Executive Housekeeping Today - June 2008 - (Page 14)

Elizabeth McDougall: A True International Leader a About twenty years ago, Elizabeth McDougall learned what “leadership” really meant. While attending an off-shore survival course, her and nine of her colleagues were put to the test—they were sent into a smoke-filled fire station tower wearing cumbersome breathing apparatuses and given no direction. During the exercise, not one person on the team took the lead, allowing for them to get lost in the smoky darkness, causing some to panic, and they all had to be rescued. About three years later, McDougall attended a refresher course, by Laura M. DiGiulio, Editor where she was put to the same test. Again, she found herself in the “smoke house” with the same bulky breathing apparatus. However, this time around, she was with a team of skilled professionals, and she learned very quickly how important it was to have a leader in the front, shouting direction to the others, leading the way through the black, smoke-filled room. During this exercise, communication, trust, and reliability were all conveyed. In these types of situations, safety depends heavily on the support of the team. Constant communication and updates are required for progress. “These are vital factors that I have brought into my management skills over the years,” says McDougall. “Your team gains confidence in you and trusts you through your leadership and reliability.” Many years later, McDougall’s leadership knowledge and what she had learned through the above exercise were put to the test. It was day two of the G8 Conference 2005 in Edinburgh, Scotland. At the time, McDougall was the Operations Manager for Scotia Linen Services, and she had three vans carrying out early pickups 4 Executive Housekeeping Today/June 2008

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Executive Housekeeping Today - June 2008

Executive Housekeeping Today - June 2008 Contents Executive Corner The Fundamentals of Safety Man vs. Machine: Equipment Safety in Professional Cleaning Operations Frugal Housekeeper Planning for Disaster Eliminating Bed Bugs 2008 Candidate Information Executive Profile IHW Product Information The Green Scene Spring Board Briefing 2008 Call to Convention 2008 Convention Information USGBC Green Tip Product Highlights New Members Joint IEHA/ISSA Members CEH/REH Members Advertisers' Index Calendar of Events Inside I.E.H.A. What I.E.H.A. Has Done for Me

Executive Housekeeping Today - June 2008

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