What are the best practices for adapting to changing needs and expectations in facility management?

2 Communicate and collaborate effectively

Another essential skill for FM professionals is to communicate and collaborate effectively with their internal and external partners. Communication and collaboration are vital for understanding the needs and expectations of facility users, owners, and stakeholders, as well as for sharing information, feedback, and ideas. By establishing clear and frequent communication channels, FM professionals can build trust, rapport, and alignment with their partners, and ensure that their services are aligned with their goals and priorities. Communication and collaboration are also important for fostering innovation and creativity, as FM professionals can leverage the diverse perspectives, skills, and experiences of their partners to generate new solutions and opportunities.

3 Embrace digital transformation

A third best practice for FM professionals is to embrace digital transformation and leverage the potential of technology to enhance their facilities and services. Technology can offer many benefits for FM, such as improving efficiency, productivity, quality, safety, and customer satisfaction. Technology can also enable FM professionals to collect and analyze data, monitor and control systems, automate and optimize processes, and create more engaging and personalized experiences for facility users. Some of the technologies that can support FM are the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, mobile devices, sensors, and analytics. By adopting and integrating these technologies, FM professionals can create more intelligent, responsive, and sustainable facilities that adapt to the changing needs and expectations of their customers and stakeholders.

4 Invest in learning and development

A fourth best practice for FM professionals is to invest in their own learning and development, as well as that of their teams. Learning and development are crucial for keeping up with the changing trends, technologies, standards, and best practices in FM, as well as for developing new skills, competencies, and capabilities. By engaging in continuous learning and development, FM professionals can enhance their knowledge, performance, and career prospects, as well as increase their confidence, motivation, and satisfaction. Learning and development can take various forms, such as formal training, mentoring, coaching, networking, online courses, webinars, podcasts, and publications. By accessing and utilizing these resources, FM professionals can stay relevant, competitive, and adaptable in the dynamic FM field.

5 Seek feedback and improvement

A fifth best practice for FM professionals is to seek feedback and improvement from their customers, stakeholders, and peers. Feedback and improvement are essential for measuring the effectiveness, efficiency, and quality of FM services, as well as for identifying the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in FM. By soliciting and listening to feedback, FM professionals can gain valuable insights, perspectives, and suggestions that can help them improve their performance and value. By implementing and tracking improvement actions, FM professionals can demonstrate their commitment, accountability, and responsiveness to their customers and stakeholders. Feedback and improvement can also foster a culture of excellence, innovation, and learning in FM.

6 Be flexible and resilient

A sixth and final best practice for FM professionals is to be flexible and resilient in the face of change and uncertainty. Flexibility and resilience are important for coping with the challenges, risks, and opportunities that arise in FM, as well as for adapting to the changing needs and expectations of facility users, owners, and stakeholders. By being flexible, FM professionals can adjust their plans, strategies, and solutions to the changing circumstances and conditions in FM. By being resilient, FM professionals can overcome the difficulties, setbacks, and failures that they encounter in FM, and learn from their experiences. Flexibility and resilience can also help FM professionals to embrace change and uncertainty as sources of growth, learning, and innovation in FM.