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The Myth of the Natural Born IDD Service Leader

Table of Contents

What is a Natural Born IDD Service Leader?

In healthcare, and especially in the Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities/Special Needs service arena, an inspiring IDD service leader with purpose and vision is vital not just for corporate success but also to maintain happy staff and consumers.   

Nobody actually wants to be a bad leader. However the question is ‘Are we doing the best we can to ensure we are the best leaders we can be?’ Many (many) articles have been written on subject of leadership however one of the most erroneous and harmful pieces of (mis)information out there is the existence of the “natural born leader”. People with a proactive, outgoing and confident nature are usually labeled born leaders but as admirable as these personal characteristics may be are they truly definitive of all good leaders? 

Why is Thinking You're a Natural Born IDD Service Leader NOT Helpful?

The problem with the “natural born leader” tag is it implies that these unique people don’t have to work at being leaders;  basically if you’re born without the “leader gene” then you’ve no chance. Nothing could be further from the truth! We all need to work at being better leaders. A large part of the job of a business leader is to bring valuable resources together in such a way as to provide a product/service that will (hopefully) generate profits or returns. With the economic, regulatory and political environments constantly changing as well as catering to the needs of consumer’s and their next of kin this isn’t an easy job and no-one comes fully equipped! 

There are plenty of good articles on leadership but this blog’s primary purpose is to communicate the need to work at your leadership skills. That is, you must consistently make time to improve your mastery in this area. This commitment is vital to your success as a leader, the happiness of your staff and the fulfillment of your clients. Learn by actively seeking out books/articles on the topic (like this blog!), seek out mentors and learn from the situations around you.

As the Intellectual or Developmental Disability industry continues to undergo rapid change, increased regulatory expectations regarding consumer care and more complex service documentation requirements, the need for excellent compassionate IDD provider leaders will become even more vital. 

There are only two questions to ask yourself here:

  1.  Do I sincerely want to be a better leader (achieving larger goals with better work relationships)? 
  2. Do I want to pretend that I know everything there is to know about being a leader and therefore need to learn nothing new?

What is Your Leadership Mind-Set?

Lots of research (led by Dr Carol S Dweck) has shown that your mindset completely determines your approach to some of the most important things in life. A leader with a growth mind-set understands she/he can do better at anything when they apply themselves. This is opposed to a fixed mind-set where we might believe we are just bad at math or inadequate at managing people and we’ll never be good at it. The growth mind-set allows a leader to embrace challenges and persist in spite of difficulties which are key traits of great leaders. To find out what your mind-set is take the assessment here.

Vince Lombardi, the coach who led the Green Bay Packers to 5 NFL Championships is quoted as saying “Leaders aren’t born they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work…” 

Great leaders work smart (and very hard), learn from their failures, understand their own limitations (ie that they don’t always have the answers), and they do all of this understanding that to lead others they need to find a place of wisdom, strength, and real connection within themselves. You can’t be a source of wisdom and inspiration for others if you have allowed the well to run dry. 

You are most likely already working really (really) hard as most professionals involved with people with IDD tend to be naturally wired to be givers. Let’s put a bit of that effort towards improving our leadership skills and using available tools like Focused EHR because we want to work smarter. And remember investing in the infrastructure (your brain) is just good business!

Leadership Burnout is NOT Sustainable

Being eternally busy is NOT a sign of a good or committed leader (look out for our blog next week for more on that!) Unproductive, ineffective busy-ness is unhealthy and can only be maintained in the short term.  “Creating the culture of burnout is opposite to creating a culture of sustainable creativity,” says Arianna Huffington. (Here are two easy ways to help you work smarter and with more efficiency – make the cloud-based Focused Electronic Healthcare Record for IDD Professionals part of your practice management software solution and read our blogs – start with the Value Proposition series.) You probably already know a few friends or colleagues who really need to read this blog so forward it to them – you’ll be doing them a big favor!

So remember just like unicorns and our super-friend from the planet Krypton - “natural born leaders” are a myth. You may be gifted with certain personality traits but like all good things becoming an excellent leader requires effort. Commit to consistently and purposefully improving your leadership skills today. Your staff, consumers and even your family will thank you for it. 

