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Remember your first day as a facility manager?
Did you get a crash course on handling the workload and expectations, or were you left to ride the tides, navigate the system, and process yourself?
Every facility manager, whether new to the job role or experienced, is always searching for ways to thrive and excel at their job.
But what separates a good facility manager from an exceptional one?
It all comes down to a few key habits. Certain habits make a noticeable difference.
1. Communicate and Build Strong Relationships
Who are your stakeholders?
They’re the occupants, tenants, team members, and senior management. To be effective, you need to actively listen to their concerns, communicate openly, and work together toward shared goals. Trust and collaboration are the foundation of a successful facility manager.
Why is this important?
- Misaligned Goals: Without clear communication, goals and expectations can get mixed up, leading to conflicts and missed opportunities.
- Information Gaps: When information isn’t shared, teams work in silos, slowing down problem-solving and decision-making.
- Unresolved Issues: Poor communication means problems might go unnoticed, leading to costly consequences.
- Low Morale: Keeping your team informed and engaged boosts their productivity and job satisfaction.
- Safety Risks: Lack of communication on safety protocols can lead to accidents and legal issues.
Regular meetings, open communication channels, and transparency ensure everyone is on the same page and working towards the same goals.
2. Develop a Proactive Mindset
Don’t wait for problems to happen—anticipate them.
Successful facility managers stay ahead of the curve by conducting regular inspections, risk assessments, and preventive maintenance. This proactive approach reduces downtime, cuts costs, and keeps everything running smoothly.
Here’s how you can apply this habit:
- Predictive Maintenance: Use data analytics to identify potential issues before they cause downtime.
- Risk Assessment: Regularly assess risks and vulnerabilities, and put measures in place to address them.
- Continuous Improvement: Always look for ways to optimize processes and improve efficiency.
- Future Planning: Stay ahead of trends and technological advances to keep your facility competitive and resilient.
3. Embrace Continuous Learning
A successful facility manager is always learning. Whether it’s new technologies, industry events, or self-improvement, staying ahead of the curve is crucial.
Why it matters:
- Staying Updated: The field of facility management is constantly evolving.
- Enhancing Skills: Continuous learning sharpens your skills and makes you more effective.
- Adaptability: Being up-to-date helps you adapt to new challenges.
- Career Growth: Professional development opens up new opportunities.
- Networking: Learning provides a chance to connect with peers and industry experts.
4. Master Adaptive Problem-Solving
Flexibility and creativity are key.
Facility managers face a variety of challenges, from equipment failures to budget constraints. Being adaptable allows you to respond well, regardless of the situation.
Here’s how to tackle problems effectively:
- Analyze Thoroughly: When a problem arises, dig deep to understand its root causes.
- Create Solutions: Develop creative solutions that address both immediate and long-term needs.
- Learn from Experience: Use real-life examples to refine your approach and prevent future issues.
Example: Instead of repeatedly fixing an HVAC system, a facility manager might analyze the root cause—like outdated equipment—and implement a preventive maintenance plan, improving the system’s reliability in the long run.
5. Adopt Technology and Innovation
Technology is transforming facility management.
From automation to IoT devices, embracing technology can streamline operations, reduce costs, and enhance the user experience.
Here’s how:
Streamlining Operations: Use technology to manage maintenance, energy, and assets more efficiently.
Improving User Experience: Smart building tech can enhance comfort and safety.
Staying Ahead: Technology helps you stay competitive and future-proof your operations.
The Role of Technology and Innovation in Modern Facility Management
Technology, like enterprise asset management solutions, plays an important role in modern facility management. It enables automation, improves data collection and analysis, improves communication and collaboration, and promotes resource management.
These innovations include automated systems, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, artificial intelligence (AI), and cloud-based software.
Instanta Facility Management Solution
The Instanta Facility Management Solution meets all your technological needs to boost the productivity of your facility management team and overall operations. Instanta is a comprehensive facility management system, also available as a mobile app, designed to help your organization:
- Plan: Receive service requests, create and schedule work orders, and assign jobs to your personnel and vendors.
- Communicate: Automatically notify requesters, vendors, and stakeholders about changes in work orders.
- Track: Prioritize, escalate, and monitor jobs to ensure nothing falls through the cracks.
- Monitor & Analyze: Measure your vendors’ and team’s performance with real-time, insightful visual reports.
To learn more about how the Instanta facility management software can be tailored to your organization’s needs, reach out to our team via email at sales@sysservesolutions.com or call +234-1-2914837, +234 (0)703 978 4709.
