Growing with GRIT: Shaping Future Leaders in Senior Living

Feb 20, Alissa Sauer

At Leisure Care, we believe in growing our teams from within, fostering leaders who share our passion for hospitality-based senior living, and prioritizing creating meaningful connections with residents, families, and staff. Our Growing, Reaching, Inspiring, and Teaching (GRIT) program is designed to do just that—empower individuals to become the next generation of senior living leaders.

Ashley Taylor, a recent GRIT graduate and the Activities Assistant at The Landing of O’Fallon, embodies the essence of the program. Her leadership journey was sparked by a simple yet profound conversation with her General Manager.

“My peers and management always tell me I’m good at talking and making meaningful connections,” Ashley shared. “I always said I didn’t want to be in management because I feared losing that special connection. Then my GM said, ‘What if you could teach people how to make these meaningful connections?’ That opened up a new way of thinking, and GRIT was the next step.”

Learning to Lead with Confidence

Ashley discovered the value of trusting herself and her natural leadership abilities throughout the program. “I learned how to trust myself more,” she said. “I have a lot of leadership qualities, and the GRIT program helped me get more comfortable with standing in them.”

The program challenges participants in various learning activities, including readings, video clips, and written reflections. For Ashley, the written components were initially daunting. “I would get stuck, worrying if I was doing it right or if my opinion was silly,” she admitted. “Then I realized the best thing to do was just be myself. I stopped overthinking, shared my authentic opinions, and the response from my peers and management was wonderfully welcoming and encouraging.”

Preparing for a Future in Senior Living

The GRIT program equipped Ashley with essential skills and insights for her future in senior living. “It helped me identify areas where I’m strong and areas where I can use some sharpening,” she said. Looking ahead, Ashley aspires to be a traveling team member, visiting different communities to help others build meaningful connections.

“I love the love this company has for what it does,” Ashley shared. “From the top down, I’m surrounded by people who truly care, and I never want to leave.”

Ashley encourages those considering the program to embrace their authentic selves. “Be yourself, be positive, and the sky is the limit!”

Working in senior living is a great way to know you make a difference while doing the work you love. Leisure Care communities are now hiring in locations throughout the country. If you’re a current Leisure Care employee and want to learn more about our professional development programs, please visit the Signature Programs tab on the HUB and learn more about how you can take the next step in your career!