OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE
Perfect Leaders Are Imperfect in Seeking Innovative Ways to be Eff ective
By Joanne Kaldy
honest, inquisitive, authentic, and good lis- teners. They are visionaries and innovators, and they are open to new ideas. This is an apt description of Dennis Gradillas, senior vice president of revenue at HumanGood in Duarte, Calif.
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Learning from the Best “The leaders I’ve learned the most from are those who take the time to listen and truly understand what others are saying. They have real, two-way conversations, and they engage in a way that is transparent,” said Gradillas. He noted that while the word may be
overused, there is great value in authenticity. “This cuts through the noise and helps avoid misunderstandings and gaps in com-
uccessful leaders in senior living don’t have to be perfect to be ef- fective. Instead, they need to be
munication that cause problems down the road.”
Gradillas learned much from leaders
who helped shape his career. Referring to one such role model, he said, “It started at the beginning with a strong foundation. He trusted me to work in the best interest of the organization.” While Gradillas had much autonomy, he also had a mentor who was there to support him and give him a boost when he needed it. “He would say this is where we need to go and why. I trust you to go down the road and get over that hill. I am eter- nally grateful for the lessons I learned,” said Gradillas.
Give them the Why The “why” is something leaders really need to communicate to their teams, he stressed. Maintaining a strict hierarchy where leaders
32 SENIOR LIVING EXECUTIVE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023
dictate to their teams without explanation isn’t the way, partic- ularly in an industry where teamwork and employee engage- ment are essential to quality outcomes. Instead of dictat- ing to team mem- bers, Gradillas sug- gested planting the seeds on the direction you want to move. “Present the why so the team understands the purpose of what you’re doing. The more successful you are in communicating this, the more you are able to guide your team – instead of pushing or pulling them. Give them the why, help them see where you’re going, and get out of the way and let them do their jobs,” he said. Good leaders are willing to open up and
Dennis Gradillas Senior Vice President of Revenue HumanGood
have two-way conversations, he suggested decision-making shouldn’t be one-sided and exclusive to one person in the organization, building, or department. “This is how we learn from each other
and get to the right place to solve a prob- lem or just grow professionally. It also builds the mutual trust that is necessary for strong teams that are resilient and agile. We learned during the pandemic just how important that is,” he said.
It's Okay to Ask While employees may expect leaders to know everything, the truth is that no one does. “You have to be willing to ask ques- tions and not be afraid to sound silly. You have to put yourself out there and be inquis- itive and willing to learn,” said Gradillas. He stressed that he hires experts he trusts
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