Embracing Change: ‘Adaptable’ – Vitalia Stow’s Word of the Year for 2024

At the beginning of each year, Michael Buckley, Arrow’s personal and professional development coach and “The Chief Feelings Officer,” asks each team member to pick a “Word of the Year.”

To help individuals come up with a word, he offers questions like:

What does your life need more of right now?

And my life will be improved if I have more of what?

Michael reminds us that sometimes, we need more focus. Then, other times, it’s more compassion, and at times, we need more fun! In past years, team members have chosen words such as clarity, confidence, intentional, commitment, consideration, and receptiveness.

This year, team members are actively selecting a Word of the Year for themselves and collaborating to create a word for their community. Picking a personal word and community word is a commitment to doing work on themselves and the “we” and “us” work they want to accomplish as a community.

The Vitalia Stow word of the year is “adaptable.”

This word is significant because the senior living industry has many demands, and our staff often needs to rise to the occasion and be adaptable. As one of our core values states, “The answer is always yes,” we need to focus on meeting the community’s ever-changing needs and wants.

By setting an intention for the year, we’re shaping our community for success. When we pick our word for the year, we set our minds to a collective goal. In setting the intention and striving to meet adaptability daily, our team aims to find ourselves in greater success.

We will incorporate the word into daily community operations, with department heads collaborating and working directly with the line staff. Residents will benefit from a present, skilled, and adaptable team.

Our community’s biggest goals for the year are staff retention, satisfaction, occupancy growth, and stability. If the team focuses on adaptability, we can reach our goals more quickly and efficiently.

The chosen Word of the Year should inspire the team. If it doesn’t, it means they selected the wrong word. Hold yourself and others accountable throughout the year. Engage with team members about their Word of the Year and keep it as a frequent topic of discussion in your community. Monitor your achievements using your 2024 Word of the Year, and we eagerly anticipate celebrating them with you!