Perfect the Wanted: leader
Choosing the best executive director for a
community requires equal parts gut instinct
and careful evaluation
FAST FORWARD
By Bryan Ochalla
“i LOOK At the hiring Of executive directOrs As the mOst imPOrtAnt PArt Of my JOB,” sAys eArL PArKer, vice Presi- dent Of seniOr Living fOr wALtOnwOOd mAnAgement
› The best executive directors
have exceptional “followship,”
says one expert. They can
inspire people around them to
do more and do it better.
› The ability to admit when they
can’t do something and ask for
help is a critical characteristic in
a solid executive director.
in cAry, nOrth cArOLinA. The right executive director “can make your job a
whole lot easier,” while the wrong one “can make it a whole lot more difficult.”
It’s a lesson Parker learned early in his 15-year career. “I figured out shortly after I
got into this industry that it’s vitally important to have the right person in that chair,
and I’ve spent a lot of time and energy since trying to get it right.”
In any senior living community, the administrator sets the tone and culture for
the entire community, agrees Jessica cunningham, director of organizational develop-
ment for Wellesley, Massachusetts-based Benchmark Assisted Living. “If the executive
director doesn’t have the right attributes or skills, it has an effect throughout—it
› Choosing someone with the
desired interpersonal skills and
“heart” makes more sense than
just choosing someone who can
perform tasks.
› Several evaluation tools—
such as the Predictive
Index—can help you feel more
confident in your decision.
