In this episode,  you'll hear from Mindy Bowen, Co-Owner, and Kate Smith, Assistant Director of CARES of Western PA, to unpack their incredible growth journey—going from just 4 employees to nearly 100 in a decade.

We talk about:

-How they built “the CARES way” and a family-friendly culture
-Why investing in staff (and making it fun!) pays off
-How listening to feedback shapes their success
-The leadership pipeline that keeps their team strong

If you’re leading IDD services and wondering how to grow without losing what makes your organization special, this conversation is packed with insights. 

Learn more: 
https://cares4u.org/ 

Ready to level up your team's leadership? I've got a free playbook for you: The Turnover Fix Playbook: 4 Simple Supervisor Habits that Reduce DSP Turnover Fast. Get your free copy at www.iddleader.com/supervisor

What blind spots keep leaders from building thriving teams? In this insightful follow-up conversation with Dr. Caitlin Bailey and Kristen Loomis Greenidge, co-directors of the National Leadership Consortium on Developmental Disabilities, we explore the hidden assumptions that quietly undermine leaders.

You’ll hear how blind spots can stall growth, hurt outcomes, and drive turnover—and more importantly, how leaders can build authentic practices that engage staff, strengthen culture, and prepare the next generation of leadership.

More info:
https://natleadership.org

The Leadership Institute: https://natleadership.qualtrics.com/j...

National Leadership Consortium Bulletin: https://natleadership.org/bulletin.html (quarterly publication that brings research to practice for field leaders on a range of topics that are useful to informing and building leaders’ skills)

Organizational Priorities & Practices Inventory: https://natleadership.org/oppi.html

Additional Resources:
Gallup q12- survey and some of the best data across industries on employee engagement: https://www.gallup.com/q12-employee-e...

NCI State of the Workforce Report https://idd.nationalcoreindicators.or...

Expectations Matter: https://expectationsmatter.com


Level up your org's supervision patterns:
https://iddleader/supervisor 

Ready to level up your team's leadership? I've got a free playbook for you: The Turnover Fix Playbook: 4 Simple Supervisor Habits that Reduce DSP Turnover Fast. Get your free copy at www.iddleader.com/supervisor

What makes a leader truly grow? In this powerful conversation with Dr. Caitlin Bailey and Kristen Loomis Greenidge, co-directors of the National Leadership Consortium on Developmental Disabilities, we explore the aha moments that transform leaders—sometimes bringing them to tears. 

You’ll hear why DSPs don’t leave because of the people they serve, but often because of their boss or coworkers, and how leadership development can develops trust, engagement, and retention.

More info:
https://natleadership.org

The Leadership Institute: https://natleadership.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9z9rSudkRwklVPg

National Leadership Consortium Bulletin: https://natleadership.org/bulletin.html (quarterly publication that brings research to practice for field leaders on a range of topics that are useful to informing and building leaders’ skills)

Organizational Priorities & Practices Inventory: https://natleadership.org/oppi.html

Additional Resources:
Gallup q12- survey and some of the best data across industries on employee engagement: https://www.gallup.com/q12-employee-engagement-survey/

NCI State of the Workforce Report https://idd.nationalcoreindicators.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/2023-NCI-IDD-SoTW_241126_FINAL.pdf

Expectations Matter: https://expectationsmatter.com


 

Ready to level up your team's leadership? I've got a free playbook for you: The Turnover Fix Playbook: 4 Simple Supervisor Habits that Reduce DSP Turnover Fast. Get your free copy at www.iddleader.com/supervisor

What does it take to lead in Autism and IDD services without burning out—or burning bridges? Dr. Peter Gerhardt shares surprising lessons on adapting your leadership style, keeping your team motivated, and making the work deeply meaningful for those you serve.

Learn more:
https://www.makeitmeaningful.info/home

Ready to level up your team's leadership? I've got a free playbook for you: The Turnover Fix Playbook: 4 Simple Supervisor Habits that Reduce DSP Turnover Fast. Get your free copy at www.iddleader.com/supervisor

In the field of human services, the needs are vast and the mission is clear. But when leaders are pulled in a thousand different directions, it's easy to feel stressed by the competing demands on every side.

