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Facilities Manager | march/april 2014 | 37 coin toss question if we are doing things right. It is always the right time to evaluate the execution of your business and service plans. Consider how to do the things you do better. Are we completing the tasks? Is our effort sufficient? Are we commu- nicating well? Are we meeting a standard or simply doing the minimum? Is there a perception problem? A common thread for many of these questions is people. One possible answer to people problems of this nature is motivation. Motivation is that internal personal commitment to a standard of conduct or service. When people are motivated, they see their work in terms of the value it contributes to the organization. Con- versations are about standards instead of rules, accomplishment instead of duty, and others instead of themselves. Once again we find leadership to be essential to foster this environment. In this arena, a leader must set the expectations, model the behavior and speech, encourage others, and recognize good decisions and behaviors of others. In this time of technological advances, great emphasis has been placed on innovation-oriented leadership. However, inspirational leader- ship, while often overlooked, produces so many benefits because it focuses on people more than things. NOT SO OBVIOUS One final thought is the inherent, but not so obvious, link between innovation and motivation. Innovation can trigger an uptick in motivation and performance because employees get excited over something new—especially if it helps them become more efficient at their work. Likewise, when the morale of employees increases they may come for- ward with more creative ideas and inno- vation happens. The workplace becomes healthier and more vibrant when this culture is common place because people enjoy making their individual contribu- tion to the organization's success. Spectators have opinions; leaders have responsibilities. These responsibilities require making decisions and supporting those decisions to their productive ends through all types of change. So, make sure you look around and take inventory of your organization routinely. It may need a shot of innovation, motivation, or some combination of both. Give it to them. Joe Whitefield is executive director of facilities services at Middle Tennessee University, Murfreesboro, TN. He can be reached at ũŽĞ͘ǁŚŝƚĞĮĞůĚΛŵƚƐƵ͘ĞĚƵ. Specializing in Educational Facilities since 1964 Gale Associates, Inc. 800-366-1714 ejm@gainc.com www.galeassociates.com Building Envelope/Structural Services: Q Roof, wall, window/glazing, waterproofing, and structural evaluations and designs Q Construction phase assistance Q Building envelope design assistance and peer review for new construction; and historic, LEED-certified, and green roof facilities Q Roof and building envelope management programs Q Forensic evaluations Athletic and Recreation Facilities Design Services: Q Comprehensive athletic campus evaluation and master planning Q Athletic facilities planning, permitting, and programming Q High-efficiency lighting, minimizing off-site impacts Q New track facilities, track renovations, and conversions Q All types of synthetic and natural turf fields B O S T O N B A L T I M O R E O R L A N D O S A N F R A N C I S C O W A S H I N G T O N , D . C . H A R T F O R D ENGINEERS & DESIGN PROFESSIONALS