Know the lease inside and out. No matter what the facility is, it will be beneficial to know whether it is leased, subleased, or owned. Become familiar with the timelines of the leases, start dates, end dates, cancellation dates, renewal dates, etc.
Be sure all drawings of the work environment are up to date. Double check that changes to the workplace are in the newest drawings.
Review the building systems and become familiar with HVAC, electrical, life safety and security systems. Be sure the maintenance is being performed at in an efficient and timely way and request an IAQ if not recently done.
Review the budget and look at the annual operating budget as well as where expenses are made.
Check the cleanliness, safety, and functionality of the workspace. To be sure that no issues arise in the future, violations, fire codes, health hazards, accessibility issues, etc.
Review service contracts, looking for start and end dates. Meet with the staff to review their work.
Evaluate all furniture and equipment. Review the age, functionality, and ensure proper layout.
Assess planning of the workplace, looking for seat vacancies, churn rate, and a possible headcount.
Get to know your coworkers. See what kind of challenges they face and keep in contact with managers.
Understand life safety of the organization. Smooth operation impact health of workers. Be prepared for things to happen, and know employees’ contact information.
Evaluate the staff to be sure that they are carrying out their duties properly and efficiently.
Be visible and approachable. You are only able to stay in the loop if you are present. This allows you to be able to make quick decisions to issues that pop up out of the blue.
