Advice for a new Maintenance Manager? 7 ways I've seen leaders fail

[@patrickoconnor1219]

Joe - you are so spot on with your comments! It's everything I did and preached. After 32 years - our tire plant closed 2 weeks ago. I hated the relentless meetings, charts, and graphs. KPI's were worthless. Endless e-mails. I was hands on management - clean, inspect, correct, and lubricate. I put my union employees (lead hands)with responsibilities and they took pride of their work. I was the only salary maintenance person that the Union allowed to turn wrenches - because I was union mechanic with them before I went to salary. I knew the job. Let's get it done correctly and back to the shop. Predictive and Pro-active maintenance is key rather than Reactive maintenance. So many small teams to service (Safety, Production, Quality, Maintenance, Environmental, ect) - I just wanted their top 3 items to address - I'd only address item 1 and 2 - then move on to the next. Well- I'm in the job market now for a maintenance manager - haven't done a job interview in 32 years - wish me luck!

[@joekuhnlovesretirement]

You will do great if willing to move. Maintenance leaders are rare

[@lassydlassy508]

I’ve been in maintenance for 15 years and spent the last 8 as a supervisor and now a manager. Your advice is gold. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@RobertCassidy-b8x]

Joe, I've been playing this video back listening again and again. I'm a maintenance guy finally interviewing for manager spots outside my current company. I like your perspective

[@juancarlosgarciavillanueva1316]

Amazing how in only 7 points can give you a great feedback about how to be a good manager and above all a good leader.

[@jasonroessel486]

This was some very great advice. I just went from senior controls Engineer to a maintenance manager of 24 people and it seems like a mountain of work. I really need to learn to delegate since I was always the guy they called to fix the problems.

[@joekuhnlovesretirement]

This change from a doer to a delegator is difficult for most. You must change how you value yourself.

[@lassydlassy508]

Great advice. Thank you

[@faaea13]

I just found this video! I'm a new operations manager overseeing the Facilities maintenance at a huge school district in South bend Indiana! I have a background in building management and maintenance management but this role totally new to me and a little overwhelming but exciting and challenging at the same time. Thanks for the great advice!

[@joekuhnlovesretirement]

Thanks

[@renewhite5285]

Thank you very much for informative video. I am a leaser of an apartment and this is a very educational prospective for understanding what renters need to know about it all. Thanks again.

[@lancetrusty1058]

Thank you Joe. Great information here. I am 25 years in with a mixture of maintenance industry experience and have landed a position as as Maintenance Director at a 4 star hotel. I am looking for the same 30 to 60 day project to lay to rest. This is exactly how I wanted to start and I feel validated that you came up with the same vision. I have a Maintenance Supervisor that knows that facility backwards and forwards but seems to need some leadership to push the department into bigger and better things. I have subscribed to your channel and look forward to watching your other videos.

[@joekuhnlovesretirement]

You made my day. I make this videos for people just like you. Perhaps they will present a new idea or even just give you more confidence to act. Thanks.

[@CUEN_88_]

Thank you! I been on a Maintenance team for more then 8 year's going on 9. I have started as a green horn and now i am top Lead Tech,. Now on my step in life is running the show. I have never been in a management position but i feel i am ready for the challenge. My interview is next Tuesday .. This video has me help me a lot. Thank you!

[@joekuhnlovesretirement]

Great career. One challenge you will have will be that your sense of accomplishment and success will change from what you know and do to what you enable others to know and do. Don't underestimate this. Great technicians do not always make great or even good leaders. The temptation is to do the work of the team rather than let them do and sometimes even fail. It is kind of like teaching your kids to drive; eventually, you have to let them go solo. Your job is to coach and guide -- not do. Let me know if you need any help.

[@CUEN_88_]

@@joekuhnlovesretirement thank you! I sure will. I'll keep you updated on how it goes!

[@Trixboomer]

This is sage advice, much appreciated. It's motivational to hear it, and absorb what you are saying.

[@FailureatRetirement]

My mistakes were mine alone and the wins all belonged to the team. Leadership 101. My teams were very small and I spent most of my time working with them. Never had a problem with anyone who worked with me every day including the other managers (production, QC, etc). I mostly reported to people that I rarely saw and didn’t understand me. You nailed it though. 👍🏼🇺🇸

[@intoroadsters]

Great advice Joe, I was a Maintenance Manager for 28 years and a Plant Manager the last 5.

