A question I’m often asked is: “What are the most important aspects for career advancement in our facilities field?” The top answers are simply: “How well you communicate, how strong your relationships are, and how much you are continuing to learn.” I
A question I’m often asked is: “What are the most important aspects for career advancement in our facilities field?” The top answers are simply: “How well you communicate, how strong your relationships are, and how much you are continuing to learn.” I
n our day-to-day facilities operations, it’s not uncommon for our field partners to focus on the few issues that have escalated, perhaps due to the timeliness or quality of a repair. It is important, as facilities business partners, that we provide a conduit of open and frequent communication. Sharing high level reporting on all facility requests and projects will not only provide transparency but also advocate the hundreds of other service calls and projects that are addressed seamlessly by the team — providing perspective for those few escalations.
Your relationships are crucial. Theodore Roosevelt said it best: “The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people.” Relationships include not only your own team members and internal colleagues, but equally as important, your relationships with service providers and suppliers. These are the folks that will jump through hoops to get things done — ‘round the clock, 24/7. You develop great relationships with empathy, listening for and understanding the needs of the restaurant manager whose patience may have run out with an ongoing issue. Also, keeping your team solutions-focused rather than spending energy on who dropped the ball creates a productive environment as opposed to a fearful one. People know when they’ve made a mistake; ask them privately what they learned from it and how they can apply it for the next situation.
The third aspect is how much you are willing to learn. Are you up to speed with the latest industry innovation? For instance, even if your organization is not currently implementing any green initiatives, are you familiar with all the various options out there? Are you utilizing technology to aid in your work and reporting? Continuing to learn through the many available programs or pursuing certification is important to stay ahead of the curve and also keep in touch with your industry network.
Finding your voice, setting your network and striving always to learn something new in your industry are the top tips not only to maximize your career advancement, but equally as important — to foster fulfillment in your job role. When you operate from a sense of service and satisfaction, this fulfillment will naturally bring about your continued growth in this field.
Grace Daly is an industry leader in design, construction and facilities, as well as an avid career coach and author. She is currently the Executive Director of Facility & Construction Conferences for InterFace Conference Group.