This May Shock You: I Don’t Know Everything (And That’s a Good Thing)

Let’s get something straight—I don’t know everything.

There. I said it.

I don’t have every answer in Facilities Management, asset management, lifecycle planning, or compliance. I have no idea what chemicals the cleaning staff are using these days, but I do know how to read a COSHH sheet. I can’t tell you off the top of my head why your HVAC system isn’t balancing properly, but I can ask the right people and listen to the ones who do.

Because knowing everything isn’t leadership. Knowing how to ask, research, listen, and develop—that’s what matters.

The Sunday Reality Check: Personal Development Never Stops

As I sit here on a Sunday, working on my Strategic Leadership end-point assessment, I realise this is just one piece of a much bigger picture.

The learning never stops.

I recognise that I can’t possibly keep up with every single detail across FM, engineering, compliance, finance, and sustainability. But what I can do is stay engaged with the people on the ground—the ones who actually keep the wheels turning.

Because if you want to lead effectively, you have to know where to listen, not just where to talk.

Why Conversations Matter More Than Assumptions

Having a coffee with the engineers can tell you more about your contract’s health than any report ever will.

? One engineer is complaining about on-call shifts increasing.

? Another is frustrated with a lack of parts.

? Someone else just doesn’t like the company anymore.

At face value, it’s just grumbling. But dig deeper, and you see the pattern:

?? Lack of parts? Why? Is it procurement delays, budget cuts, or supply chain issues?

?? Doing extra on-call? Why? Is it engineer churn, understaffing, or unrealistic job expectations?

?? Low morale? Why? Is it a leadership issue, contract uncertainty, or bad working conditions?

The root of the issue is always in the "why."

Leadership Is About Serving, Not Dictating

Too many leaders think their job is to command and control. In reality, leadership is about serving.

? We are here to develop and support others.

? We are here to remove roadblocks, not create them.

? We are here to listen, understand, and act.

If parts delays are killing productivity, we don’t just throw our hands up—we fix the process. If engineers are leaving, we don’t just hire replacements—we ask why they’re leaving and solve the retention problem.

That’s what separates great leadership from micromanagement.

The Takeaway: Invest in People, Not Just Processes

The biggest lesson in FM, asset management, or any operational industry?

?? The answers aren’t in the spreadsheets.

?? The best insights don’t come from boardrooms.

?? The real knowledge is with the people doing the work every day.

So, while I might not know everything, I do know this:

?? If you listen to your people, you’ll always be ahead of the game.

?? If you focus on the "why", you’ll solve the problems before they spiral.

?? If you lead by serving, you’ll build stronger teams and better results.

That’s what leadership really is.

Now, over to you—what’s the best lesson you’ve learned from listening to your team? Drop it in the comments! ??