[@joekuhnlovesretirement]

Great. Well done. Not an easy road

[@giadavolpin3564]

I would like to hear from you how a typical working day is and the best tools/softwares/hacks (e.g., task manager) to improve efficiency

[@TonyXmz]

Great video Joe. I'm applying for a Maintenance Supervisor position with a rental car company soon...so the advise helps...thanks you!

[@joekuhnlovesretirement]

Excellent. Glad to help

[@gpjadams2]

Thanks. Love it. I love experience based advice.

[@RobertJones-qj9dl]

About to interview for my first manager position. This was incredibly helpful.

[@joekuhnlovesretirement]

Check this out. kzbin.info/www/bejne/a6q9qqipnN9lgKM

[@adolfyah4884]

Good day Joe. I was a former maintenance supervisor at a local grade school in the Bahamas and just recently I've been accepted to be a maintenance supervisor at a five star resort in the Bahamas. What steps should I take to improve my managerial skills and how should I approach the staff in an new environment and new culture at a resort?

[@joekuhnlovesretirement]

Wow. That’s a lot of. I don’t have experience at resorts. Sorry

[@ccbusiness9333]

Joe, thank you. I am a new maintenance manager at NASA Ames, and I found your video very insightful.

[@joekuhnlovesretirement]

Great. Let me know if you have a challenge you are facing that you want me to make a video on. I have 121 of them now on KZbin, but you may have a special challenge. Remember, you don't need luck with a plan.

[@ccbusiness9333]

Will do! Thank you! 👍🏻

[@daleleigh8321]

I've been working under a maintenance manager who is been on drugs and these are almost word for word the exact complaints that I've had and the ways that I would change things he finally got fired yesterday and now I'm going to find out how much I stack up unfortunately right now I'm the only person on the job thank you for your advice it has massively increase my confidence

[@joekuhnlovesretirement]

Excellent. I have 200 videos to assist you. Thanks.

[@pearl12037]

Sound Great i will comeback with feedback after 90 days.

[@faaea13]

I would love to hear some pointers on managing the maintenance on a major school district. We have over 40 buildings and we took over as an outsourcing company to get the job done since the schools were falling behind.

[@joekuhnlovesretirement]

Efficiency is the key. I really need more background of problems to give specific advice.

[@erwuxgarage8682]

Great video, i agree on all points.

[@peytondill4822]

Awesome video thank you for the wisdom!

[@olivierpapineau-schneiderm3673]

Thanks Joe, just got a position as an operations administrator and this was very useful :)

[@joekuhnlovesretirement]

Glad to help. Ensure you ask questions in areas you find as obstacles. Your fresh eyes are an asset many others have just accepted. I respond to 100% of questions submitted. Often with a video

[@olivierpapineau-schneiderm3673]

@@joekuhnlovesretirement its well appreciated, I'm very lucky that our operations team is very supportive

[@dantecanto3158]

Thank you. I feel like I'm on the right track. Great advice.

[@joekuhnlovesretirement]

Glad to help. Let me know if you have a question or want more confidence in a plan. And also, thanks for the feedback.

[@ZandRsportscards]

Can you talk about the roles and how to succeed as a property maintenance coordinator? I’ve been a maintenance supervisor but they sound like a coordinator is bigger than a field supervisor

[@guydambrosio6128]

Quick changes and own it.. no regrets .. fire people for questioning and not following orders.. slam protocols. Swing the hammer,,, guarantee job security and a well runned facility

[@joekuhnlovesretirement]

Excellent. Thanks

[@rubaietahir3470]

perfect honest advices Joe!

[@johnlambkin4299]

Thanks for your very (hopefully) helpful advice. I'm going to pass this video onto my maintenance manager and I'm hoping it saves his job because he is on a path to failure and will probably be replaced if he doesn't start seeing positive results. We need your help sir. I'm the only person out of 6 employees in shop with experience and I want this manager to succeed. He has no experience in a maintenance shop, is narcissistic and rarely comes to shop to see what's going on. He's a nice guy that puts in 110% of effort but only sees about 60% of results. Can he be helped or should I find another job because I strive on seeing results and am tired of doing the work of 3 or 4 people for only 1 paycheque.

