The document discusses best practices for maintenance supervisors and staff to develop efficient working relationships. It recommends that supervisors become familiar with staff's strengths to effectively assign tasks. Supervisors should also coordinate training opportunities and maintain a professional attitude when dealing with stress. Staff members should be open about their skills and seek help when unsure how to complete a task rather than wasting time. Good communication between supervisors and staff ensures all parties understand expectations and prevents issues.

1. In the Area of Colleges and Universities Focusing on Supervisor
and Staff Working Relationships.
Efficient Maintenance Practice

2. Maintenance Supervisor Practices
 First and foremost, it is good practice for
maintenance supervisors to become familiar with
their staff members.
 This provides the supervisor with the
necessary information to assign tasks.
 Staff members will be categorized into their
strengths such as plumber, carpenter, etc.
 Work will easily be distributed amongst these
categories based upon the information
gathered by the supervisor.
 This practice saves time and frustration for
everyone involved in the process including
the customer, the staff member, the
supervisor, the managers, and the directors.
 This also allows the supervisor to coordinate
training seminars based upon who needs
training in what area. New training is being
provided at all times among manufacturers
and suppliers. These training sessions are
often free to clients so it is nice for a
supervisor to be aware of these sessions and
who to send to them.

3. Maintenance Supervisor Practices Continued.
 Maintenance supervisors must also maintain a
professional attitude.
 It goes without saying that any supervisor
should maintain a professional attitude
but coming from personal experience,
these attitudes could use some fine
tuning.
 This field comes with a lot of stress.
Being of sound mind allows one to deal
with the type of stress encountered in this
field including; customer complaints,
short-staffing, lack of budget for
materials, waiting on shipments, etc.
 The key to maintaining good working
relationships is to treat your staff with the
respect you would expect in return.
Never insult someone for admitting that
they do not know how to fix something.
This type of belittling behavior never gets
the job done.

4. Maintenance Supervisor Practices Continued.
 Supervisors must be good communicators.
 It is one thing to understand an issue for
yourself, it is an entirely different thing to be
able to convey that information to the
necessary party.
 Supervisors must understand the issue and be
able to describe it to their staff members in a
manner that is both clear and transparent.
 Supervisors must be sure that the staff
member is fully aware of what is going on
and what needs to be done in order to fix it.
 This prevents breakdowns in efficiency for all
parties. The staff member knows what is
expected, the supervisor knows what to order,
and time is saved by everyone by knowing
exactly what to do.
 Award praise when merited. A simple pat on
the back is far more rewarding than it seems.
 The job will never get done in a timely
manner if the parties involved are on different
pages.

5. Staff Member Practices.
 Staff members must be open and honest when
acquiring a maintenance position.
 This provides the supervisors with the
necessary information they need in order
to assign tasks.
 Learning on the job is a good thing but it
is not a good thing to be learning as you
go all of the time. Sticking to your
strengths and being open as to what your
strengths are ensure the timely
completion of the maintenance tasks at
hand.
 Do not hesitate to say that you do not
know how to fix something. Wasting
time on trying to figure it out for yourself
hurts the entire department. Time is
wasted, frustrations rise, and the job
suffers.

6. Staff Member Practices Continued.
 Just as the supervisor, the staff member must
also maintain a professional attitude.
 The maintenance field is a dangerous
field with hazards abound. Goofing off
on the job is a good way to get hurt. This
is never fun.
 Staff members must be open to
communicating with the supervisor, the
client, etc. This ensures that the job is
understood, the needs of the client are
being met, and the expectations of the
supervisor are exceeded.
 Staff members must be open to criticism.
When confronted with criticism from a
supervisor, it is a good idea to listen and
grasp what is being conveyed. For the
criticism is usually given with merit.

7. In Conclusion
 Maintaining a good working relationship
between supervisors and staff members in the
maintenance field is a necessary part of the
job spectrum.
 Everyone involved is aware of what is
expected of them.
 The lines of communication are to remain
open at all times.
 Attitudes and tempers are to be “left at the
door” or else the job will suffer.
 Criticism is to be expected and appreciated.
 Praise should be given when merited.
 The workplace environment is the one we
spend the majority of our time in. We spend
more time with our co-workers than we do
with our families. Isn’t it a good idea to have
a good relationship with these people?