How to Succeed as a Facility manager: Must Have Skills of a Successful Facility Manager

Facility managers are essential employees of any business with a physical presence.

They are responsible for maintaining equipment, forming a knowledgeable team, and enhancing the operation and processes. Suppose you’re considering the possibility of a career in facility management or making your facility manager resume and resume. In that case, you’ll benefit from learning the essential skills for success in this profession.

Responsibilities and obligations of the facility manager

Managing parking, catering security, cleaning, and maintenance
Ensuring that basic facilities like water and cooling, heating, and water are properly maintained.
Manage budgets effectively and efficiently.
Management of building spaces like lobby’s and meeting rooms
Ensuring that the facilities comply with federal regulations and standards
Overseeing renovations and other construction projects
Reports are written, and drafts are made. recommendations
Monitoring technology implementation and maintenance
Managing teams
Liaising with employees or tenants
Organizing building events
Supervise and oversee oversees the maintenance supervisor duties and responsibilities and other department managers to ensure the Maintenance procedures remain in place.

What Are the Essential Skills of a Facility Manager?

Facility managers are professionals who are in charge of the overall function and the maintenance, safety, and security of a structure that includes offices or schools, apartment complexes, or warehouses. The skills of a facility manager are those that allow a facility manager to accomplish their tasks. They can be employed by a specific business or facility management company that offers services to other companies. Here is the list of must-have abilities that must be included in the both facility manager and maintenance manager job description.

Transparency in Technology

The age of technology is upon us. We live in it and as are Facilities Managers. According to studies, technology is regarded as the top resource within the field. In the last few years, we’ve seen the emergence of technological innovations like the Internet of Things (IoT), Machine Learning, Big Data, and Building Automation in Facilities Management. The latest technology is being created and commercialized. It is now essential that facilities managers keep an eye out for the latest technologies that could enhance the way they manage their buildings and improve users’ experience.

Communication

Communication is the ability to convey information via spoken or written language. Effective communicators can communicate ideas lucid, entertaining, and motivating manner. Facility managers are in leadership positions and can communicate with their team and other employees. This is essential in delegating tasks, directing employees, and suggesting improvements or changes.

Business Continuity and Emergency Preparedness

Along with managing the day-to-day activities, the major focus of facilities management is preparation and continuity of business.

FMs must establish a plan and be in a position to communicate their plan to staff and the building’s occupants. They should also know the basics of things such as HVAC and building automation systems (BAS) to plan for the event of an emergency.

For instance, the facility team has to ensure that the building’s security system is equipped with smoke alarms and a security system and other alerts that assist in preventative and proactive maintenance to prevent emergencies completely.

Compassion for Consumers, Staff, And Environment

The ability to manage facilities strategically focuses on providing positive experiences for the building’s occupants and people who haven’t yet bought your products or services. Facilities managers must show compassion towards all possible tenants and the surrounding environment. A strong sense of compassion will draw more customers.

Adaptability

However proficient you are in Excel or any other software for building management, you must deal with any new or urgent situation you encounter. You must do this with a composed, relaxed and calm attitude.

Practice Sustainability

Sustainability refers to eco-friendly practices that aim to minimize the impact of a company’s activities on the environment. There’s been an increase in the demand from companies to cut down on their consumption and waste of natural resources. Decisions made by FM’s regarding the use of equipment, energy, and operations could have a significant impact on the environment. Most of the responsibility is now the responsibility of facility managers.

Make and Manage the Budget

Facility managers need to be able to comprehend the fundamentals that are based on financial mathematical calculations. They must be able to make a quarterly, monthly and annual budget. FM’s should ensure the best functioning of operations and systems in the workplace. The numerous electric systems and equipment that businesses employ are costly, and facility managers must keep track of the life span of their equipment and appliances so that they can budget for repair or maintenance.

Budget management is also crucial in making the best staffing choices, determining the budget for the purchase of computers or software, attending professional development, and adhering to expectations set by supervisors. Facility managers are regularly required to conduct budgetary reviews, write reports on their finances, and then submit budgetary plans or other documents to their supervisors for review.

Team Management

The primary function that facility managers perform is to lead employees. FM’s are responsible for the employees, the cleaning crews, and the security team. They should be able to determine the individual’s needs and create weekly schedules and assign jobs and duties. It is also essential to ensure that they encourage unity and can resolve conflict and mediate among staff members.

Analytical Mind

Facilities managers must manage a huge amount of information every day, whether that’s building utilization statistics, satisfaction levels, or budgets and financial plans. Therefore, the ability to use numbers and critical thinking are essential. While I’m not suggesting, you must be a math Nobel Prize winner. But the ability to comprehend significant numbers is essential. All you have to do is keep track of the correct metrics of facilities management and then extract relevant information from them and apply the insights to solve problems.

Final Words

Being a Facilities Manager does not necessarily mean the same thing as a decade ago. The job has evolved from being a function-based job to one based on service with people’s experience as the primary focus. To be successful in their role, Facilities Managers need to master the aforementioned skills.