The Most Important Leaders We Have
From L to R: Bob Speelman, Cindy Richter, Ryan WillardFeburary 7, 2019NOTE: This story was taken from the blog of Nursing Home Leader Bob Speelman, VP of Business Development & Culture at Foundations Health Solutions. Each week Bob works at one of his 55 facilities in order to better learn his company's commitment to having A Culture of Care.Today my journey as an STNA took me back home. I went to Baltic, Ohio in Holmes County to our Oak Pointe facility. Oak Pointe Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is our 89-bed nursing home in Baltic that was one of my first facilities as an administrator for Foundations Health Solutions. I was amazed to see all the familiar faces 16 years later who were still serving at Oak Pointe and giving great care to the residents. One of those familiar faces was Cindy Richter, an STNA from back when I was the administrator at Oak Pointe, who started at Oak Pointe in 1990 working in the kitchen. After a short time in dietary services, the leaders at Oak Pointe pushed her to become a state tested nursing assistant, which Cindy did and never looked back.
Cindy is now 61 years old and is one of the very best STNA’s I’ve had the privilege of knowing. Her heart and compassion for her residents will melt you within minutes. Her tireless work ethic is amazing. Her natural loving leadership can be summed up in what everyone calls her at Oak Pointe - “Momma.”
“Momma, can you help me with so and so…”
“Momma, I laid so and so down for a bit.”
Cindy was the loving matriarch and leader of Oak Pointe. It was awesome to see and learn from her so I could take her gifts to the other facilities and caregivers.
As I worked with Cindy, I saw her in a completely different light than I did 16 years ago. I saw her as one of the most important leaders we have in our company. You see, the single most important leadership skill is the ability to determine what is most important. Managers focus on doing things right; they are into efficiency. Great leaders focus on doing the right things; they concern themselves with effectiveness.
Because of all the demands on them, mothers learn to prioritize. They quickly separate what’s most important from what’s not important. Then they put all of their energy into what they have determined is essential. “Momma” had earned that title because of her love and compassion and effectiveness as a leader. Everyone that worked with her saw it and respected it. Including me.
"Before you are a mother, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a mother, success is all about growing others."
- Jack Welch
We love and appreciate you Momma! You and all the other Momma’s out there are the key to our Culture of Care and our success.
Bob's Blog
Bob Speelman, STNA