Did the better team lose in the Super Bowl? That’s what a lot of Seattle Seahawks fans think after their team lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 21 to 10. Whether they’re right or wrong, the game offers some management pointers for facility executives.
For those who haven’t heard, the Seahawks’ coach accused the referees of favoring the Steelers. Three calls were particularly controversial. If they had gone the other way, the result might have been a 21-point swing in Seattle’s favor.
Why would one team consistently catch breaks from officials? One theory holds that the refs were “influenced” by Steelers fans, who vastly outnumbered their Seattle counterparts at the game. Crowd noise gave the Steelers an edge on close calls — or so the argument goes.
There’s no need to take sides in that debate to appreciate the value of the home field advantage. And something like a home field advantage makes it a lot easier for facility executives to work in some organizations than in others. The edge comes from occupants who take pride in the physical environment, business units that involve the facility executive in planning, and top executives willing to listen to what the facility executive says.
How does a facility executive gain a home field advantage? It comes with getting wins — things that make life better for occupants and for the organization — and then using those wins to win over occupants and management.
Don’t care about the Super Bowl? That’s all right. It’s not just sports-minded facility executives who should ask: How loyal are my fans?
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