Some of the greatest sports leaders include Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, and Alex Ferguson. Their passion and desire were infectious. They continuously pushed for world-class performances and got the best out of the team. When they spoke, everyone listened.
Many would say they were born leaders. Like those outstanding sports personalities mentioned above, the best maintenance managers are effective leaders who bring out the team's best. They also create a sense of energy, trust, and loyalty in their employees.
Cultivating skills for maintenance leadership
The term "born leaders" implies that you either have it or don't. On the contrary, only 33% of leadership qualities are innate; 66% can be learned and improved over time.That is, anyone can become a better leader by continuously practicing, refining, and honing their leadership skills and developing these five must-have leadership qualities.
1. Exceptional maintenance managers are great communicators
The best leaders are usually associated with being great communicators. They know what to say and how to say it, and they know when to speak and when to listen.
Improving interpersonal skills and team collaboration
Effective maintenance managers need excellent communication skills to effectively interact with the team, management and vendors and ensure everyone is on the same page.For example, technicians need clear directions on projects and tasks daily to avoid confusion, and poor communication will lead to bad outcomes.
Maintenance leaders who communicate in a genuine way build lasting trust with the team. Increasing trust will help create a culture where employees thrive.
Best practices for sharpening communication skills
Here are the best practices that enhance maintenance manager skills, leading to better teamwork and clarity:- Clearly set expectations so there is no confusion on the role and the work.
- Continuously give feedback.
- Be approachable.
- Be concise and clear.
- Be enthusiastic, as it can become contagious.
- Conduct regular 1:1s with your subordinates.
- Always remember that a big part of communication is listening. When someone else speaks, listen with attention and sincerity.
- Avoid gossip.
- Provide the "why" for the team's actions—for example, implementing a new CMMS system will help us automate our PMs and help employees see the bigger picture.
2. Maintenance Managers have lots of Integrity
Integrity is the foundation of outstanding leadership and is critically important in maintenance.
A leader with integrity sticks by their principles regardless of how difficult the circumstance is. They prioritize honesty, avoid shortcuts, fulfill their promises, and acknowledge their mistakes.
Leadership impact on team values and ethics
If you never lie, you never have to remember what you said. Employees mirror their leaders' behavior, values, and work ethic, so if you behave ethically and do the right thing, your team will too.Tips for building integrity in maintenance management
Cultivating integrity within your maintenance team establishes accountability and promotes a proactive work environment. Here are practical tips that emphasize ethics to help you build integrity:- Never lie. If you do, you lose credibility and trust.
- Be open and transparent
- Do what is right for the team and the customer
- Admit your mistakes
- Be accountable
- Give credit where credit is due
- Put the safety of the team first
- Don't ask someone to do something you wouldn't do
3. Maintenance Managers are Very Organized
It's challenging to manage a team if you cannot manage yourself. Poorly organized people tend to be less efficient and productive.
Being disorganized can also have serious consequences when things go wrong, such as missing safety inspections that lead to preventable safety incidents.
Streamlined systems for maintenance management
The best maintenance managers have systems and processes to help manage their team, time, attention, and work. Being organized helps focus your attention on the important items and develops attention to detail. It also sets a positive example for the team to follow.Strategies to improve organizational skills
Every maintenance manager must use strong organizational skills to enhance productivity and streamline operations.Implementing these maintenance management strategies will promote accountability and teamwork within the maintenance department:
- Set goals and take responsibility for accomplishing them
- Empower the team with the right tools and technologies to do their jobs right. For example, use CMMS software to assign and allocate work orders.
- Don't hold back on delegation - staying organized is impossible if you insist on doing everything yourself.
- Use a tool to document and prioritize goals and objectives.
- Have a vision for the future so you can plan and adapt quickly
- Avoid unnecessary distractions
4. Maintenance Managers Embrace Innovation & Change
The best maintenance managers know there is always room for improvement.
They look for fresh ideas to make things "better." This includes creating a safer work environment and implementing the latest technologies. They also look for new tools to enhance job performance, more efficient processes, or more competent team members.
Being a great maintenance manager means being open to flexibility, innovation, new ideas, and change.
Being proactive in a changing environment
If you are not open and prepared for change, change may be forced upon you when you least expect it.Covid-19 has clearly demonstrated that. You will hear of "the great resignation" in the media, in which millions of workers worldwide are quitting their jobs for better pay, working conditions, or work-life balance. Systems, policies, and processes that worked well in the past may not work today.
Approaches to welcoming innovation and change
Promoting continuous improvement in maintenance operations demands a proactive mindset and adaptability. Here are some ways to strengthen innovative strategies:- Continuously review the status quo.
- Be flexible in your approaches.
- Encourage experimentation. negotiation, and outside-the-box thinking in your team.
- Don't be afraid to try new things.
- Change course quickly if needed.
- Read and research so you can keep your eye on the future. Scan for new technologies, new trends, new processes, new tools, etc
- Facilitate process improvement workshops with the team. The team may have some great ideas for improving their work.
- Help the team grow and learn by encouraging them to better themselves.
5. Maintenance Managers are Excellent Decision-Makers
Most maintenance managers start their careers as technicians, so they should be reasonably good decision-makers by default.
As priorities change rapidly, the more successful maintenance leaders must be excellent problem solvers and decision-makers.
Assuming responsibility in risky situations
Under challenging circumstances, they take risks and decide, knowing they will take the heat if things go wrong. In many cases, they have to make a decision before all the information is available.Techniques for confident decision-making
Tips to help improve decision-making:- Use CMMS tools like Zoidii to remove some of the subjectivity and human bias and help you make more informed decisions and become a better maintenance leader.
- Get a trusted advisor to bounce ideas off and use for a second opinion.
- Focus your energy on more significant decisions by letting the team make the more minor decisions
- Be assertive
- Fatigue can lead to poor choices. Exercise and get plenty of rest to function properly and make better decisions.
Evaluating your maintenance leadership skills
After reading the five qualities of successful maintenance managers, it's time to score yourself on each of them. You may score well on some and poorly on others. All five qualities are critical to successful leadership in maintenance.
Some people are born leaders, but the rest become leaders through experience and continuous learning.
To learn how to be a good maintenance manager, focus on improving the top 5 qualities outlined above. You can continuously practice and refine them over time through formal training, leadership books, podcasts, videos, or on-the-job experience.
