You're managing facilities maintenance. How do you navigate conflicting advice from external consultants?

When looking for external consultants you have to have a vetting process already in place to make sure its value added and within company guidelines.

--Understand each piece of advice including the reasons behind it and their potential outcomes on the project. --Refer to internal maintenance standards or any other predefined criteria related to the maintenance venture in question. Align the views of the external consultants with these documents to know which best aligns with the primary objective of the facility maintenance endeavor. --Finally, consult with internal key stakeholders presenting in clear terms the divergent views of the external consultants and which best aligns with the primary objectives of the facility maintenance endeavor which could be safety, cost-efficiency, sustainability, compliance with industry standards, regulations etc

Evaluating source credibility is an important information literacy skill. It ensures that you collect accurate information to back up the arguments you make and the conclusions you draw.

I firmly believe that in terms of navigating conflicting advice, the safety of our facility and its occupants should always be the top priority. I would say that recommendations that ensure safety should be given precedence over those that are less critical to the immediate well-being of the users of your facility. Moreover, evaluate each piece of advice in terms of risk management and compliance with health and safety regulations. To sum up, this approach will help us to make decisions that protect our organization from potential liabilities and maintain a safe environment for everyone.

I have found that round table discussion on a topic with knowledgeable stakeholders sometimes pulls out facts that may be overlooked otherwise you might be putting too many eggs in one basket. Don’t let a 30 day quote squeeze you into signing a contract.

When seeing conflicting advice or directions for credible subject-matter experts and consultants, one would face a dillemma on which path to choose. The best way to make a decision is ensure to have all the information necessary to make an informed decision. Weigh the impact of each alternative from safety, to cost, timing, feasibility, and how well the decision or direction meets the objectives. The ideal situation is to have quantifiable values, but in the absence of data, qualitative value also should suffice to differentiate the best from many good alternatives.

You must always have a contingency plan for keeping the residents (occupants) safe and comfortable while the work is going on.

One strategy that worked for us in a project was incorporating proactive listening and interpreting non-verbal cues as essential elements in gathering feedback effectively. By doing so, we can capture the full spectrum of communication, which often extends beyond words. This new approach ensures that we consider not just the explicit advice given, but also the implicit messages conveyed through body language and tone. Such comprehensive feedback can lead us to more informed decisions that resonate well with the team and stakeholders, fostering a collaborative environment for implementing changes.

Gather Internal Stakeholder Input Involve key personnel: Engage internal teams, like maintenance supervisors or engineers, who have hands-on experience and can provide practical insights. They often know what works on the ground and can highlight potential issues consultants may overlook. Cross-departmental alignment: If the decision affects other departments (e.g., finance, operations, or safety), ensure their concerns and perspectives are considered to make a well-rounded decision.

Ultimately it is the responsibility of the Facilities Manager to make tough decision, especially in the face of conflicting advice. Safety of anyone accessing the site or area is always a priority and, if all avenues achieve a safe result, the ball is back in your court. Professional recommendations can be presented to gain feedback from frontline team members to add real time context to the discussion. Once that is factored in your experience and confidence in your evaluation of all factors will lead you to the best solution.