Denise Boudreau-Scott, President - Drive
About Denise:
Denise Boudreau-Scott, MHA, LNHA, is President of Drive, which helps aging service organizations measure and improve their culture, resulting in a better resident and staff experience, and bottom-line. A former nursing home and assisted living administrator, Denise co-founded the New Jersey Alliance for Culture Change, is chair of NABs Member Relations Committee and a former member of their RCAL and LNHA Exam Writing Committees, a member of the NJ LNHA Licensing Board, a board member for the not-for-profit provider Parker, and a former board member of the Pioneer Network. Denise received her Bachelor of Science in Gerontology from the University of Scranton and her Master in Health Administration from Cornell University where she has worked as an Executive in Residence. She is proud to share that she started off her career as a dietary aide and nursing assistant.
Like many of us in the field, I’ve had the pleasure of interacting with Denise and/or bumping into her in many different places. She’s been a keynote speaker for our state conference, an attendee/presenter at national conferences as well as leading team workshops and spearheading culture focus civil money penalty grant projects. She is known and recognized by many as being a strong leader and advocate for our field, so it was an honor to learn about Denise’s book recommendation, “Switch” by Chip and Dan Heath.
Book Recommendation: “Switch”, by Chip and Dan Heath
Why you like it:
It made me think completely differently about what it takes to get people to change their mind, including myself! The book is a fun read, with a lot of research and as a self-proclaimed nerd I love to know that there is data behind concepts. The information is shared in very actionable ways so that you can use it to help create a systematic change at work or use it at home to get your child to clean their room!
Some key concepts:
Direct the Rider: Appeal to the rational side by providing clear direction, setting specific goals, and offering a logical plan
Motivate the Elephant: Engage the emotional side by appealing to people's emotions, finding the positive aspects, and creating an environment that encourages motivation and enthusiasm.
Shape the Path: Alter the surrounding environment to make change easier by removing obstacles, providing support and resources, and establishing the right atmosphere for new behaviors.
Overall, "Switch" emphasizes the importance of balancing logic and emotion, as well as shaping the environment, to facilitate successful change efforts.
How can it help senior living leaders:
"Switch" can help senior living leaders by providing strategies to effectively lead and navigate change in their organizations. It offers insights on how to motivate and engage employees, establish clear goals, and create an environment that supports and facilitates the desired changes.