{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Facility Rockstars","title":"How Observation, Humility, and Coaching Create Better Facility Leaders with Maria Ruiz of UNICEF USA","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2387,"description":"What does it take to lead people through uncertainty, change, and constant operational demands? In this episode of Facility Rockstars, Jay Culbert sits down with Maria Ruiz, Facilities and Operations Manager at UNICEF USA, to discuss the leadership lessons she's learned across healthcare, nonprofit, and corporate environments.Maria shares why learning not to take things personally transformed her leadership approach, how succession planning extends far beyond retirement, and why empathy, mentorship, and continuous improvement are critical for building resilient teams. From managing difficult personnel decisions to creating trust through daily check-ins, Maria offers practical insights for facilities professionals looking to become stronger leaders while supporting the people around them. Takeaways:Don't take challenges personally. Pause, seek context, and focus on what the situation can teach you. Maria emphasized that some of her biggest leadership growth came from learning to step back before reacting. By seeking to understand the circumstances, perspectives, and motivations behind a situation, leaders can turn setbacks and difficult conversations into valuable learning opportunities.Succession planning should account for retirements, leaves of absence, injuries, and unexpected organizational changes. Too often, succession planning is viewed only through the lens of retirement, but Maria highlighted the importance of preparing for any scenario that could create a gap in leadership or operational knowledge. Building processes, documentation, and cross-training into everyday operations helps teams remain resilient when unexpected changes occur.Observation is a critical leadership skill. Some of the most important processes are often undocumented and learned through listening and watching. Maria shared how paying attention to behaviors, workflows, and unspoken routines helped her understand organizations more effectively than any manual could. Leaders who take the...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/wIL-dAttDK3kGPGCx8T-IEpb3_8niKNWbKmYivkvwao/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS83NTkz/MjEzMTc5OTY4MmRi/MzYxYmU4NjI4MTE4/ZTQ1ZC5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}