By Patti Shea 

At The McGuire Group, we dedicate significant time to developing leaders, especially given the evolving demands and expectations in long-term care. Today’s leaders are asked to do much more than just manage operations. They are navigating workforce shortages, increased regulatory pressures, and teams that are deeply committed to their work despite feeling exhausted.

We understand that leadership requires more than technical skills. Leaders need tools rooted in human psychology to build trust, foster autonomy, and create environments where people feel safe to speak up, collaborate, and grow. As a result, the McGuire Group has launched a Psychologically Informed Leadership Development Program (PILDP), specifically designed for long-term care. PILDP combines mindset coaching, performance coaching, and team-based activities based on evidence-based principles such as psychological safety, fairness, connection, and emotional regulation. It is led by Chief Experience Officer Patrick “Pat” McFeely, who brings over 30 years of experience in long-term care and a decade as a nursing home administrator. With extensive knowledge of the operational, emotional, and human aspects of long-term care, Pat coaches leaders through real-world challenges, helping them build confidence, resilience, and trust within their teams. 

Rather than offering a one-time training or a generic leadership seminar, PILDP addresses challenges proactively and develops leaders who create environments where people feel supported, respected, and empowered to stay. This involves: 

 

  • Mindset Coaching. Confidential conversations focused on self-awareness, emotional regulation, and identifying patterns that influence decision-making and team dynamics. 
  • Performance Coaching. Turning insight into observable leadership behaviors aligned with real facility goals and outcomes. 
  • Team Building & Facilitation. Small-group sessions within facilities that address communication challenges, conflict, and culture issues as they happen. 
  • Psychological Safety & Systems Thinking. Helping leaders shift from judging behavior to understanding, reducing blame, and strengthening accountability. 

Over time, this framework changes how leaders respond to stress, manage conflict, and support their teams, especially during staffing pressures and operational changes. The program also aligns with McGuire’s new mission—Elevating People, Elevating Care—because elevating staff creates a better workplace and improves outcomes for our residents. Most importantly, these aren’t just words on paper. Our mission fosters a cultural shift that emphasizes leadership is about trust, not control. It’s not about managing people, but understanding them. We are creating a shared leadership language across our organization to strengthen teams, stabilize operations, and support the people doing the hardest work in health care today. 

Since implementing the program, we’ve observed significant growth in leader confidence, communication clarity, and team engagement. Leaders report stronger trust with staff, improved decision-making under pressure, and increased resilience in high-stress situations. Perhaps most importantly, coaching and vulnerability have become normalized—replacing “command and control” with accountability rooted in empathy and transparency.  

Patti Shea is Director of Talent Acquisition & Development at the McGuire Group. The McGuire Group facilities provide skilled nursing, post-acute rehabilitation, memory care, hospice services, in-house dialysis, and respite care programs. Learn more at www.LivingLegendsHealth.com.