[@joekuhnlovesretirement]

I do mentoring. See link in every video. Send him one of my videos

[@johnlambkin4299]

@@joekuhnlovesretirement Thank you for replying. I will feed him the information and hopefully he'll get in touch. He's a good man that is very much overwhelmed by all the moving pieces of his position. Thanks again.

[@SMUTTGOD]

Thank you

[@bongzsmalawu1614]

I thank you 🙏🙏

[@hjwp2023]

Joe, I recently took a maintenance leader position at a manufacturing company and ran into an issue I haven’t experienced before. The maintenance planner was told by his previous manager he was a shoe in for the position when he leaves. However management changed and he didn’t get the position. Now I’ve been hired into an industry that’s new to me and heavily rely on him for advice. He’s felt betrayed by the company and has mentioned to me that he should have my job. This could make or break the department as he has the most experience by far from any of the other maintenance workers. I need him on my side but not sure how to balance managing him. Any advice?

[@joekuhnlovesretirement]

Happens all the time. My advice is to be candid. Tell him what you told me. Be genuine with him about his prospects/gaps for the role. If realistic, commit to coaching them up. Most often they have never been told weaknesses and never got to work on them. For current role, ask them to rise above the deceit and perform as they are capable

[@andrewbennett6195]

This was really great advice! Thanks!

[@joekuhnlovesretirement]

Glad it was helpful! Let me know if you have any follow-up questions or challenges you need help with. I may make a video on the topic or email you back my advice.

[@handymancan485]

Excellent video

[@myronalmeida904]

Couldn’t agree more with what you said

[@joekuhnlovesretirement]

Thanks Myron. I owe it to viewers to be honest; then growth and success can happen.

[@bac4998]

Thanks for your insight.

[@joekuhnlovesretirement]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ferassalameh7954]

Joe I would appreciate a discussion Sir.

[@joekuhnlovesretirement]

I have a link in all my videos to schedule time. R&M is my favorite topic.

[@studentsaidoffice6906]

Thanks for the info, but as a junior aircraft maintenance engineer holding easa part 66 B2 + bachelor degree in electrical engineering + master's degree in aircraft maintenance management, do these academic knowledge in addition to easa license offer manager position for me as a fresh graduate?

[@joekuhnlovesretirement]

Unlikely. Practical experience required. Also, seek some leadership experience even if on project team or external to work

[@amrkamal7484]

Do you thinks that certifications and credentials enablers such as MMP, CMRP, CRE, FMP are game changers in how you manage operaration and maintenance?

[@joekuhnlovesretirement]

The short answer is No. The long answer is they can be. It is what you do with the certifications that matters. Certifications can help you get a job, but won't let you keep it. The best value I got from certifications is that they challenged me to take the long view verses the short term with decisions. My CMRP provided a "standard" for me to measure my actions against. Don't get me wrong! Education, certifications and credentials are important, but the R&M community is full of people with them yet they live in 100% reactive maintenance. Doing something with the skills is the game changer. Seeing failure as learning opportunities is a game changer. Understanding that every reliability tool is targeting waste elimination is a game changer. Hope I helped.

[@ahmedal-shaibani6531]

You are great thank you for your time

[@joekuhnlovesretirement]

Let's say I'm experienced and wish to share my knowledge with others. Glad you like the content.

[@joeogburn1580]

I am starting a new position that oversees managers that oversees maintenance work crew. I think the advice that you gave was helpful. Do you have any other advice?

[@joekuhnlovesretirement]

I have hundreds more videos. See them in the playlist. I also wrote a book, "Zero to Hero: how to jumpstart your reliability journey given today's business challenges". Lastly, do offer consulting. Links all in my videos.

[@bonginkosimbatsane7949]

Awesome

[@BlueCollarBanger]

This is some really great stuff!

[@joekuhnlovesretirement]

Thanks

[@andrewraugh1622]

Thank you for sharing.

[@joekuhnlovesretirement]

Glad to help

[@nardusellis655]

Great stuff !!!!@

[@joekuhnlovesretirement]

Thanks!

[@gjlenton76]

Hi I'm a gas heating engineer of 26 years, how can I sell myself in an interview for Management?

[@joekuhnlovesretirement]

Use examples.

[@kevinc9006]

I have no schooling or degree's... Had a boss tell me 4 years ago I had to go to school to make more money, now I have his job and make more then him. It's all about drive and taking up for your guys.

