Influential Leadership - Barton Nielsen - Facility Rockstars - Episode # 019

07/18/24 • 35 min

In the latest episode of Facility Rockstars, host Jay Culbert interviews Barton Nielsen, a seasoned leader with 19 years of experience in EH&S and a strong educational background, including an MBA from the University of California and a Master's in Biotech from Harvard.

Barton shares his personal journey from being an individual contributor to becoming a leader and influencer in various roles.

He emphasizes the importance of relationship-building, understanding team dynamics, and effective communication. Using examples from his career, including a challenging stint at a manufacturing facility and his current role at Regeneron, Barton explains the critical lessons he learned about delegation, setting expectations, and coaching. He also touches on his unique upbringing in a military community, which shaped his global perspective and service-oriented mindset. Barton provides actionable advice for those transitioning into leadership roles, stressing the importance of getting to know your team and communicating openly.

Takeaways:

Know Your Team Members Personally - You can't figure out how to motivate somebody if you don't know who they are. Take the time to understand your team members' personal and professional lives to better connect and motivate them.
Build Relationships and Understand Your Environment - Relationship build and sit back and try to understand what you've just inherited so that you can put together your plan of attack. This ensures you leverage existing strengths and address any gaps effectively.
Communicate Early and Often - Open lines of communication from the start. Regular updates and check-ins can prevent miscommunications, align expectations, and build trust within the team.
Familiarize Yourself with People, Programs, and Culture - Get to know the people, the programs, and the culture. This comprehensive understanding allows for more nuanced decision-making and effective leadership.
Embrace Continuous Learning and Self-Improvement - Reflect on past experiences and identify areas for improvement. Accept that there are always things you could do better and use those insights to evolve your leadership approach.
Maintain Honesty and Transparency - Being honest and truthful is key to establishing credibility and trust. Even when delivering bad news, transparency ensures that everyone is on the same page and can plan accordingly.
Avoid Lying by Omission - Not sharing critical information is as harmful as outright lying. Ensure that you communicate all necessary details to your team to avoid misunderstandings and foster a culture of open communication.

Quote of the Show:

“Most people want to feel utilized, they want to learn, and be successful.”

Links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bartnielsen/
Website: https://www.regeneron.com/

Shoutouts:

The First 90 Days: https://www.amazon.com/First-90-Days-Strategies-Expanded

Ways to Tune In:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0M2XB78b09i5vkWy1eHsxb
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/facility-rockstars/id1729458441
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/60bbc4f3-a123-47ca-9a83-eade102c5859/facility-rockstars
Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/facility-rockstars-5616662
YouTube: https://youtu.be/xYOGYUQDOCI
Facility Rockstars Newsletter: https://subscribe.kaloutas.com

Facility Rockstars is sponsored by Kaloutas, operating the way you operate in order to make your life easier. Learn more at: https://www.kaloutas.com

Barton shares his personal journey from being an individual contributor to becoming a leader and influencer in various roles.

Takeaways:

Know Your Team Members Personally - You can't figure out how to motivate somebody if you don't know who they are. Take the time to understand your team members' personal and professional lives to better connect and motivate them.
Build Relationships and Understand Your Environment - Relationship build and sit back and try to understand what you've just inherited so that you can put together your plan of attack. This ensures you leverage existing strengths and address any gaps effectively.
Communicate Early and Often - Open lines of communication from the start. Regular updates and check-ins can prevent miscommunications, align expectations, and build trust within the team.
Familiarize Yourself with People, Programs, and Culture - Get to know the people, the programs, and the culture. This comprehensive understanding allows for more nuanced decision-making and effective leadership.
Embrace Continuous Learning and Self-Improvement - Reflect on past experiences and identify areas for improvement. Accept that there are always things you could do better and use those insights to evolve your leadership approach.
Maintain Honesty and Transparency - Being honest and truthful is key to establishing credibility and trust. Even when delivering bad news, transparency ensures that everyone is on the same page and can plan accordingly.
Avoid Lying by Omission - Not sharing critical information is as harmful as outright lying. Ensure that you communicate all necessary details to your team to avoid misunderstandings and foster a culture of open communication.

