Contributor Wednesday

Bridge the Gap Network

Bridge the Gap Network

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Management
Updated Weekly

Welcome to the Contributor Wednesday series on the Bridge the Gap Network. Each week, you'll hear from a thought leader, discussing topics that are relevant and impactful to the senior living industry. Sponsored by Peak Senior Living Powered by Solinity Marketing

Sep 9

How to Recover When a Senior Living Tour Goes Sideways | Christy Van Der Westhuizen

What happens when a senior living tour doesn't go according to plan? A strange odor, a ringing call light, unexpected construction, a loud crash, or a resident who shares an opinion you weren't expecting can quickly disrupt even the most carefully prepared tour. But these moments don't have to ruin the experience. In this episode of Contributor Wednesday, Christy Van Der Westhuizen shares practical strategies for handling the unexpected with confidence, transparency, and composure. Rather than pretending problems aren't happening or over-explaining them, Christy encourages senior living sales professionals to acknowledge what happened, respond appropriately, and reconnect the experience to what matters most to the family. Key Topics Why senior living tours don't have to be perfect to be successful How to address noticeable odors or unexpected disruptions Turning a call light into an opportunity to demonstrate responsiveness How to frame construction and repairs without making excuses Handling unexpected comments from residents respectfully Why authentic resident interactions can build trust The importance of body language during a tour Representing the leadership of the entire community The difference between accepting imperfection and neglecting cleanliness How to turn an imperfect tour moment into a memorable sales opportunity Meet Our Contributor Christy Van Der Westhuizen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christyvdw Watch More BTG https://www.btgvoice.com/shows Produced by Grit & Gravel Marketing
Aug 26

How to Bridge the Generational Gaps in Today’s Workplace | Cara Silletto

What happens when employees raised with completely different expectations enter the same workplace? In this episode of Bridge the Gap, Cara Silletto explores how generational dynamics influence communication, leadership, employee retention, workload expectations, and the employee experience. Drawing from her experience as an early generational expert and her work in employee retention, Cara explains why generational differences are less about someone's birth year and more about how they were raised and the experiences that shaped their mindset. Key Topics Covered Why generational differences are about more than birth year The changing expectations surrounding work-life balance How stagnant wages and heavier workloads have influenced turnover Why today's employees are pushing back against chronic understaffing The differences between “latchkey kid” and newer workforce experiences Why companies need to rethink leadership development Adapting communication styles instead of using a one-size-fits-all approach Balancing empathy with accountability The evolution of mental-health conversations in the workplace Setting boundaries around professionalism while still supporting the whole person Why employees need both guidance and support How showing employees you care can strengthen retention Meet Our Contributor Cara Silletto: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carasilletto/ Learn more about the Employee Retention Ecosystem employeeretentionecosystem.com magnetvault.com Watch More BTG https://www.btgvoice.com/shows
Aug 12

Mastering the Parking Lot Conversation | Christy Van Der Westhuizen

What happens after a senior living tour may be more important than the tour itself. In this episode of Contributor Wednesday, Christy Van Der Westhuizen, SVP of Sales & Marketing at Jaybird Senior Living, introduces the concept of the "parking lot conversation"—the honest discussion families have once they leave your community. She explains how sales professionals can intentionally shape those conversations by creating personalized, emotional tour experiences that families continue talking about long after they drive away. Christy discusses: Why the "parking lot conversation" influences move-in decisionsCreating personalized tours through effective discoveryWhy families remember feelings, not featuresAsking questions that uncover and address hesitationGiving families the language to confidently discuss your community with other decision-makersFollowing up in a way that reinforces the emotional connection from the tour Meet Our Contributor Christy Van Der Westhuizen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christyvdw Watch More BTG https://www.btgvoice.com/shows Produced by Grit & Gravel Marketing
Jul 29

How Better Organization Creates Better Leaders (and Better Retention) | Cara Silletto

Everyone feels busy, but being busy doesn't have to mean being overwhelmed. In this episode of Contributor Wednesday, Cara Silletto shares the practical routines that transformed her from someone who constantly forgot tasks into an exceptionally organized executive. You’ll learn how simple tools like recurring calendar reminders, meeting agendas, checklists, documented processes, and daily rhythms can dramatically improve leadership effectiveness while reducing stress. Cara also connects organizational habits directly to employee retention, explaining how consistency creates stronger teams and fewer workplace fires. Key Ideas Why relying on memory creates unnecessary stressBuilding "foolproof" leadership systemsCreating daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual rhythmsWhy checklists improve performance: even for expertsOrganizing meetings with consistent agendasReducing reactive firefighting through proactive leadershipCreating documentation that supports onboarding and transitionsManaging calendars, inboxes, and recurring remindersBalancing creativity with organizational systemsUsing AI as an organizational assistant Meet Our Contributor Cara Silletto: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carasilletto/ Learn more about the Employee Retention Ecosystem employeeretentionecosystem.com magnetvault.com Watch More BTG https://www.btgvoice.com/shows
Jul 15

