Resilience is the ability to cope with stress, uncertainty, and change in a positive and proactive way. It is a crucial skill for facility managers (FMs), who face many challenges and demands in their daily work. How can FMs develop and enhance their resilience? Here are some tips and strategies to help you.
The first step to develop resilience is to understand your current level of resilience and identify your strengths and weaknesses. You can use self-assessment tools, such as the Resilience Scale or the Resilience Questionnaire, to measure your resilience and get feedback on your coping skills, emotional regulation, optimism, and self-efficacy. You can also ask for feedback from your peers, managers, or mentors to gain more insights into your resilience.
Two key components of resiliency is to withstand during difficult situations and to recover quickly . In FM context the resiliency can be achieved using 4R,s cocept that is 1) Robustness- FM related building management systems and services shall be able to withstand stress/ demand 2) Redundancy- How FM is going to support the contunity of services related to electro-mechanical systems of building / other crtical services in case of failure . Business Continuity planning is one of the most essential factors when deciding for adequate redundancy levels . 3) Resourcefulness- How quickly FM related resources can be mobilized to handel disruptive situation meeting the key business objectives . 4) Rapidity in minimizing losses
I am generally a person who copes in crisis so FM Is a good fit since there is always an issue to deal with. I do believe that resilience can be learned with associating with peers and mentors who are indeed resilient. As the saying goes show me your friends and I would tell you who you are.
One of the key factors that influence resilience is social support. Having a network of people who can offer you emotional, practical, and professional support can help you deal with stress, learn from challenges, and find solutions. You can build your support network by connecting with other FMs, joining professional associations, attending events and workshops, and seeking mentorship or coaching. You can also leverage your existing relationships with your family, friends, and colleagues to strengthen your support network.
This is something we must remember we need support. Surrounf ourseleves with people who you can call up and discuss issues with. Join associations. Make yourself visible on platforms like LinkedIn and people would reach out to you. Thus you can build networks like this.
Another way to develop resilience is to learn from your past and present experiences, both positive and negative. You can use reflection, journaling, or feedback to analyze your experiences and identify what you did well, what you can improve, and what you can learn. You can also use experience as an opportunity to develop new skills, knowledge, or competencies that can help you cope with future challenges. For example, you can learn how to use new technologies, tools, or methods to enhance your FM practice.
Encourage a learning and development culture for yourself. Learn a new skill every six months. It helps us to deal with challenges and to be calm because I found becoming resilient is a continuous practice.
Emotional regulation is an essential component of resilience. It means being able to recognize, understand, and manage your emotions in a constructive way. You can improve your emotional regulation by practicing mindfulness, meditation, breathing exercises, or other relaxation techniques. You can also use positive affirmations, gratitude, humor, or optimism to boost your mood and motivation. You can also seek help from a counselor, therapist, or coach if you feel overwhelmed or depressed.
Manejar bien las emociones es clave para ser un buen facility manager resistente. Cuando sabes controlar tus emociones en situaciones difíciles, puedes tomar decisiones más acertadas, mantener la calma y liderar tu equipo de manera efectiva. Ser resiliente significa enfrentar los problemas con una actitud positiva y encontrar soluciones prácticas, lo que beneficia tanto a la operación como a las relaciones en el trabajo. Actitud positiva y aprendizaje continuo de los errores propios y ajenos siempre nos beneficia.
Finally, you can develop resilience by taking care of your physical and mental health. You can do this by adopting healthy habits, such as eating well, sleeping enough, exercising regularly, and avoiding substance abuse. You can also balance your work and personal life by setting boundaries, prioritizing tasks, delegating responsibilities, and taking breaks. You can also pursue your hobbies, interests, or passions to enrich your life and reduce stress.
Resilience is not a fixed trait that you either have or don't have. It is a skill that you can develop and improve over time. By following these tips and strategies, you can enhance your resilience and become a more effective and successful FM.
The best way is to create a TO-DO- list. Create lists of activities you usually do, analyse on which area to add. I usually notice how many of this tasks I am able to complete within the day. Add more tasks, watch your body resistancy to the job, with this you can measure your resiliency. Keep monitoring until you're upto the desired task level. Note go gradually, don't overload yourself at once. Add atleast on or tasks at a time, by this we can develop our resilient skills.