Rethinking EVS Leadership in the COVID-19 Era

Managers can glean important leadership principles from orchestra conductors

By By Dan Hounsell


Environmental services (EVS) departments have had a challenging year, to say the least. They have become front-line workers in healthcare facilities in the effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus. For EVS managers, the seismic changes departments have gone through has created the need to revisit and rethink their priorities and strategies as leaders.

Managers should recognize that they can glean many important leadership principles from symphony orchestra conductors, according to Health Facilities Management. There are many similarities between a conductor and an EVS leader because, in the final analysis, common themes are performance and creating an experience. Among the leadership principles managers learn from symphony orchestra conductors:

Have a plan. EVS leaders and administrators should participate in the development of the organization’s strategic business plan and become familiar with the organization’s plans, priorities, operating budgets, financial imperatives and policies. Then, they should align de

Build a team. Building the best EVS team starts with an understanding of the job and the core values, vision and strategy of the organization. From there, the leader can select and recruit the right balance of talent and experience.artmental management of operations accordingly. 



March 5, 2021


Topic Area: Environmental Services


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