5 Essential Facility Manager Skills

Why facility managers have to develop their skillset?

In order to be successful in what they do, they constantly have to improve and upgrade their skills. The manager, who is constantly improving, increases cooperation in the entrepreneurial-managerial function and improves performance in the culture of work, business psychology, and the philosophy of success. If they want to succeed in the facility management industry, they need to be able to respond to every challenge and risk.

Just imagine the situation where the manager doesn’t know anything about managing the security system and because of that someone’s life may be at risk. Facility admin roles and responsibilities are not only important to the manager himself but also for the whole environment.

Facility manager’s soft skills

Communication

Communication is necessary for establishing and implementing company goals, developing plans for their realization, organizing human and other resources in the most successful and effective way, then for selecting, developing, and evaluating members of the organization, as well as for guiding, directing, motivating and creating a climate in which people are willing to contribute to goals. The control of achieving goals itself is based on the process of communication.

Therefore, the manager must know the communication process, the basic elements of the process, the dependence of these elements and the principles of functioning, different types of communication with the advantages and disadvantages of each, as well as communication barriers and ways to eliminate them.

Leadership and strategy

An experienced leader, using different leadership styles, enables the organization and people to develop, grow, improve and serve in accordance with the requirements of the market, but also with the values ​​in companies. On the other hand, a successfully defined and well-implemented strategy is a sure path to the success of any business unit or the entire organization. Most companies that succeed in properly implementing a well-defined strategy have a high chance of being market leaders.

In addition to leadership, in order for an organization to be efficient and effective over a long period of time, it is important that everyone in the company understands the strategy and strategic directions and the strategy of a company that successfully performs business at lower hierarchical levels. Good leadership and a properly defined and applied strategy are the guarantees of success of any modern organization.

Strategic thinking involves choosing between different business models and sometimes moving to a new model to achieve the mission and goals of the strategy. If you understand your company’s core strategy, you can consider how you can contribute more directly. This could mean a greater focus on innovation, competition, or some other key concept.

The more you practice strategic thinking, the more value you will become for your company. A good strategy can lead a company through difficult situations, and can even contribute to changing the business model for the good of the entire company.

Facility manager’s hard skills

Risk Management

First of all, it is necessary to clarify what risk is and why it is so important, given that all revisions of standards have introduced the concept of risk and the concept of “Risk-Based Thinking”. Risk management is a relatively new discipline of management. Until recently, no risk was taken into account, but there was a change in the awareness that proactive thinking is needed. Therefore, risk management is necessary.

In order to successfully manage risks, it is necessary that risk-based thinking be fully integrated into all management systems and decision-making processes. Risks are an integral part of any entrepreneurial activity. Risks denote any future (financial and non-financial) events and possible events inside and outside the organization, which may affect the extent to which corporate goals are achieved (negatively or positively).

Managers should identify all existing and potential risks, which must be reduced to the least possible measure, to accept and solve them in order to take advantage of the possibilities that arise from that. Defined measures and actions are to help in the effective and efficient management of risks that lead to the avoidance of “acute problems”. When it comes to identification, it is important to identify sources of risk when it comes to the introduction of quality system management, such as:

• financial risks
• cultural risks
• infrastructure risks
• legal risks
• market risks
• operational risks.

Technical Skills

Technical skills create the ability to use procedures and techniques from specialized areas such as engineering, informatics, economics, marketing, finance, etc. The manager must know the various technical elements of the business in which he works. He must also master the terminology, methods, and techniques specific to the activity in which he works, such as materials, tools, and equipment, used software, documentation, technological processes, etc.

Facility information and technology management can’t go without each other if you want to manage facilities perfectly. This won’t only make you work less, but will also help you to be more productive.

Analysis and security checking

The analysis of the objects in the building is very important for hard facility managers. It is necessary to see clearly whether the facility has everything that is prescribed by law and whether all of it works properly. the performance and quality of security systems must always be perfect so as not to jeopardize the safety of the people who are in the building at that moment.

Facility manager’s key roles and responsibilities

In such a framework, professional discipline is raised to a higher level, FM managers have a great responsibility to provide, maintain and develop many services. They start with a property strategy, manage the space and communication infrastructure for building maintenance, as well as administer and contracts. Every good facility manager must know how occupancy and human factors will affect the facility. Conducting various operations and maintenance of objects in a facility are the key roles.

The biggest challenge seems to remain how to gain a course as key internet stakeholders to bring any sustainability strategy to life, and which managerial job is perceived as a “better philanthropic story” or “something that has nothing to do with the legal business. Facility manager responsibilities are not that simple but can be facilitated with tools and software.

How to become a Perfect Facility Manager

Here are some tips which will help you to be better at your facility manager role:

Professionalism in your role

Professionalism involves correct and integrated behavior and maintaining your personal satisfaction despite challenges. Try to adhere to the highest standards in these areas, creating examples for your team members. When professionalism is presented, some examples include the ability to take initiative, provide exceptional support with a positive attitude, and display strong moral values ​​in all situations.

Innovative approach

Competition exists in all areas and all industries, so the ability to use and apply innovative thinking is necessary to survive in the marketplace. A manager who is ready for innovation leads the team and the company on the right path to success. Some examples of innovation include developing new and improved solutions for employees, redesigning or implementing new systems to improve functionality and productivity, identifying gaps, and generating fresh ideas.

Ability to motivate others

This skill of the individual is very important and useful for the company itself. Motivation increases employee satisfaction and productivity while providing a good example to the expectations of all team members within the organization. If you have excellent motivational skills, you can spot areas that need improvement and approach those areas in a constructive way. This could help your team members build self-confidence and encourage productive change, rather than discourage them.