Being a mentor to young professionals embodies the pay-it-forward concept. Think of the potential impact if one chose to mentor three people, and they then chose to mentor nine more people, and those went on to mentor 27 more people. The results could be prodigious. Successful mentoring programs have become valuable, organizational assets. In a…

In music, transition can be "a progression from one key to another in a piece of music." Michael Watkins, author of "The First 90 Days" states, "Transitions are periods of opportunity, a chance to start afresh and to make needed changes in an organization." For those who are in the facilities world, transition can often refer to a change of…

Granted, it might be a bit of a stretch to find comparable attributes between an ice hockey team and facilities management organizations. However, if you are open-minded to the possibility and begin to analyze each of these entities, you will find there are some distinct similarities. Ice hockey is a fast-paced and ever-changing game, much like a…

Listening is one of the most crucial skills that leaders need to possess but is often the most difficult to master. It takes hard work, concentration, and specific skill sets to become an effective listener. Facilities leaders need to perfect the art of listening to their employees. Employees possess pertinent knowledge about day-to-day operations…

This article discusses the Gen Yers--the Millennial Generation--who were born between 1980 and 2001. They are perceived as being the "I'm entitled to..." the "What's in it for me?" generation--the "trophy kids." They have been exposed to technology from birth: (1) e-mail; (2) IM; (3) the Web; (4) cell phones; (5) MySpace; (6) Facebook; and (7)…

Lack of accountability is a leading topic in today's workforce. It costs corporate America billions of dollars each year and has financial impact on educational institutions as well. From employee theft to poor production of product and inefficiency, it is a serious problem. Facilities leaders need to take ownership and strive to implement…