The First 90 Seconds That Transform Sales | Christy Van Der Westhuizen

What happens before you ever begin your community tour may be the single biggest factor in whether a family chooses your community. In this episode, Christy Van Der Westhuizen explores the often-overlooked power of the "first 90 seconds," the critical window where families begin deciding whether they trust your community long before pricing, floor plans, or care plans enter the conversation. Christy explains why senior living decisions are emotional first and logical second, walking listeners through the sensory and emotional experience families have from the moment they discover your community online to the second they step through the front door. From curb appeal and lobby energy to smells, sounds, team interactions, and model apartment readiness, every detail communicates something about your culture of care. Key Ideas: Why families make emotional decisions before logical onesThe psychology behind first impressions in senior livingUnderstanding the "90 Feet, 90 Seconds, 90%" principleCreating confidence through curb appealWhy lobby energy influences trustHow smell and sound shape family perceptionsEvery department's role in the sales processPersonalizing tours using meaningful discoveryPreparing model apartments to tell a storyBuilding a community-wide culture of sales readinessWhy preparation beats improvisation every time Meet Our Contributor Christy Van Der Westhuizen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christyvdw Watch More BTG https://www.btgvoice.com/shows Produced by Grit & Gravel Marketing
Jul 1

The 100-Day Retention Strategy Every Senior Living Leader Needs | Cara Silletto

What if the biggest reason new hires leave isn't pay, scheduling, or workload, but the experience they have during their first few weeks? In this episode of Contributor Wednesday, Cara Silletto explores how senior living leaders can dramatically reduce costly early turnover by rethinking onboarding as an "on-ramp" rather than a one-time orientation event. Drawing from conversations with senior living HR executives and retention leaders, Cara shares practical strategies to create stronger connections, improve training, identify flight risks early, and build loyalty during the critical first 100 days. Key Ideas: Why onboarding should be viewed as a long-term "on-ramp" The connection between early turnover and inadequate training Why new hires represent the highest retention risk The importance of the first 100 days of employment How leadership communication impacts retention Protecting new hires from negativity and toxic workplace behaviors Professionalism expectations and generational workforce differences Building effective onboarding and training checklists New hire surveys and identifying flight-risk employees Mentorship programs that improve employee retention Why organizations must give employees reasons to stay Meet Our Contributor Cara Silletto: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carasilletto/ Learn more about the Employee Retention Ecosystem employeeretentionecosystem.com magnetvault.com Watch More BTG https://www.btgvoice.com/shows
Jun 17

Sales Fatigue Is Real — But So Is Momentum

Sales fatigue is one of the most common, and least discussed, challenges facing senior living sales teams today. Christy Van Der Westhuizen is back to explore what sales fatigue really looks like, why even top-performing professionals experience it, and how leaders can help teams maintain momentum without sacrificing wellbeing. Drawing from her own experiences, Christy shares the emotional realities behind occupancy goals, family conversations, constant follow-up, and the pressure of performance. Key Ideas: Understanding sales fatigue in senior living Recognizing burnout before it becomes a crisis Emotional labor and family decision-making The impact of occupancy pressure Why high performers often struggle silently The "geese formation" leadership metaphor Reframing rejection and objections Protecting personal energy and preventing burnout Leadership strategies for sustaining team motivation Building momentum through recognition and clarity Meet Our Contributor Christy Van Der Westhuizen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christyvdw Watch More BTG https://www.btgvoice.com/shows Produced by Grit & Gravel Marketing
Jun 3

Why Your Leaders Are Burning Out (And What to Do About It) | Cara Silletto

In this contributor episode of Bridge the Gap, Cara Silletto explores two foundational, but often overlooked, drivers of employee retention: organizational values and strategic priorities. Drawing from her Employee Retention Ecosystem framework, Cara challenges leaders to reconsider whether their mission, vision, and values still resonate with today’s workforce. She argues that values shouldn’t live on posters; they should show up in every stage of the work experience Key Ideas: Why mission, vision, and values should evolve with workforce expectations Turning company values from abstract words into observable behaviors How to assess whether employees actually experience your stated culture Using “mission minutes” to reinforce values in meetings Why leadership turnover is increasing across industries The danger of labeling everything as a priority How generational shifts are changing expectations around work and leadership Applying resource allocation to retention strategy Using audits and employee feedback to focus improvement efforts Reducing overwhelm by narrowing quarterly priorities Meet Our Contributor Cara Silletto: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carasilletto/ Learn more about the Employee Retention Ecosystem employeeretentionecosystem.com magnetvault.com Watch More BTG https://www.btgvoice.com/shows

Welcome to the Contributor Wednesday series on the Bridge the Gap Network. Each week, you'll hear from a thought leader, discussing topics that are relevant and impactful to the senior living industry. Sponsored by Peak Senior Living Powered by Solinity Marketing

Channel

Bridge the Gap Network
Creator

Bridge the Gap Network
Years Active

2023 - 2026
Episodes

154
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© Copyright 2026 Bridge the Gap Network
Show Website

Contributor Wednesday

Management

Management

Updated Weekly
Management

Management

Updated 08/18/2022