Quote of the Show:

“Most people want to feel utilized, they want to learn, and be successful.”

Links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bartnielsen/
Website: https://www.regeneron.com/

Shoutouts:

The First 90 Days: https://www.amazon.com/First-90-Days-Strategies-Expanded

Ways to Tune In:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0M2XB78b09i5vkWy1eHsxb
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/facility-rockstars/id1729458441
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/60bbc4f3-a123-47ca-9a83-eade102c5859/facility-rockstars
Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/facility-rockstars-5616662
YouTube: https://youtu.be/xYOGYUQDOCI
Facility Rockstars Newsletter: https://subscribe.kaloutas.com

Facility Rockstars is sponsored by Kaloutas, operating the way you operate in order to make your life easier. Learn more at: https://www.kaloutas.com

Previous Episode

Care Tactics - Facility Rockstars - Episode # 018

Host Jay Culbert interviews Josh Russell, a Senior EH&S Manager at the Janelia Research Campus and co-host of the Illusion of Safety podcast. Josh shares insights on blending safety and facility management. He emphasizes shifting from 'safety cops' to facilitators or concierges to foster innovation and efficiency.

Josh discusses the importance of building and maintaining trust and communication through relationship-building, empathy, and active engagement. He has also developed training curriculums focusing on leadership and collaboration. Josh stresses that a supportive network and caring about others' experiences are crucial for success. He encourages safety professionals to be resources, engage in empathetic communication, and involve others in safety decisions.

Takeaways:

Building Relationships: Prioritize building strong relationships with your team. Establishing trust and rapport results in better cooperation and a more harmonious work environment. Practicing empathy and engaging in casual conversations can go a long way in forming solid connections.
Effective Communication: Ensure that your communication is clear, consistent, and direct. Miscommunication can lead to errors and misunderstandings, so it's important to articulate your message effectively. Use face-to-face interactions whenever possible, as it conveys sincerity and builds stronger connections.
Lead by Example: Show your team that you are committed to the same standards you expect from them. Being visible and engaged in their processes demonstrates your dedication and fosters respect and motivation within the team.
Empathy in Leadership: Demonstrate genuine care and empathy towards your team's challenges and experiences. Understand their perspectives and recognize them as experts in their fields. This boosts morale and encourages a collaborative environment.
Innovative Problem-Solving: Encourage your team to think outside the box and develop creative solutions to challenges. Partner with them to co-create solutions that are effective and innovative, rather than imposing top-down directives.
Providing Support: Make yourself available as a resource. Be proactive in assisting your team with their needs, whether it's through providing tools, facilitating training, or simply being a listening ear. This reciprocity strengthens relationships and encourages a supportive organizational culture.
Follow-Through: Consistently fulfill your promises and commitments. When you follow through on your word, your team learns to trust and rely on you. This reliability is fundamental to building a strong leadership reputation and fostering a dependable team.

Quote of the Show:

“I wanted to instill that muscle memory and mindset of thoughtful consideration. It's crucial to observe people thinking through their work comprehensively and from the perspective of others.”

Links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-russell-csp/
Website: https://www.janelia.org/

Ways to Tune In:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0M2XB78b09i5vkWy1eHsxb
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/facility-rockstars/id1729458441
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/60bbc4f3-a123-47ca-9a83-eade102c5859/facility-rockstars
Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/facility-rockstars-5616662
YouTube: https://youtu.be/FmOGbuthDK0
Facility Rockstars Newsletter: https://subscribe.kaloutas.com

Facility Rockstars is sponsored by Kaloutas, operating the way you operate in order to make your life easier. Learn more at: https://www.kaloutas.com

Next Episode

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

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.

Quote of the Show: