Even if you don’t work in facilities, you should be concerned with the deferred maintenance challenge. This happens when some sort of project or repairs are delayed. Usually this is done for a cost savings or a budgetary reason.
Whatever the case, something that is showing its age, like an old roof, will not be repaired or replaced.
In business, there can be examples of deferred maintenance that involve employees. Some may need important training but there’s no longer enough money in the budget to make it happen.
Often, the deferred maintenance challenge involves a bit of a gamble. You assume an old roof can last one more year or employees won’t fall behind if their training is not keep current with the competition.
And sometimes, while not a great option, deferred maintenance is your best bet. While I understand it, you need to make sure your decision to wait is properly considered. Keep these points in mind:
There’s a Catch
Deferred problems almost always create present pain for someone. An employee has a challenge that is not going away. Maybe the solution delay produces minimal disruption. But usually, things will get harder for the employee who wanted a change.
Again, there may be nothing you can do about it because you don’t have the money. But understand the impact of the decision goes beyond a spreadsheet.
What’s the Cost Beyond the Savings?
Before you make your decision, find out what’s the cost of waiting. Does the aging roof start to leak, leading to further repairs? Will not investing in employee training or software make them less effective on the job?
Consider the cost of inaction along with the financial benefits of putting off action. Waiting may suddenly not appear to be an attractive solution.
Other Solutions
In making your decision, have you asked for additional options? Sometimes a partial solution, while not solving the problem, can buy you time and prevent escalating costs from the issue. Patching an aging roof is not repairing it but it can prevent expensive leaks.
In the case of employee training, you may no longer be able to send six employees to an all day session. But can one be sent and later that person will train his or her colleagues?
In this scenario, you have to give the employees time to conduct their training back at the office. You also must realize a coworker may not be as good as a trainer, when compared to a professional. Still, some training is usually better than none.
Your Deferred Maintenance Challenge: Perception
As a leader, you sometimes have to make unpopular decisions. That’s part of the job and hopefully people will respect your choices.
Make sure other actions don’t undermine your deferred maintenance decision. For instance, let’s say you put off a project for financial reasons and a week later, your new office furniture arrives.
While the furniture may come from an entirely different budget, can you blame employees for thinking, “That’s where my project money went.”
If you’re asking others to deal with a tightened financial belt, then make sure you’re not seen as living large. It’s a slippery slope that can lead to major morale problems.
A shared sacrifice is much easier for people to embrace. As a symbolic gesture, you may want to delay one of your priorities.
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