#14: “We’ve Always Done It This Way” — Still a Valid Defense?

Episode Description:In this episode, Areaka Jewell tackles one of the most common phrases heard during accreditation assessments: "We've always done it this way." When past practices no longer meet current standards, how should agencies respond? Rather than reacting defensively, Areaka offers five smart ways to reframe the situation as an opportunity for growth, transparency, and continuous improvement. Whether you’re an accreditation manager or team member, this episode gives you practical strategies to elevate your agency’s approach to compliance.📌 Timestamps & Highlights:0:43 Why “We’ve Always Done It This Way” shows up so often1:30 Understanding why things change—even when standards don’t2:15 The natural reaction: Defensiveness, and how to shift away from it2:43 Reframing the response: What can we learn?3:09 Smart Way #1: Pause and reevaluate the standard’s intent3:50 Smart Way #2: Compare your policy to your practice4:29 Smart Way #3: Make space for internal review and discussion5:08 Smart Way #4: Recognize when something may have been missed5:47 Smart Way #5: Stay connected to best practices6:47 The big takeaway: Ask if your current way still serves your agency7:16 Recap: 5 Smart Ways7:51 Wrap-up and encouragement to share or leave a review📥 Download the Companion Guide:Download a summary of this episode to share with your team or reference later:👉 Companion Guide📣 Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a reviewWherever you listen to podcasts, your reviews and shares help more agencies find us—and make accreditation easier for everyone!Connect with Areaka🙋‍♀️ Digital Business Card🌐 Website🔗 LinkedIn📘 Facebook📸 InstagramAre you signed up to get my free content?Head over to www.accreditationacademy.net/signup to get started. You will get access to a library inside YOUR PowerDMS of hundreds of Helpful Tips smartly organized in categories and new or updated content published every week.