Editor's Note

Communication, in many circles, connotes talking — and not much else. That’s why I think our cover is so clever and ironic. Sometimes the words get in the way of effective communication. The word itself should be required to always be set off in quotation marks. “Communication” — the art of managing, motivating, convincing, and yes, listening. As our writer, Lori Veit, mentions in the cover story, the challenges and importance of communication are hard to overlook once you start having to “communicate” for a living.

Who in the facility hierarchy has more people to “communicate” with — or has more challenging “communication” problems — than the housekeeping department? Staff diversity makes for language problems. “Clean” and “sanitary” can be pretty subjective words in a facility world where appearance and health are volatile and critical issues.

We hope this month’s cover story helps to sensitize you to the art and science of communication and offers some tips you can take with you into the field.

Speaking of “communication” — as the new editor of Housekeeping Solutions, I am anxious to hear from you and talk to you about your job and your facilities. There is much to talk about in order to effectively “communicate” the pressing issues surrounding commercial/institutional housekeeping.