Embracing the shift was a common theme at the recent ASHE Health Care Facilities Innovation Conference in Minneapolis. Whether that is a shift in mindset, leadership style, the workforce or how we use technology, a clear message was issued: Facilities management is changing, and leaders need to change with it.
At the opening session, speaker Paul Epstein made two points that stuck out to me.
The first was, “Win Mondays.”
According to research, around 80 percent of Americans dread working on Monday or suffer from pre-Monday anxiety known as the “Sunday Scaries.” This dread ultimately kicks your work week off with less productivity and less drive to make it through to Friday. And for facility managers who arrive to work on Mondays with a plethora of things to get done, productivity can make all the difference.
But shifting your mindset on Monday — or even Sunday — can set yourself up to accomplish more. Imagine treating every Monday like a Friday. That approach not only starts your work week on a positive note but also puts you ahead of the majority of the population.
Ways to “Win Monday” include setting a goal for yourself to complete every Monday and making a plan on Sunday to keep yourself on track. Starting with a win can create momentum that carries through the rest of the week.
This mindset is especially important in healthcare facilities, when a manager might be walking into staffing challenges, construction updates, compliance requirements, supply chain concerns or an unexpected issue that needs immediate attention. It is easy to spend the entire day reacting to whatever comes through the door.
Winning Monday does not mean ignoring those challenges. It means being intentional about finding one thing you can control and accomplish. And as healthcare continues to evolve, that sense of progress matters.
Facilities managers are being asked to think beyond keeping the lights on and equipment running. They are increasingly part of conversations about efficiency, sustainability, technology, the patient experience and workforce retention. A positive mindset can help managers approach those changes as opportunities to improve rather than simply more being added to an already full plate.
The second point Epstein made was shifting into a “yes, if” leadership style instead of a “no, because” style. In facilities management, especially, it is easy to turn down new ideas or plans because you simply already have too much to do.
A “no, because” conversation automatically shuts the door. A “yes, if” keeps the door open, as long as certain points are addressed.
For example, a healthcare facility leader might be presented with an idea about space renovation or equipment additions. The immediate, knee-jerk response is, “No, because we don’t have the budget or time.” Instead, one could say, “Yes, if we can identify the operational impact and find a way to complete it without compromising safety, compliance or patient care.”
That does not mean saying yes to everything. Healthcare facilities managers have legitimate reasons to push back. Patient safety, infection prevention, budgets and the reliability of critical systems cannot simply be pushed aside. The difference is in how the conversation starts.
A “yes, if” mindset creates an opportunity to work through those barriers and gives facilities teams a stronger seat at the table. It also allows employees to feel heard and respected when they present new ideas.
New technologies, changing workforce expectations, aging infrastructure and new approaches to delivering care will continue to create challenges in healthcare, but the leaders willing to ask the right questions will be better positioned to turn them into opportunities.
Elaina Myers is the assistant editor of the facilities market. She has covered various topics from pest management to resilience to sustainability and covers all holidays and special days in the facilities field. She also manages the FacilitiesNet social media accounts.
