As a facility manager, it’s your job to oversee maintenance, ensure your organization’s facility is in tip-top shape, leverage the power of modern technology to lower costs, and refine your team’s talent to ensure success. Your job is a key factor in your organization’s lasting return on investment. So how do you know you’re doing the best possible job? The key to best in class facility management lies in these five habits of successful facility managers, according to QSI Facilities.
1. Best in Class Facility Management Begins With A Proactive Approach
The best facility management practices begin with a proactive approach to maintenance and overall facilities management. Rather than waiting for things to break, proactive facility managers actively look for ways to improve operations. These highly successful facility managers routinely spend their days planning and scheduling facility management services, upgrades, and meetings with team members. They have equipment inspected for additional work in need of completion while scheduled maintenance is being performed so that technicians can correct while already on site.
2. Successful Facility Managers Track And Analyze Facilities Management Objectives and Activities
While the use of analytics to track and measure facilities management objectives and activities has become commonplace, successful facility managers know how to define successful KPIs. These KPI reflect the real pain points within the organization, and often, facilities managers will use a checklist to review reports and metrics. These individuals go out of their way to make sure everything is done, and any complaints and positive feedback from consumers are always their primary focus.
3. Automated Systems, Work Orders, And Service Calls Are Key To Successful Facilities Management
Highly successful facilities managers also understand the value of automated systems to manage work orders, service calls and follow-up. These top-of-the-line individuals rely on the latest technologies, including Internet-enabled devices, to automatically track and manage facility management processes proactively.
4. Build And Manage a Governance Structure To Work With Third Parties
Facilities managers often act as a go-between among facilities, employees, and third-party service providers. As a result, they are responsible for the creation of an appropriate governance structure to manage all such interactions. This governance structure should also provide a means for ensuring the onboarding of additional parties and meeting all facilities management goals and objectives simultaneously.
5. Successful Facilities Managers Know When To Say “No.”
Like the building of a governance structure, successful facility managers know when they are out of their league. For example, successful facility managers will not try to work on equipment themselves, especially if they do not have experience or the appropriate licensure. Successful facility managers know when it is appropriate to outsource a job or task to another party, and when it may be completed internally without additional risk or costs.
These five habits are essential to the creation of a proactive work environment and can help build best in class facility management processes in teams within your company. So, consider making the building of these habits a focus of upcoming training and in-service meetings with your team members, and always look for these qualities in any outside agency with whom you choose to work.
Located just outside of Wichita, KS, QSI Facilities provides facilities maintenance and construction services to a variety of clients, including premier brands in the fields of retail, food service, and commercial real estate.
As a facility manager, what habits have helped you be most effective at your job? If you are part of a facility management team, what individual and group characteristics are essential for success? Are there any specific habits and characteristics that are detrimental to a facility manager? Please share your thoughts, experiences, and comments below.
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