In this episode, Dr. Peter Gerhardt breaks through the complexity with simple yet profound words of wisdom from his renowned career in leadership. Enjoy this masterclass on leadership in the field of autism and developmental disabilities.

Learn more:
https://www.makeitmeaningful.info/home

Ready to level up your team's leadership? I've got a free playbook for you: The Turnover Fix Playbook: 4 Simple Supervisor Habits that Reduce DSP Turnover Fast. Get your free copy at www.iddleader.com/supervisor

It’s one thing to have values on the wall—it’s another to see them come to life in day-to-day decisions, especially on the frontlines. In this episode, Dr. Syard Evans returns to share how her team at Arkansas Support Network builds real values alignment across the organization—not through posters, but through clarity, consistency, and trust.

She gives a peak behind the curtain and it's still a work in progress--but they are seeing moments of transformation. Not just for those they serve, but also for their direct support staff.

We talk about what it takes to move from abstract ideals to measurable expectations, and why frontline staff don’t have to “feel” the values to still embody them. If you’ve ever wondered how to get your culture to show up in daily practice, this one’s for you.

Ready to level up your team's leadership? I've got a free playbook for you: The Turnover Fix Playbook: 4 Simple Supervisor Habits that Reduce DSP Turnover Fast. Get your free copy at www.iddleader.com/supervisor

How can AI help your organization provide values-based, person-centered care? And what are the risks and benefits?

In this episode, Dr. Syard Evans shares what is already happening at her organization—how they have developed an AI tool that moves them even further toward their innovative approach to providing care. And she gives examples of how other human services providers can do the same. 

Learn more about AI at Arkansas Support Network: https://supports.org; [email protected]

Ready to level up your team's leadership? I've got a free playbook for you: The Turnover Fix Playbook: 4 Simple Supervisor Habits that Reduce DSP Turnover Fast. Get your free copy at www.iddleader.com/supervisor

Is this a "good idea" or something that will actually move the needle when it comes to reducing staff turnover?

This is Part 2 of my conversation with Dr. Dennis Reid, and in it he unpacks practical steps to take at your organization to most effectively decide how to address staff turnover. 

We all know that staff retention is a complex issue and it can be tough to know "What's the best initiative we can launch right now?" If you've been asking that question, don't miss this episode.

Learn more about the work of Dr. Dennis Reid: https://www.dennishreidau.com/

Fix your hiring funnel at https://iddleader.com/funnel

Ready to level up your team's leadership? I've got a free playbook for you: The Turnover Fix Playbook: 4 Simple Supervisor Habits that Reduce DSP Turnover Fast. Get your free copy at www.iddleader.com/supervisor

In Part 1 of this powerful interview, Dr. Dennis Reid—renowned author of The Supervisor’s Guidebook—shares how to train supervisors effectively, what to do if a supervisor is struggling, and how to start developing future leaders from your DSP team. If you want to improve staff performance, reduce drama, and build stronger supervisors, this episode is packed with practical gold.

🎧 Watch to discover:

--Why real-world observation and feedback matter more than training checklists

--How to spot and support struggling supervisors

--Simple ways to start grooming future leaders at your agency

Ready to level up your team's leadership? I've got a free playbook for you: The Turnover Fix Playbook: 4 Simple Supervisor Habits that Reduce DSP Turnover Fast. Get your free copy at www.iddleader.com/supervisor

The problem isn't the people. It's the process. 

Fix your recruiting process and your vacancies will drop.

This episode offers 12 simple changes that make a huge difference in improving your hiring funnel. And if you want a blank Hiring Funnel Worksheet to help you in that process, get yours at iddleader.com/funnel. 

Ready to level up your team's leadership? I've got a free playbook for you: The Turnover Fix Playbook: 4 Simple Supervisor Habits that Reduce DSP Turnover Fast. Get your free copy at www.iddleader.com/supervisor