Do you have communications problems? Oh, yes you do.
Face it. You don’t communicate as well as you could or, frankly, as you should. Not many maintenance and engineering managers do.
Communication probably wasn’t part of the education or training before most managers began their facilities careers, and any communications skills they do have they picked up along the way. On top of that, career advances in most facilities depend on demonstrated technical skills and knowledge, not so-called soft skills, such as communication.
Given this blind spot for many managers, the current communication challenge couldn’t be tougher. While much of a manager’s focus understandably has revolved around facilities technology issues, the rapidly evolving nature of facilities and the issues that affect them make effective communication an increasingly important tool in a manager’s arsenal.
Consider: Managers once relegated largely to the shadows of facilities now have to communicate with everyone from the C-suite, financial types and staff to contractors, building occupants and the general public. They also have to communicate in print and digitally, not just in meetings. And the increasingly public role of facilities in issues such as sustainability and occupant health means managers need to communicate through presentations and conversations at conferences and in the community.
What’s the solution to the communications challenge? It’s the same recommendation a manager might have heard about what it takes to become technically proficient in maintaining complex facilities systems and equipment: practice, practice, practice.
Dan Hounsell is senior editor for the facilities market. He has more than 30 years of experience writing about facilities maintenance, engineering and management.