FOCUSED SOFTWARE CAN HELP! When your documentation is organized and centralized, you can track services more accurately, report more quickly, and free up staff to provide more services. Implementing a paper-free system can also serve to improve cashflow, save you money and reduce the administrative burdens of managing office supplies, filing, and storing paper records. All these benefits work to boost your agency’s chances for success.

After you’ve read through this blog, take a deep breath, let it out, develop a brilliant plan, and click on the big orange button below to schedule a demo today!

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Call Now – (281) 884 3537 ext. 107

Focused Blog List

2022 (1)
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2020 (1)
  • March 15 | Planning For COVID-19 Information for Long Term Care Facilities (IDD Clinical Care, Intellectual or Developmental Disability – Character and Wellness)
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2019 (19)
  • December 21 | Managed Care and the IDD Service Provider (IDD Business Management)
    The myth of the natural born leader can have particularly dangerous effects in the IDD/Special Needs service arena as many owners/execs struggle to lead their organizations through times of significant industry change and cut backs. Administrators in IDD care need to commit to putting in the time and effort needed to become better leaders so these companies offering vital care services to this vulnerable population do not fail.
  • September 1 | GROWING A STRONG DIRECT CARE WORKFORCE (IDD Business Management)
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  • July 28 | Getting Things Done For Busy Developmental Disability Service Providers (IDD Business Management)
    Providers who serve people with intellectual or developmental disabilities are some of the busiest people I know. Here we review David Allen’s “Getting Things Done” system widely described as effective, simple, timeless and can be done anywhere, anytime on paper or even on your smartphone. Let’s get productive!
  • June 30 | Problem Solving For LTSS Providers (IDD Business Management, Intellectual or Developmental Disability – Character and Wellness)
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  • June 16 | Billing and Payment Review Survival Guide for IDD Providers (IDD Business Management, IDD Regulatory)
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  • June 2 | How to Overcome Your Fear of Change at Work (IDD Business Management, Intellectual or Developmental Disability – Character and Wellness)
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  • May 26 | Measuring IDD Service Success (IDD Business Management)
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  • May 5 | Workflow Process Improvement for Long Term Care (Uncategorized)
    Workflow improvement for long term services and supports is a do-or-die decision for all companies that serve people with IDD/Special Needs. The current industry environment of increased regulatory and documentation requirements, cost cutting and direct care staff shortages mean continuous improvements are critical.
  • April 21 | Workflow Redesign for Special Needs Agencies (Uncategorized)
    Workflow redesign is the 3rd optimization step. We create solutions to inefficiencies (see last blog), improve quality metrics and revenues as well as our capacity to serve an increased number of people with IDD.​
  • April 7 | IDD Service Workflow Analysis (IDD Business Management)
    We have learned how to prioritize which of our many business processes to map out for the biggest and quickest impact. Now we look into asking the right questions in IDD service workflow analysis so we clearly identify key problems that decrease our efficiencies and cost the company time and money! Let’s get started.
  • March 24 | IDD Service Workflow Optimization (IDD Business Management)
    Every business on earth follows repetitive processes to get work done; this includes companies serving people with IDD/special needs. Optimizing these processes is essential for the survival and growth of every business. Learn how to optimize specifically chosen processes in your business to increase profits and efficiency, decrease waste and make work more enjoyable for you, your staff and your clients.
  • March 10 | Sexual Harassment in the IDD Workplace (IDD Regulatory)
    Employers are responsible for handling complaints of sexual harassment in the intellectual or developmental disability workplace. The consequences of delayed or inappropriate response can be significant for the victim and employer.
  • February 24 | The Art Of Compromise In The IDD Workplace (IDD Business Management)
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  • February 10 | Lessons From A(nother) Government Shutdown (IDD Business Management)
    For the IDD service provider government shutdowns can have significant direct and indirect impact. Similar to natural disaster preparedness you should ensure that your business has a well thought-out plan for dealing with government shutdowns and other high-impact financial challenges.
  • February 3 | Strategic Marketing For IDD Service Providers (IDD Business Management)
