Facility Rockstars | Building Trust in Teams - Bill Cooper - Facility Rockstars

Building Trust in Teams - Bill Cooper - Facility Rockstars - Episode # 020

July 25, 2024 / 39:39/E20

In this episode of Facility Rockstars, host Jay Culbert interviews Bill Cooper, the Facilities Director for the Milford New Hampshire School District. Bill shares his philosophy on learning from mistakes and the importance of never making the same mistake twice.

The conversation delves into Bill’s extensive experience in facilities management and education, his best practices for handling emergencies, and the collaborative approach he takes with his team. Bill emphasizes the importance of reviewing and refining processes to avoid repeated errors and details an incident involving a flooded high school and his team's commendable response. Additionally, Bill speaks on managing multiple projects, coordinating with contractors, balancing work with personal life, and fostering a supportive, respectful team environment.

Takeaways:

Learn from Mistakes: Emphasize the importance of learning from mistakes to avoid repeating them. This fosters a culture of continuous improvement and shows that making errors is part of the learning process.
Review, Triage, and After Action: Implement a structured process for handling incidents, which includes reviewing what happened, addressing immediate concerns (triage), and conducting an after-action review to identify what can be improved for future situations. This ensures that lessons learned are applied.
Foster Collaboration: Cultivate a collaborative environment where staff feel comfortable discussing what went wrong and proposing solutions. This helps build a strong team dynamic and encourages innovation.
Employee Empowerment: Encourage employees to share their perspectives and suggestions. By listening to them and incorporating their feedback, you show that their input is valued, which can lead to higher engagement and better outcomes.
Prioritize Effectively: When managing multiple projects, prioritize tasks based on urgency and impact. Communicate clearly about the priorities and ensure everyone understands the reasons behind these decisions.
Empathy and Understanding: Take the time to understand your team's personalities and needs. Adapt your management style to fit different individuals, showing empathy and personal interest in their lives. This builds trust and loyalty.
Work-Life Balance: Advocate for a healthy work-life balance. Remind your team (and yourself) that while work is important, it’s not the only thing in life. Encourage taking time off to recharge and spending time with loved ones.

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