Leading the OMNIway
A recent leadership retreat for OMNI long-term care home administrators has made clear the importance of leadership at OMNI homes. The 15 OMNI administrators and the leaders at home office were sent on a two-day retreat with the theme, “The OMNIway – Why Bother?” During the retreat, administrators were struck by how important leadership is to the OMNIway.

Toni Surko, administrator of Forest Hill in Kanata, OMNI’s second-largest long-term care home said, “We discussed developing the whole person when it comes to leadership potential.” Toni felt one of the most important things to come out of the retreat was “[it is] not about Forest Hill and OMNI Health Care. It’s a seamless flow – Forest Hill is OMNI and OMNI has a bit of Forest Hill in it. This is the dynamic that is being cultivated.”

Leslie Morrow, OMNI’s newest administrator, felt similarly about the two- day retreat. “It was a great opportunity to network with the other administrators and gain support. I know I’ll value their input over the years,” said Leslie. The new administrator of Kentwood Park in Picton and Maplewood in Brighton, Leslie was struck by “how deep OMNI’s commitment to staff and residents really is.”

Leslie, along with others, was particularly impressed with Fraser Wilson’s presentation on leadership. Fraser, who is the CEO of OMNI, emphasized the importance of leadership over management. Fraser recognized the long-term care community was facing tough times. “It is in times like this that we question whether our efforts, initiatives and investments in our people are worthwhile,” said Fraser.

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But, according to Fraser, people are making a difference in OMNI homes. In order to highlight the positive effects people have on each other at OMNI homes, Fraser encouraged administrators to have employees share positive stories about successes and accomplishments they had experienced at the end of every shift. It is Fraser’s hope “That will highlight how we are allowing our residents to live their best life…. In these challenging times, we have to be that source of hope and inspiration to one another.”

Rick Gourlie, administrator of Almonte Country Haven, has taken Fraser’s message to heart. Rick returned to Almonte from the retreat with a goal of focusing on the positive. Rick said leadership is “not about telling people what to do. It’s catching them doing something right, so they’ll choose to do more of it down the road.” Rick was particularly impressed with the words Fraser shared. “I was struck by how resident-focused Fraser is,” said Rick. “I never once heard the words ‘bottom line” from him, and I respect that.”

Karl Samuelson, administrator of Garden Terrace in Kanata, was also impressed with Fraser and other leaders at OMNI. “OMNI is blessed with a number of excellent leaders, and it starts at the top,” said Karl. Karl picked up some important leadership ideas at the two-day retreat. “People rarely learn from what we tell them to do. People more often learn from example,” said Karl. The administrator is more resolved than ever to “continue to develop myself and my team by living up to the rules that we have bought into at Garden Terrace.”

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