At the end of March, we hosted our NFMT conference and trade show in Baltimore. During the three-day event, one word kept cropping up from attendees: training. Whether new to the industry or a seasoned vet, facility professionals were looking for opportunities to improve their staffs, but also ways to develop their own careers.
Training isn’t something to do for a week and then forget about. It needs to be ongoing.
Also, as NFMT General Session speaker Andy Gager pointed out, it should start day one. Too often new employees are welcomed in, shown their desk, and then left on their own to figure out the rest. Staff members need hands-on onboarding with clear directions and expectations — and then it needs to continue.
As employees develop into managers, training becomes even more crucial. For example, it’s likely that new managers have never learned how to motivate a team or discipline problem employees — two experiences that are inevitable. Make sure they have the resources to be successful in situations like these.
Many departments hesitate to invest in training out of fear that these employees will leave. But what if you don’t train employees and they stick around, underperforming for 20 years?
When employees leave for advancement, good managers see this as a compliment. They have groomed that employee to flourish, but unfortunately, sometimes better opportunities fall outside the current organization. It’s a testament to successful leadership and can be used to recruit aspiring new employees because it demonstrates a commitment to personal development.
Training doesn’t have to be expensive. Talk to your vendors about available education. Buy sandwiches or pizza and create a lunch-and-learn experience. If you have funds in your budget for travel, bring team members to nearby industry events. One NFMT attendee brought his superstar technician because he “wanted to blow his mind” by showing him the scope of the industry. I loved this approach to cement passion and interest into an employee and get them to see facility management as a career.
This fall we are hosting our Elevate summit for senior-level facility executives (because training never ends). We will be discussing funding opportunities, sustainability efforts and cultivating the next generation of leaders, among other topics.
Dan Weltin is the editor-in-chief for the facility market. He has nearly 20 years of experience covering the facility management and commercial cleaning industries.
