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The Four Cs Initiative

Cross Keys Village’s vision statement reads: To be a leading innovator offering older adults a life infused with quality and purpose. Back in 2018, we established a list of principles to guide us towards this vision, the Cross Keys Village Promise

THE CKV PROMISE

Starting in March of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic introduced unexpected challenges, especially in the all-important communication and collaboration areas. One of the 2022 Corporate Goals for Cross Keys Village, in the “People” category, reads as follows: Foster post-pandemic team member re-connections across the campus community

The principal action plan under this goal is the Four Cs initiative, a set of four principles and twelve practices that will help us grow beyond habits that were forced on us through isolation, enduring concern, and lack of casual contact with each other. Each one of us, regardless of job title, can and should be a Four Cs leader.

Connection

Reaching out, listening, and understanding

  • Create a welcoming environment for open and constructive discussion within your department.
  • Identify the potential for beneficial relationships across departments and suggest them to your team.
  • Monitor the nature of connections, ensuring that every voice can be heard and reducing the risk of back-channel communication.

Collaboration

Joining and aligning forces

  • Recognize talent and strengths within your team, giving each member credit for their contribution.
  • Encourage your team to share disappointments or failures in a judgment-free setting, with the goal to improve processes and quality.
  • Extend a collaborative hand towards others, looking beyond preconceptions and past experience.

Creativity

Dreaming it and making it happen

  • Examine existing processes with the goal of simplifying, streamlining, and reducing risk.
  • Dedicate time and energy to reactivating stalled ideas and projects that will make a positive difference.
  • Nurture new ideas, especially from the front line, giving your team the chance to take ownership of some improvements.

Culture

Doing the right thing for the right reason

  • Assess the energy and dynamics in your work area throughout the day, lifting others’ spirits when needed.
  • Become a better role model by gaining insight, with the help of trusted colleagues.
  • Reflect and reinforce the mission and the core values of CKV through your team’s actions and your own.