The Invisibility Of Facilities Management
The isolated nature of facility management can make your team essentially invisible to upper management. This brings some distinct disadvantages, but they can be managed if you know how to combat them. Your job happens behind the doors with signs like ‘facilities staff only’ and on the floors where passenger…
The Skilled Labor Shortage and Opportunity in Facilities Management
Over the past 30+ years, the trades and other careers favored by hands-on types have fallen out of favor. As baby boomers retire, this trend has caused a severe shortage of skilled workers, particularly in Facilities Management and Maintenance. But this also presents a great opportunity for people experienced or interested…
Paperwork, How Good FM Jobs Go Bad
You have to love those days when doing your job feels great! Maybe you got a commitment from that vendor that’s been dodging you. Or you solved the mystery of the overloaded circuit in the pump room. Those are the days when you are on top of your responsibilities and…
Thank You, Operations and Maintenance Pros
This holiday season let’s all take a second to recognize the dedicated facilities operations and maintenance professionals who make the amazing built environment we live in a reality. They work tirelessly to keep the buildings and facilities we depend on for so many things safe and functional. Their behind-the-scenes work is what…
FM Teams That Have “Always Done It That Way” Should Think Again
Near the top floor of a downtown NYC building, there is a remarkable facilities engineering department. In a hallway near the team office space, you’ll find a sign with this quote: “The most dangerous phrase in the engineering language is: ‘We’ve always done it this way’” The sign is a…
How To Reduce Stress For The Facilities Pro
As a facilities manager, the boundary between your work and private life can get pretty thin. Issues happen on their own schedule, not yours, and when they come up, a lot of people look to you. We were recently at a retirement party for a resident manager when he got…
Why Facilities Maintenance Pros Are Among America’s Best
Facilities Maintenance (FM) professionals are the life force behind the buildings that make up America’s great cities and towns. These engineers, operators, maintenance techs, and other skilled workers keep our homes, schools, hospitals, businesses, cultural centers, and all the places we live our lives running. Keeping the buildings in our…
Great Mentorship Helps FM Teams Fix Unexpected Problems
I spent the majority of my facility maintenance career working in a biopharmaceutical manufacturing setting. During this time, I was lucky enough to be a part of first-rate FM teams and to have experienced exceptional mentorship. The knowledge that these mentors shared inspired a sense of ownership, pride, and a…
