IT'S MORE THAN MY JOBSWORTH

 

Being a small fish in a small pond is actually a thing you know and a Facilities Manager can be that literal small fry. The Facilities Manager at a small project that shares space with other organisations should be sociable, a good communicator and able to foster good relationships between parties.

I say "should" but unfortunately there is this hypothetical fellow that seems to have created his own vision of his role and his importance in the scheme of things. Let's call him Ian.

Ian loves a sign, usually a grammatically wanting context free sign printed in Comic Sans sellotaped on a wall (it's impossible to take someone seriously who uses Comic Sans) He also loves to stroll around looking like he's actually doing something when in fact he is basically stretching his legs. 

Ian is very good at sending badly drafted emails telling people not to do stuff, like, don't leave the windows open, don't forget to put the new toilet roll in the holder, don't forget to turn the tap off, don't forget to turn the lights off...you get the idea.

Ian's real forte though, is his ability to get under one's skin by repetition of small things that seem designed to get one's back up. Going from room to rom during the winter turning the radiators down so that a visit to the toilet becomes akin to a trip to Antartica is one of his favourites as is his ability to distract staff members with his incessant gossiping.

Fortunately my hypothetical company are leaving Ian's clutches at the end of the month. I am sure he will be as sad as I will be happy, as there will be less people for him to annoy.

There's no need for it! that's my view, why be annoying and petty when you can be kind and helpful? It takes much less energy and makes you feel good.

Fundamentally it all boils down to fulfilling a need. Ian perhaps only has power at work and therefore has a grossly exaggerated sense of his importance. It's sad really and once some time has passed I can be more reflective from the safety of the new hypothetical office, but for now and the next 4 days I will be monitoring my emails with a sense of dread, keeping one eye open for Comic Sans pronouncements and listening out for the sound of his footfalls of dread.