Adaptability Is Key to Staying Ahead: Interview with Todd Houghton, President of Homewatch CareGivers
I recently went one-on-one with Todd Houghton, President of Homewatch CareGivers.
Adam: Thanks again for taking the time to share your advice. First things first, though, I am sure readers would love to learn more about you. How did you get here? What experiences, failures, setbacks, or challenges have been most instrumental to your growth?
Todd: My journey that led me to become a brand president has been shaped by a combination of strategic thinking, hands-on work, and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances. For over 20 years, I have grown revenue for companies at the executive level by strategically hiring, establishing efficient business processes, implementing metrics-based fiscal management, and striving for business performance. My leadership journey has taken me through diverse roles in running a variety of brands including multiple franchise systems. With these impactful roles, I have always been comfortable working at a strategic level as well as rolling up my sleeves and working through the tasks keeping business partners and stakeholders informed.
In 2022 I became the brand president of Homewatch CareGivers. Founded in 1980, Homewatch CareGivers is one of the most experienced network of providers of full-service home care for people of all ages. Caregivers are triple-screened and continually trained and supervised to provide reliable, compassionate, and highly skilled services in companion, personal, and comprehensive care. Home care services are personalized for each client and customized care plans are administered through a network of 243 locations.
In my time at Homewatch CareGivers so far, I have worked to transform the way care is delivered to older adults and individuals with disabilities. I have a strong focus on innovation, growth, and business owner satisfaction, and my leadership paired with our team members hard work has driven significant advancements in the home care industry—especially during a time when home healthcare is more essential than ever.
Leading a national brand is undoubtedly a complex and demanding challenge, and my career has taught me that adaptability and resilience are key to overcoming obstacles. I learned to approach challenges with strategic foresight and tactical agility, letting me pivot and respond effectively to various situations. Whether navigating economic shifts, operational hurdles, or the ever-evolving needs of the home care industry, my ability to adapt and innovate has been instrumental in driving the business forward. This has been established in order to lead the industry in service quality and organizational excellence.
Adam: In your experience, what are the key steps to growing and scaling your business?
Todd: Growing and scaling a business requires a strategic approach that balances both the operational side and the human aspects of the business. Here are the key steps that as a brand president I believe are essential:
Building a Solid Foundation: Before any growth can happen, it is essential to make sure that the business is built on a solid foundation. This includes strong business processes, a clear and compelling mission, well-defined values, tech-forward thinking, and a unique selling point that sets the company apart from others in the industry. It is also crucial to have a clear financial structure, including a solid cash flow plan, to improve sustainability during the scaling process.
Franchising: Franchising is a great route for anyone looking to expand their business without being required to heavily invest capital and benefit from a lower-risk, trusted business system with resources such as technology, marketing, and training. This allows for smoother and more sustainable expansion at the rate that the owner is comfortable with and creates alignment with multiple locations.
In the brand leadership role, equipping business owners with the appropriate training is essential. They can also access accredited courses to maintain credentials. Providing brand recognition, operational systems, and resources to support owner growth, including advertising, is also another factor that may contribute to growing and scaling a business with consistency, without losing quality of service and company values.
Ultimately, growth is a journey that requires perseverance, strategic insight, and a willingness to continuously adapt and learn. Embrace the process, stay true to your vision, and keep pushing forward even when things seem difficult.
Adam: What do you believe are the defining qualities of an effective leader?
Todd: Effective leadership is about vision, communication, and the ability to inspire others. A leader must be able to see the big picture and chart the course for the future of the business. This involves strategic planning and a strong understanding of industry trends and technology, customer needs, and potential challenges. It is important to lead by example to gain the trust of team members. Being honest, ethical, and accountable fosters trust within the team. A strong leader takes responsibility for both achievements and failures, creating a compassionate culture where people feel safe to take risks and learn from their mistakes.
Being a business owner that is part of a franchise system can also play a part in enhancing your ability to be an effective leader. The franchise model provides entrepreneurs with a structured framework, a trusted business model, and access to a network of resources and support that can help guide and develop leadership skills and uplift people from all backgrounds to grow their own business. This type of leadership style is something I’ve seen firsthand helps businesses expand by providing teams with the quality services and tools needed to grow. Leading with compassion and a strong business model empowers entrepreneurs to expand and stay at the forefront of their industry.
I also recommend consistently evolving and diversifying business owner's offerings to strengthen their position within the company by preserving dignity, independence, and safety for clients. I also continue to perfect our franchise owner offerings- including unparalleled support and training; a reasonable ramp-up time for scalability; diversity discounts; and resources including a sustainable client acquisition model - to be at the forefront of the dozens of home care franchise concepts. This is essential in driving expansion for the company and building a positive company culture that is passionate.
Adam: How can leaders and aspiring leaders take their leadership skills to the next level?
