3 Skills Driving the FM Industry Today and & How to develop them - Alpha Mead Training Center - Alpha Mead Facilities Managemtn

19 Feb 2019

3 Skills Driving the Facilities Management Industry Today

Many Facilities Management (FM) Professionals approach operations from a tactical perspective, yet their individual and organizational success with Real Estate and FM will be determined by strategy rather than operations. For example, reducing increasing cost of energy – which currently accounts for up to 30-40% of Real Estate overhead – will likely be achieved by a changed in energy-consumption habit or strategic distribution plan than by planned preventive maintenance (PPM) of the power generating plants or prompt-payment of energy bills.

This points to the fact that FM career in today’s increasingly sophisticated market, is beyond just managing the maintenance plan of a facility, coordinating vendors, or carrying out daily routine activities. It is understanding and acting on the drivers of FM fundamentals such as finance, operations, leadership and management, technology, etc.

From finance management to strategic planning, people engagement to space management, operational planning and resource allocation or distribution, there are a range of skills an FM needs to make the right impact on business; and consequently, their career.

Top three on the table are:

Analytical and Problem-solving skills:

By nature, facilities management is quite a complex and unpredictable discipline, with new challenges being thrown at you all the time. To be successful in the FM profession, you must be prepared to think quickly and to make prompt decisions in line with set Real Estate objective. Most Real Estate objectives are usually around cost reduction, cost optimization, process efficiency and operational effectiveness. An FM needs analytical skills to be able to understand both financial, people, and operational metrics that can help their organization achieve these objectives, track performance of these metrics, evaluate, and continually improve their processes for improved business performance.

Taking case-study-driven trainings such as Fundamentals of Facilities Management practice – to help you understand the different FM skills and how to grow a successful FM career – or Professional Facilities Management Training – to open you up to practical experience of using and improving your analytical skill is one of the actions you can take immediately.

Tech Savviness

A recent report – Tech Trends and the Future of Facilities Management in Nigeria – by Alpha Mead Facilities looks at the increasing spate of tech and intelligent buildings around the world and the future of Nigerian FM professionals in the internet age. One very clear takeaway from the report is that the role of FM and the required skill for FM professionals will change from operations-driven to data-analysis, evaluation and execution.

Today, the FM world is becoming increasingly reliant on technology, so the better the grasp you have, the more valuable you will inevitably be to your employer. Everything from room reservation to asset management and facility maintenance is managed through the use of computers, smartphones and tablets. IT plays an invaluable role in the way FMs communicate with their workforce, customers, and coworkers as well.  There is a range of software and various PM software that can also be used in your facilities management plan such as Archibus and Maintenance Connection Inc. while it’s not necessary to be a tech expert, it’s essential to know how to use these systems, because technology – going forward – will play a major in how FM support businesses and people.

 

Cross-networking

Facilities management is a profession that sits at the center of Real Estate operations. From development planning to Real Estate asset disposal; FM plays a role. In fact, the earlier and how actively FM is involved in a Real Estate operations or transaction, the more cost saving opportunities the promoters get.

In some organizations, facility managers find themselves carrying out the roles of an admin officer and vice versa, to be able to cross- network between various divisions in your organization, you must be knowledgeable in those fields. With trainings and practice, you will learn the metrics and operating procedures of other divisions to better navigate and successfully carry out tasks relating to them.

Master these skills and you can achieve improved operational efficiency and boost your organizations business performance, while gaining credibility.  Also, an IFMA FMP certification will help your FM career, as its credential will give you a competitive edge within your organization and the FM industry as a whole.

Interested in acquiring these essential skills and become a successful facility manager, Register for a training this February, see below for trainings we have lined up for February/ March below.

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