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  • January 27 | Setting Marketing Goals For Success (IDD Business Management)
    How do you identify candidates that possess the skills you need AND fit in with your company culture? Ask the right questions! Read on for vital issues to consider and questions to ask to help ensure you hire right!
  • January 20 | Developing Marketing Plans For IDD Companies (IDD Business Management)
    Marketing plans may seem complicated but they can be as short as one page. An IDD marketing plan seeks to answer one question. Find out what this question is AND how to draft a straightforward marketing plan tailor-made for your IDD service company.
  • January 13 | The ONE Step To SURE Success Launching Your EHR (IDD Business Management)
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  • January 6 | Sex, Sexuality and People with IDD (Intellectual or Developmental Disability – Character and Wellness)
    Sex and sexuality can be difficult topics to discuss. However it is essential to assist people served to make wise choices. Here we give you practical help in addressing this vital issue while protecting your clients.
2018 (41)
  • December 16 | Finding The Right IDD Service Staff – The Interview (IDD Business Management)
    How do you identify candidates that possess the skills you need AND fit in with your company culture? Ask the right questions! Read on for vital issues to consider and questions to ask to help ensure you hire right!
  • December 9 | Finding The Right IDD Service Staff – Essential Prep​ (IDD Business Management)
    You’ve decided you need more staff for your IDD service company – great! Remember finding the right staff involves doing the prep work BEFORE you begin the search for candidates to avoid hiring catastrophes and company culture ‘misfits’. Our blog has crucial details you need to know!
  • December 2 | 7 Questions To Ask Before Hiring New Staff (IDD Business Management)
    Employees are one of the most important parts of your IDD Service enterprise. Determining if hiring new staff is the best move for your business is critical. Let’s learn what questions to ask before we put out those ads for new staff!
  • November 25 | Prioritizing Work When Everything Is An Emergency (IDD Business Management)
    IDD service providers are some of the busiest people around and it doesn’t look like things are slowing down any time soon! If you feel like you’re constantly putting out fires at work yet never getting enough done – this blog is for you! Learn about prioritizing work – taking back control of deadlines and your life!
  • November 18 | Giving Thanks For IDD Service Vendors (IDD Business Management)
    IDD service providers use vendors for encrypted email, EHRs, accounting etc. Choosing the right vendors is critical for your success. Here you’ll find out exactly what you need to know so you can hire companies or individuals that are aligned with your goals. They’ll make you want to give thanks all year round!
  • November 11 | Marketing IDD Services and Supports (IDD Business Management)
    Client choice is incredibly important in the world of IDD services and supports. This includes their choice of service provider. Marketing for IDD Providers is essential. Learn how your organization can differentiation itself from the crowd so you can serve more people with IDD with your special brand of TLC!
  • November 4 | Social Media for the IDD Service Provider (IDD Business Management)
    Social media 101 for IDD Service Providers – almost 90% of US businesses use social media for marketing. Is your IDD service agency using this vital tool as effectively as it can? Do you know the pitfalls to avoid? Read this blog for critical information that will help your business get social media done right!
  • October 28 | SPI Section C – Electronic Systems For IDD Service Providers (IDD Regulatory)
    Section C of the SPI deals with electronic systems used to house patient confidential information (inc. PHI). As this involves using cellphones, tablets, laptops, electronic voicemail etc it impacts virtually everyone. Read our blog for critical information on how to keep your patient data safe and direction on the recent cybersecurity requirements.
  • October 21 | SPI Review – Section B Part 2 (IDD Regulatory)
    Here we finish reviewing section B of the SPI (Security and Privacy Initial Inquiry). This section deals with Workplace and Workforce safeguards and practices.
  • October 14 | HHS SPI Section B Part 1 (IDD Regulatory)
    We review the first part of section B of the latest version (v2.1 06/2018) of the Texas HHS SPI which deals with Policies and Procedures! Come and learn about it so you can ensure all of bases on YOUR Policies and Procedure!
  • October 7 | SPI (Security and Privacy Inquiry) – Section A (IDD Regulatory)
    We review the latest version (v2.1 06/2018) of the Texas HHS SPI (Security and Privacy Inquiry). Fee-For-Service Long Term Care and IDD providers must have copies of this document on file with the state. Here we go over some salient points in section A.
  • September 28 | BUDDY WALK NYC NDSS 2018 (Intellectual or Developmental Disability – Character and Wellness)
