More than ever before, the pressure on Facilities Management professionals is increasing. From clients who want to optimize cost, to employers who want to save cost, and investors who want to ensure their tenants get value for money and return on their investment; the Facilities Manager is at the centre of everything that makes Real Estate work.

From managing the security process in a facility to catering, procuring and building maintenance, FMs are expected to focus on using best business practice to improve efficiency, reduce operating cost while increasing productivity.

These new set of responsibilities have placed a new level of demand on the FM professional; and organizations today are looking for support service advisors rather than FMs. To take on these new challenges; here are 10 core competencies that will put you on the right pedestal.

Communication:

Facilities Managers are primarily the interface between clients and the business process or the business process and top management – in case you work from in-house. The success rate of a FM on any project significantly depends on the effectiveness of his communication skill, which starts from a simple as email communication to as complex as breaking down the business process to help for good decision making. Any FM who lacks this skill should retool immediately because the current market environment is evolving faster and in more dynamic ways than some years back.

Technology:

Technology is steadily becoming more relevant and prominent in the delivery of services to clients. Expectedly, FMs are responding accordingly by aligning their role to IT solutions in performing tasks such as; creating the FM strategic plan, responding to requests, managing property portfolios, searching for information and data verification.

Operations & Maintenance:

With increasing investment and interest in smart, sophisticated buildings, Operation and Maintenance has evolved from mere cut and dry approach of maintaining buildings, systems and equipment. Competence in operations and maintenance today will include deep knowledge and overwhelming use of technology and a penchant rely on the digital eco-system to make operations smooth, simpler and leaner.

To grow your career as an FM, technology and knowledge of it must be top on your competence level.

Leadership and Strategy:

FM is all about People, and the processes that make places comfortable and secure for living working and playing. It is all about coordinating different but interrelated process and systems and people to achieve defined goals. Therefore, FMs that will grow their career in the evolving market will be those who understand strategy; that is, where the organization or client is, where they want to be, how they will get there, what best ways to get there and how to ensure the client or organization gets there.

Doing these will require leadership capabilities that is clear on the business or Real Estate objectives and provide and manages all resources to deliver the desired result.

Finance & Business:

Giving the interdisciplinary nature of the FM profession, it’s expected that FMs develop strong analytical skill that will come in handy in reporting and analyzing financial documents such as; budget, account statements, lease agreements, service contracts etc.

 Emergency Planning & Business Continuity:

The dynamic nature of the business environment implies that organizations would occasionally be exposed to some level of risk. The FM is expected to advise and support the organization in planning its emergency management and business continuity plan. This includes executing simulations or exercise to test the plan.

Real Estate & Property Management:

Facility Management have been proven to account for up to 80 – 90 percent of a Real Estate asset’s lifecycle. This clearly echoes the relevance of FM to Real Estate investors and tenants. Hence, FMs are expected to develop and implement a Real Estate Master plan which will include preparing and allocating service charge budget to tenants amongst others.

Environmental Stewardship & Sustainability:

Climate change, Environmental degradation and Wildlife protection are gaining more prominence in the workplace. FMs need to prove competence in developing and implementing sustainability programs that safeguards the environment while ensuring the functionality of the building systems to ensure they meet required standards.

Want to know more about these competencies and be certified internationally? Learn more about our IFMA (International Facilities Management Association) FMP Certification HERE