Last month, Thomas, a young maintenance tech at a local school district, saved someone’s life. Literally. He was in the right place at the right time with the right training (in CPR). He got a lot of local recognition, all of which was well deserved. And as the news spread about his heroics, more stories emerged about everyday things that Thomas did that also deserved recognition—the smaller, but still important, ways that he makes his workplace a safer and more efficient place. It was refreshing. Maintenance techs know when things go wrong, the maintenance department often gets the blame. But the maintenance teams often don’t get the credit they deserve when things go well. Recognizing the contributions of the maintenance professionals is long overdue. So, how do we change that?
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It’s Time to Raise Awareness
Maintenance often gets overlooked until there is a failure. To combat that problem, maintenance professionals themselves need to raise the level of awareness of what they provide to the organization. We can’t wait for others to notice. We need to advocate for ourselves.
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Tell your story. Look for opportunities to share your projects, goals, accomplishments, challenges, and results. Make sure the people in positions of influence understand what your department does and the benefit your team brings to the organization.
Do you want other people to understand the real value of your maintenance personnel? Start by asking what they’re worth when a breakdown has your production line at a standstill.
As one MPulse Facebook follower said, “Maintenance is like an insurance policy. You don’t know why you pay for it until you wreck your car.”
It’s Time to Reach Out to Others
No one understands maintenance like other maintenance professionals. So, we need to work together.
Join or start a chapter of a professional association (like the Association for Maintenance Professionals or the International Facility Management Association) in your area. Find out what’s going on at other plants or facilities.
Get your staff involved in service clubs and organizations. Encourage your team members to give back to their communities. These outreach activities are great ways to promote what maintenance technicians do and how much people rely on them.
Maintenance professionals often complain they don’t get the respect they deserve. So, let’s change that, starting in your own organization.
Leave a comment or contact us to share how you make sure your maintenance team gets the credit they deserve.
