Remember you are everything to them
I recently interviewed a nurse that had a heartbreaking story to tell me: She was working for an Assisted Living and two years ago, when we received over 5 feet of snow, it was only her and one other med tech that was able to make it into work to take care of the 45 bed community. She called the Administrator repeatedly who was not willing to brave the storm nor had she made preparations to be there for her residents and staff. They had two falls and two injuries in a 24 hour period due to severe under staffing. The nurse had worked for the ALF for 7 years and had never felt more helpless in her career than she did that day and so she left them....This is the third time I have had a caregiver or nurse tell me a story of an administrator that left their team with no support. It breaks my heart and makes me angry at the same time.
My piece of advice: Do not take on the role of an Executive Director if you are not willing to put your heart and soul into it, its not just a title or a license you become that building and its residents and your staff and they become you. You are watched always as the leader, the mentor, the friend, the "family member". You are the rock who never faulters no matter how stressful the day becomes or what the circumstance is. You lead your staff and residents to safety through preparation and planning and you are with them every step of the way to ensure they feel safe and comfortable.
An Executive Director is activities, maintainance, housekeeping, nursing. You are the eyes and the ears of every aspect of your residetns lives and their day to day as well as your staff. Multitasking and patience are a must as is self sacrifice because you will not always get your weekends and you might just have to spend the night during a snow storm. You need to be ok with that because its what you do and who you are and when your lucky enough to build your team stronger and better than ever, you can be in maintance mode and relax a little.
I will never forget where I came from and that I started as a CNA and moved up in my career to become who I am. I will always be there for my residents and staff no matter what the circumstance as that is why I became an Administrator. Love your residents and staff like family and remember that to many of them, YOU ARE.