[@joekuhnlovesretirement]

I know 2 plant managers of large facilities that do not have college degrees. Degrees show potential to focus on a long term goal and an ability to learn skills. Practical work experience can do the same thing. Once you believe that 95% of technicians want to come in every day and do a good job, you realize the system is what is broken. If you develop an eye for system waste, you find it is everywhere. The crews will rise up to the challenge. Forget about the 5%. My challenge for you is to measure yourself one year from now against you today. Push to be your best self. This is much more satisfying than competing against others. Thanks for engaging.

[@thoailanly1869]

Character In the video It's great, I like it a lot $$

[@joekuhnlovesretirement]

Thanks sir

[@MauricioJaguan]

Great advice!

[@joekuhnlovesretirement]

Glad to help.

[@cedriclebreton6048]

Thanks

[@joekuhnlovesretirement]

I hope you can apply. Let me know about a success.

[@seanl.chilberg9774]

Thank you sir!

[@joekuhnlovesretirement]

You’re welcome. I’m here to help with candor and life experience.

[@seanl.chilberg9774]

I got the job!!!! Engineering supervisor!! Let’s go!!!

[@joekuhnlovesretirement]

@@seanl.chilberg9774 Fantastic.

[@seanl.chilberg9774]

@@joekuhnlovesretirement hey Joe can you please email some advice for a 30/60/90 day plan should be for a brand new hotel that has not opened yet. They have a CMS already in place but I’m the one that’s inserting all the PM’s in into it. What should My should focused points. My email is [e-mail] I would truly appreciate your great feed back.

[@khawarzamshah5006]

Sir, can you tell me online maintenance management courses.?

[@joekuhnlovesretirement]

I don’t have any to recommend. Lots of good books out there. I’m partial to mine. See link

[@AnimeArtist138]

Sir can you help me how I get a job in Maintenance Manager in manufacturing industry?please 🙏

[@joekuhnlovesretirement]

Send me your resume. Joe [e-mail]. I will look it over. I have 1000s of contacts in this space.

[@jdubincali]

Good tips!!! Thank you so much

[@joekuhnlovesretirement]

Glad you enjoyed. This is my most popular video year to date.

[@dencevr]

Great job Joe, keep'em coming!

[@joekuhnlovesretirement]

Thanks! Will do! Let me know if you have a video idea that would help you / your plant.

[@amujuru]

Helpful, thank you

[@notevenadot3097]

How to become Aircraft maintenance manager in the first place?

[@joekuhnlovesretirement]

You have to be able to sell the hiring manager that you can take the organization to a new level of performance. You do this from your current job, by seeing opportunity and then crafting a plan to capture. Chalk circle observation utilized to understand waste (opportunity) more thoroughly is the most powerful action you can take. Not only will you see waste others miss, simple solutions will reveal themselves. All this entails risks; you cannot be afraid of being wrong. Wrong becomes a valuable lesson learned. Get in the arena -- win or lose.

[@notevenadot3097]

@@joekuhnlovesretirement I'm studying BEng in aircraft maintenance. Do I have to get like a aviation management degree or so?

[@joekuhnlovesretirement]

I’m sorry; not my area of expertise.

[@MysticMountainNebula]

I am a 27 y/o tech who has an opportunity to become a maintenance service manager (the direct report to the facility maintenance manager). It’s a tough choice to make, because I’m currently on the perfect schedule, (3.5 12 hour shifts during the day) for spending time with my young family, while the Maintenance Service Manager position is 5 8 hour shifts overnight. The pay will be a nice increase, and will make our life a lot easier, sure, but I will also EVENTUALLY get that pay as a tech if I stick it out for a few years. There are also other benefits to the job, such as a sign on bonus and a yearly bonus based on building performance. I’m just trying to weigh my options and do what is best for my family. My wife and I take equal responsibility with the kids, and I’m concerned about her getting overwhelmed with me being on nights.

[@joekuhnlovesretirement]

Travis, your decision is actually quite common, but nonetheless difficult. I’ll answer with a question, “which role will have you in the best position in 5 years?” Take the long view on both your family and job. Hope this helps.

[@frankchifulo7558]

Whats your email?

[@joekuhnlovesretirement]

[e-mail]

[@joekuhnlovesretirement]

frank chifulo [e-mail]

[@deirdremcgrath1318]

Joe leadetship i