negotiable in senior living leadership.
Gain more insights from our Solinity resources
Servant Heart in Senior Living Leadership
A servant heart reflects a genuine desire to care for people. In senior living, this value is critical to success. Every day, leaders have the opportunity to serve residents, families, clients, and team members.
Servant leadership goes beyond tasks; it enables us to build meaningful relationships, nurture communities, and ensure others thrive. A servant heart is the foundation of trust and compassion in senior living communities.
Passion in Senior Living Leaders
Passion represents deep conviction and motivation toward serving others. It is not short-term enthusiasm but a long-lasting drive that sustains leaders through challenges.
A passionate senior living leader can inspire action, foster resilience, and lead with love for both people and mission. Passion ensures leaders perform not just for achievement, but because their commitment to care comes from deep within.
Why Leadership Values Matter in Senior Living Communities
Leadership values in senior living directly shape community outcomes. Residents, families, and staff all benefit when leaders embody these values. Commitment builds resilience, respect fosters dignity, integrity creates trust, a servant heart strengthens relationships, and passion fuels perseverance.
When senior living leadership aligns values with mission, communities grow stronger, healthier, and more compassionate. Contact Solinity to learn more about these leadership values and how we can train your teams.