Instead of spending so much effort always responding immediately to the latest facility work order or email you receive or being distracted by the Internet of other things and the most recent trend, here are three things you should focus on as a Facility Manager and should always be at the top of your list.
Listening
“Without data, you’re just another person with an opinion.” – W. Edwards Deming
Listening is about gathering information and data.
It includes hearing from your senior executives about organizational objectives and goals, reading reports, receiving and analyzing facilities data from your systems, talking to other experts and colleagues, attending conferences and training, and talking with (and listening to) your staff and contractors who are experts in what they do and can advise you on what should be improved, changed, etc.
Planning
“People and their managers are working so hard to be sure things are done right, that they hardly have time to decide if they are doing the right things” – Steven Covey
Planning is about looking forward, whether tomorrow or next year – and importantly, taking a more strategic approach to that planning.
Planning takes focus and time but it also takes courage. Courage to delegate someone else to do some of the things you do and courage to put the long-term objectives in front of some short-term tasks and change from managing the urgent items to managing the important ones.
Promoting
“Good management is the art of making problems so interesting and their solutions so constructive that everyone wants to get to work and deal with them” – Paul Hawken
Promoting is about ensuring your organization and your senior management understands the importance of your department and provide support when you present proposals for staff, resources, changes, or strategic plans.
It is about getting what you need to make improvements, increase efficiency and add value.