It’s okay to make a mistake. Just learn the art of fessing-up and moving on. Nobody is perfect! This is where taking ownership starts. Stay out of the blame game and away from the “that’s not my job” mentality. It’s the custodians that take responsibility for their actions and perform their jobs at a high level that understand the importance of taking ownership.
When custodians become problem solvers they are looked at in a different light. People who take ownership will likely move up in the ranks. This is not only a great way for a custodian to take ownership of his/her building, but also helps put you in the class of a professional member of the staff that is having an impact on student achievement. #AcademyofClng
If you work in a public school then you better understand and embrace the concept of service to others. It’s what we do! We need to be willing to go the extra mile for those we serve. The great thing about doing this is how rewarding it is for you. Have you ever dropped something that is important to you to help someone?
Instead of looking at being interrupted while you are cleaning a room as a hassle, look at it as a way of giving. Custodians who understand the importance of being of service to others not only understand why we do what we do, but also can feel good about what they do. That is, make a difference for others! #AcademyofClng
There are so many resources out there for custodians. Of course this book is one of them, but there is simply no excuse not to learn and grow as custodians. Don’t forget the power of networking with other custodians in other buildings or districts. As a school custodian did you ever consider reaching out to a custodian who works in a hospital about how they deal with MRSA? They can be a great resource for you to keep the students in your building safe in a situation like this.
The point is that in order to truly utilize your resources, you must sometimes think outside the box to maximize the benefits of reaching out. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, reach out to others and research best practices. #AcademyofClng
This is key to being successful at any level of custodial work. Mike Ward has found that most custodians don’t respond to data, but they do respond to great communication. An easy way to annoy the custodial crew is by not telling them about an event and the next thing you know there are 500 people in the building while they are trying to clean.
What we can do to help this situation is to have a great working relationship with the office staff, athletic director and parent groups. This is key to maintaining great communication. It is also usually the gap in why communication is not working within the custodial ranks. It is equally important to have great communication amongst your custodial crew. #AcademyofClng