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  • September 23 | CMS EHR PROMOTING INTEROPERABILITY (IDD Business Management)
    The CMS EHR Incentive Programs has been renamed the CMS ‘Promoting Interoperability (PI) Programs’. Designed to incentivize healthcare facilities to use EHRs to achieve quality goals and making CMS payments dependent on achieving these targets. How long until YOUR IDD/Special Needs operations are affected?
  • September 16 | Top 5 Texas Home Living Citations (TxHmL) Part 2 (IDD Business Management)
    Here we review the Top 5 Principles Cited During Reviews For the Texas Home Living (TxHmL) Services. Let’s explore the top 5 most frequently-cited principles and ways Focused Software can help your company maintain compliance and avoid citations.
  • September 9 | Most Common TxHmL Citations Top 10 part 1 (IDD Business Management, Uncategorized)
    Here we review the Top 10 Principles Cited During Reviews For the Texas Home Living (TxHmL) Services. Let’s explore some of these frequently-cited TxHmL citations and principles as well as ways Focused Software can help your company maintain compliance and avoid citations.
  • September 2 | Are You Multitasking or Faulty-Tasking? (Intellectual or Developmental Disability – Character and Wellness)
    As busy IDD and special needs service professionals everyday there seems to be more things to do and then you have to remember to document having done them all! Many of us multitask as a way to try to save time. If you consider yourself a multitasking Queen (or King) read our article…..the truth will surprise you!
  • August 26 | Direct Care Staff Exodus Part 2 (IDD Business Management)
    There is a crisis in the IDD/special needs service arena – the exodus of direct support employees. The numbers of this critical group of employees is steadily dwindling even as demand increases. We look at ways to improve staff retention in this blog.
  • August 19 | Direct Care Staff Exodus Part 1 (IDD Business Management)
    There is a crisis in the IDD/special needs service arena – the exodus of direct care support staff. The numbers in this critical group of employees is steadily dwindling even as demand increases. We look at reasons for the exodus in this blog.
  • August 12 | Countdown to HCS Compliance – Citations the Top 3 (IDD Business Management)
    The top 3 principles cited during reviews of HCS agencies are varied and can come with significant penalties. We review them in-depth and include staff training and two other key areas. Can you guess what the top 3 HCS citations are? Read on!
  • August 5 | Countdown to HCS Compliance – Citations #4-7 (IDD Business Management)
    The next several principles cited (specifically #7, 6 and 4) typify the reasoning behind implementing an Electronic Health Record (EHR)– the Focused Software system. Our EHR can really make HCS compliance easy!
  • July 29 | Countdown to HCS Compliance – Citations #10,9,8 (IDD Business Management)
    Here we review the Texas Top 10 Principles Cited During Reviews: Home and Community-based Services. Let’s explore some of these frequently-cited principles and ways Focused Software can help your company maintain compliance and avoid citations.
  • July 22 | GROWING UP AS A CEO – RESPONSIBILITY (IDD Business Management)
    Learning to take responsibility for your business’s difficulties or failings can be painful. Yet it is also liberating and at the end of the day most definitely advantageous for your company’s long term success! It’s also one of the defining characteristics of the mature CEO. Read on – it will change the way you lead!
  • July 15 | 8 REASONS WHY IDD SMALL BUSINESSES FAIL (IDD Business Management)
    No-one builds an IDD service business wanting it to fail – yet many of these small businesses do. Find out the 8 most common pitfalls leading to failure and more importantly what you can do to avoid them!
  • July 8 | 5 Ways To Differentiate Your IDD Company Brand (IDD Business Management)
    What is your IDD company brand? If your answer starts ‘Ummm….’ read on. With online access to provider audit results and daily viral tweets the need for brand management among IDD service providers has never been greater! Let’s review 5 easy ways you can take control of your brand.
  • July 1 | IDD Customer Service In the Special Needs Arena (IDD Business Management)
    We try to do our best when it comes to IDD Customer Service ie serving our paying customers. That’s great but what about the large pool of customers we frequently ignore? Find out just who and what you’re missing in our blog!​
  • June 24 | Behavioral ABCs and the IDD Service Provider (IDD Clinical Care)
    Let’s review the objective functional analysis of problem behaviors with a common behavioral example that you might have come across.
  • June 17 | Sustaining Change In IDD/Special Needs (IDD Business Management)
    Sustaining change is the final yet ongoing phase of change management. It requires that leaders continue to execute, measure and improve change efforts. Part 4 of our Change management blog series covers this topic throughly. Read on!
  • June 11 | Planning For Success In IDD/Special Needs (IDD Business Management)
