APPA

Facilites Manager | Sept/Oct 2013

Issue link: http://digital.corporatepress.com/i/186210

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 53 of 95

coin toss What's the Meaning of This? Rediscovering the Value of Our Efforts By Joe Whitefield "P lan your work and work your plan." That was a well-known phrase a former manager of mine used often to keep his staff focused on the thinking aspects, as well as the execution aspects, of our work. Like most facilities managers I know, he believed that planning and execution were inseparably linked and interdependent. I agree. Successful projects involve appropriate levels of thoughtful planning and competent execution. Unsuccessful projects typically are lacking in one area. Disasters typically are lacking both. WILLING TO BE WILLING While this phrase is useful in that it speaks to the mechanics of a project, it is also limited in that it is not particularly inspirational. It speaks primarily to the mental abilities and physical skills required of people to accomplish work. To take it one step further, there must also be a willingness to accomplish the work. Willingness draws on the intrinsic qualities of individuals such as attitude, desire, pride, and stick-to-itiveness. Willingness is the energy that fuels critical and creative thinking and morale that drives the physical efforts. And there is a cyclical nature to this type of work environment. Positive morale contributes to successful work and accomplishment which, in turn, boosts morale. Make no mistake, willingness and ability (or Will and Able) are the dynamic duo of accomplishment. So, if your workplace morale is sagging a bit, what can be done to prop it up? To answer that question let's look at a major cause of the problem: namely, tasks that are perceived as meaningless by the people who perform them. Think back for a moment. Have you ever C O I N Completion Organization Innovation Being Nice prepared a report or presentation for a meeting that was cancelled at the last minute? Perhaps you spent a lot of time and creative energy in your final product. It may have even been some of your best work. How did you feel when the demand for your work disappeared and your work was never read or seen? Even if it was part of the job and you received appropriate compensation for the effort, there was still something wrong. The term is demoralized. If you are like most people, this feeling had an immediate deflating effect on your attitude, energy, and morale. It may have even had a recurring negative affect the next time you were asked to prepare for a similar event. All because the meaning of the work dissipated and it became a simple task instead of an important contribution. POINT OUT MEANINGFUL WORK Demoralization undercuts the will and saps energy from people. Taken too far, it can be damaging. Remember the old prison movies where the prisoners dug holes in the morning just to fill them up in the afternoon? They performed mindless, busy work that held no value for them or anyone else. Day after day— simply to break their spirits. How awful. 52 | september/october 2013 | Facilities Manager

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of APPA - Facilites Manager | Sept/Oct 2013