Todd: To take your leadership skills to the next level, it is important to embrace challenges and step outside of your comfort zone, which is where I have seen real growth happen. I suggest seeking out new challenges, whether that is identifying areas of improvement in the company, getting involved in hands-on tasks, or navigating through complex issues. These complexities allow you to grow and adapt with your company and understand the challenges and talents of team members.
I encourage you to tackle challenges that can push you to think critically and act strategically. One of the most pressing challenges we have faced is combating high turnover rates, which is a persistent issue in many fields.
Making technological advancements with services that streamline operations, improve care management, and personalize your offerings can help to improve the accuracy and consistency of the business. This is a key differentiator in the market, as it expands a company’s approach to delivering tailored plans that meet the unique needs of the individuals you are servicing. Additionally, launching training programs can provide the tools and knowledge necessary for business owners. I believe taking innovative steps like this as a brand president takes your role to the next level and guides the company to seamless growth.
Adam: What are your three best tips applicable to entrepreneurs, executives, and civic leaders?
Todd: While the specifics of leadership may differ across roles, the core principles remain the same. In my experience as a brand president, whether you are an entrepreneur building a business, an executive managing a team, or a civic leader trying to engage with the community, there are a few key tips that can help with building strong relationships.
Focus on Building Relationships: Invest time in building meaningful relationships based on trust and mutual respect. Surround yourself with individuals who complement your strengths and challenge you to think differently. Networking and community-building can open doors to new opportunities and foster collaboration.
Be Adaptable: The business landscape, as well as the needs of the consumers and communities, are constantly changing. Adaptability is key to staying ahead. Whether it is pivoting your business model, embracing innovative technology, or adjusting your strategies to fit a new environment, being flexible can lead to long-term growth. It's also important to remember that challenges are not roadblocks, but opportunities to learn and improve.
Maintain a Long-Term Perspective: It is easy to become overly focused on immediate wins and short-term results, especially in today’s fast-paced environment. However, a company is built on sustainable growth and long-term vision. It is important to think beyond today’s objectives and consider what lies ahead, such as new technological developments or trends in the industry.
A large part of my role as a brand president has been cultivating a communicative and compassionate environment both internally within the company and externally. Getting involved with our communities, changing our practices to meet evolving demands, and always looking forward has been an immense help in our expansion efforts and franchise development.
Adam: What is your best advice on building, leading, and managing teams?
Todd: One of the key elements I believe has contributed to my leadership role is the ability to analyze any situation thoroughly and then select the best possible response. In my experience, this is a crucial skill when it comes to building, leading, and managing teams. Every situation is unique, and the ability to approach challenges with clarity and insight is vital in guiding your team forward. It is important to maintain a strategic mindset, thinking ahead while also remaining adaptable in the face of change.
A business owner who can balance both short-term problem-solving and long-term vision is someone who can truly drive a team forward. Communication, business acumen, and strategic and forward-thinking are crucial for any company. In this way, my advice to anyone building, leading, or managing teams would be to always provide clear direction and recommendations. By providing clear, persuasive communication to the business, you remain an active contributor, always learning and sharing knowledge. This empowers teams to be efficient and effective and demonstrates interpersonal skills that build relationships.
Adam: What are your best tips on the topics of sales, marketing, and branding?
Todd: Sales, marketing, and branding are all fundamental pillars of business growth, and in today’s highly competitive and digital-first landscape, they play an even more crucial role. To truly succeed in these areas, business owners should focus on creating a consistent and compelling brand presence that resonates across every touchpoint with their target audience. This means creating messaging, visuals, and tones that are uniform across all channels, whether it is social media, websites, advertising, or customer interactions.
A strong, cohesive brand identity not only makes it easier for potential customers to recognize and engage with your business but also helps establish credibility.
Adam: What is the single best piece of advice you have ever received?
The single best piece of advice I have ever received is to always stay true to myself. This means embracing my unique qualities, values, and passions, and not compromising them to fit into someone else’s expectations or standards. By being authentic, I can build genuine relationships, make decisions that align with my true self, and ultimately lead a more fulfilling and meaningful life.
Adam Mendler is an entrepreneur, writer, speaker, educator, and nationally recognized authority on leadership. Adam is the creator and host of the business and leadership podcast Thirty Minute Mentors, where he goes one-on-one with America's most successful people - Fortune 500 CEOs, founders of household name companies, Hall of Fame and Olympic gold medal-winning athletes, political and military leaders - for intimate half-hour conversations each week. A top leadership speaker, Adam draws upon his insights building and leading businesses and interviewing hundreds of America's top leaders as a top keynote speaker to businesses, universities, and non-profit organizations. Adam has written extensively on leadership and related topics, having authored over 70 articles published in major media outlets including Forbes, Inc. and HuffPost, and has conducted more than 500 one on one interviews with America’s top leaders through his collective media projects. Adam teaches graduate-level courses on leadership at UCLA and is an advisor to numerous companies and leaders. A Los Angeles native, Adam is a lifelong Angels fan and an avid backgammon player.
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