Becoming Unshakable With Heather R. Younger

Caring Leadership On a Large Scale - an Interview with Terri Cunliffe

·42 min·4 clips

Terry Cunliffe retired after 36 years as CEO, but she never planned it—discover how raising her hand changed everything.

Heather R. Younger hosts Terry Cunliffe on the Becoming Unshakable podcast, focusing on caring leadership at scale. Terry recently retired after 36 years with a senior living organization, where she served as CEO for the last eight years. She describes her career journey as unplanned, starting as a frontline manager and advancing by consistently raising her hand for new projects and challenges. Terry explains that this approach involved taking on extra work, learning continuously, and influencing the organization from any role. She advises listeners to be strategic in raising their hands, such as asking for permission or validating ideas with leaders, especially in less open environments. Terry reflects on her leadership style, which others describe as direct and transparent, though she acknowledges she is better at showing appreciation than formal recognition. She emphasizes the importance of vulnerability, sharing personal experiences and admitting mistakes to build trust. The discussion delves into Terry's philosophies for leading a heart-centered business, prioritizing relationships with residents and colleagues over numbers, though she notes financial awareness remains crucial. She introduces the concept of 'white space' in calendars—blocked time for self-care, catch-up tasks, or spontaneous interactions—to maintain energy and effectiveness. Terry recounts a pivotal early leadership failure where family members criticized her for not knowing her team, teaching her to prioritize people first. She also shares advice on career transitions, suggesting leaders leave when their department or organization is at its peak performance. The episode concludes with Terry recommending John Maxwell's 'Developing the Leader Within' as a go-to leadership book and reinforcing that relationships and trust are key to successful leadership.

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