    Not planning for success when instituting change in the IDD or special needs industry is planning for failure. Let’s review 7 key questions to ask when planning for your next successful change endeavor.
  • June 1 | Culture of Change In IDD/Special Needs (IDD Business Management)
    Helping our staff modify their behavior is central to the success of any change effort at work. As IDD execs, we need to realize that the chances of success for our change initiatives (eg buying a new EHR) are much higher if we create a culture of change and get buy-in from our staff first. Find out how in our blog!
  • May 25 | Why Change For IDD Service Providers (IDD Business Management)
    Why change at all? Well it may surprise you to know that none of us really has much of a choice when it comes to change! The question is will the changes you make be well-thought out and intentional OR will they be forced upon you? Read on to find out more!
  • May 18 | Legacy and the IDD Professional (Intellectual or Developmental Disability – Character and Wellness)
    The daily choices we make are consequential. What legacy are you building with each action, day by day? Not just as an IDD service carer but as a leader? Or even a person? Your legacy will be based on the integrity you display to all – your consumers, your staff and even your family at home.
  • May 13 | IDD Providers Busy-ness and Business (IDD Business Management)
    Busy-ness is NOT an IDD Service badge of honor! Are you addicted to busy-ness? The work of an IDD service provider is real however no-one should be eternally busy. Read this new Focused blog to find out why unrelenting busy-ness is bad for you and what you can do to save time, effort and improve your efficiencies.
  • May 6 | The Natural Born Leader Myth in IDD Services (IDD Business Management)
    The myth of the natural born leader can have particularly dangerous effects in the IDD/Special Needs service arena as many owners/execs struggle to lead their organizations through times of significant industry change and cut backs. Administrators in IDD care need to commit to putting in the time and effort needed to become better leaders so these companies offering vital care services to this vulnerable population do not fail.
  • April 30 | Strategic Acquisitions among IDD Service Companies (IDD Business Management)
    Strategic acquisitions among IDD companies is one way to expand businesses and rapidly obtain much needed skills and/or resources. However the acquisition of another company can be as risky as it is potentially rewarding. Read our blog before you pull the trigger to avoid nasty surprises!
  • April 10 | Integrity and the IDD Professional (Intellectual or Developmental Disability – Character and Wellness)
    IDD service professionals are entrusted with the care of a vulnerable set of people. We need to portray certain personal characteristics in order to carry out these responsibilities optimally. Are you a person of character? A leader with integrity? Read our blog and find out!
  • March 20 | EHR/EMR and Quality – VP#4 (IDD Business Management, IDD Clinical Care)
    Quality standards drive the healthcare industry. People with IDD and special needs deserve consistent high quality healthcare wherever they live. In the final installment of the “Value Proposition” series we review the elusive yet eternally pursued goal of Quality.
  • March 6 | EHR/EMR vs Paper Charts – VP#3 (IDD Business Management)
    IDD companies that use paper charts for consumer info waste their most expensive resource (personnel time) daily. You’re not just paying for paper and toner! In this third Value Proposition blog – we review the true Cost of Doing Business (CODB) with paper charts versus an EHR/EMR documentation system.
  • February 20 | EHR/EMR and IDD Service Leadership VP#2 (IDD Business Management)
    The second installment in the 4 part “Value Proposition” series reviews the true leader’s role in attaining efficiency and quality standards in an IDD service agency. It also describes how the use of an electronic medical record system can help a leader keep the bottom line in control.
  • February 6 | Electronic Healthcare Record – Time is Money! VP#1 (IDD Business Management)
    Do you consciously appreciate the fact that you cannot get time back? When you consistently spend time on things that do not better you (monetarily or otherwise) you are wasting time. The first installment in this 4 part “Value Proposition” series reviews the real time, dollars and cents you save with an Electronic Healthcare Record.
  • January 23 | Successful Transition from Paper to Focused EHR (IDD Business Management)
    Implementing an EHR demands disciplined visionary leaders with clear goals and the resilience to manage change. Have you got what it takes?
  • January 9 | Compassionate Care for ALL in IDD Service! (Intellectual or Developmental Disability – Character and Wellness)
    Working in the IDD service industry very likely means that you are a care provider by profession (and probably by nature). Here we review the value of compassionate care and empathy for all…….and we mean ALL!!
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Photograph: Lorelei (unicorn)