This week I attended my first AEC Network meeting - Architects, Engineers, Constructors - at The Building Centre in London. I went along because I wanted to see 'the other side' of the built environment. What do I mean by that? Well, many of you working in FM tell me how tough it is to be a handed a new or refurbished building that a) is impossible to manage in terms of M&E etc and/or b) doesn't meet the needs of the end user.
I was delighted to hear Don Ward of Constructing Excellence http://www.constructingexcellence.org.uk/ suggest that architects might like to run buildings for a year once they are handed over! Don also advocates collaborative working from the very start of a project - so why don't more FMs get involved? Is it because we don't have a 'common language'? You tell me.
The other speaker at the event was Richard White, the Accidental Salesman, who ran an interactive session on Storytelling for business. Amazing; you should check out his website where there are loads of free resources for those among us who are not 'natural salespeople'! http://www.theaccidentalsalesman.com/ One of Richard's first questions was to ask the audience who was in a sales role - and of course, we all are, no matter what we do; we are always 'seliing'.
All in all, a useful and productive meeting, and one I will definitely go to again. Thinking beyond pure FM has given me an insight into the problems others face in our wider sector, and plenty of food for thought!
Let me know your thoughts on networking outside your core business sector coach@lizkentishcoaching.co.uk and if you'd like some advice on networking for business development call Liz Kentish The FM Coach on 01778 561326
Friday 24 July 2009
Wednesday 15 July 2009
Are you a Woman in FM?
So, you’re working in FM and you just happen to be a woman – so what? Are things really any different for you than they are for any man working in the same sector? Well, you tell me. Coaching both men and women in FM has led me to believe women have a different perspective on the world of work. Read on and let me know if this sounds familiar...
You’re already successful at what you do but perhaps you feel you haven’t quite met all your goals yet. You ‘sort of’ know what you want, but have never actually sat down and written out some clear goals, not just for your career, but for your future. Sometimes, even though no-one around you would know, you have moments of self-doubt, when that little voice in your head says, ‘I wonder if they’ll realise I don’t know the technical spec for this,’ or ‘being a manager is really hard work’, or ‘just for once it’d be nice if my team was appreciated a bit more’.
Now might be the right time for you to decide what you really want, in all aspects of life, including:
• Career
• Finances
• Relationships
• Health
• Personal growth
• Contribution/giving back
In your ideal world, how do all these areas balance? Are you currently spending too much time on work (and I don’t just mean when you are at work) and not enough time with people who are important to you? Do you keep your ‘phone or PDA on all weekend even if someone else is duty manager? What message does that give your family? Might they think they come second to your work? And what message does it give your team? Might they think you don’t trust them?
Of course it’s important as a manager to lead, direct and reward your team, but what about you? On ‘planes they tell us, ’fit your own mask first before helping others’ and this is true at work too. If you are overworked because you’re so busy taking care of everyone else, what happens?
So, what can you do about it? Here are some ideas you may like to consider:
1. Find a role model – someone who has been there and done it. Find out what they do that works, and try it yourself. Find out where they go to network and learn, and go there. Find out who they mix with, and mix with them too. Find out what they read, and read it.
2. Join industry networking events and online groups who will share their experiences – both successes and challenges. Check out the Women in FM special interest group at www.bifm.org.uk
3. Surround yourself with a peer group that supports and inspires you. These don’t have to be people within the industry, but choose your company carefully – you want people who exude warmth, not people who drain all the energy from you.
4. Become a mentor. Yes, but Liz you’ve just told us to become more balanced, isn’t this more work? No, this is about giving back, and many people I work with find this incredibly rewarding.
5. Find a coach. Coaching will help you build knowledge, skill and capability and enhance performance, and can be focused on your current job, and/or on an anticipated future role.
My last thought, directed to both men and women working in the sector, is:
Imagine how much more successful you could be if you invested some time in discovering your true potential and regaining the balance in your life.
Liz Kentish The FM Coach is the expert in the field of people development in the FM sector – for a free no obligation assessment of your skills and career options, contact coach@lizkentishcoaching.co.uk 07717 787077
You’re already successful at what you do but perhaps you feel you haven’t quite met all your goals yet. You ‘sort of’ know what you want, but have never actually sat down and written out some clear goals, not just for your career, but for your future. Sometimes, even though no-one around you would know, you have moments of self-doubt, when that little voice in your head says, ‘I wonder if they’ll realise I don’t know the technical spec for this,’ or ‘being a manager is really hard work’, or ‘just for once it’d be nice if my team was appreciated a bit more’.
Now might be the right time for you to decide what you really want, in all aspects of life, including:
• Career
• Finances
• Relationships
• Health
• Personal growth
• Contribution/giving back
In your ideal world, how do all these areas balance? Are you currently spending too much time on work (and I don’t just mean when you are at work) and not enough time with people who are important to you? Do you keep your ‘phone or PDA on all weekend even if someone else is duty manager? What message does that give your family? Might they think they come second to your work? And what message does it give your team? Might they think you don’t trust them?
Of course it’s important as a manager to lead, direct and reward your team, but what about you? On ‘planes they tell us, ’fit your own mask first before helping others’ and this is true at work too. If you are overworked because you’re so busy taking care of everyone else, what happens?
So, what can you do about it? Here are some ideas you may like to consider:
1. Find a role model – someone who has been there and done it. Find out what they do that works, and try it yourself. Find out where they go to network and learn, and go there. Find out who they mix with, and mix with them too. Find out what they read, and read it.
2. Join industry networking events and online groups who will share their experiences – both successes and challenges. Check out the Women in FM special interest group at www.bifm.org.uk
3. Surround yourself with a peer group that supports and inspires you. These don’t have to be people within the industry, but choose your company carefully – you want people who exude warmth, not people who drain all the energy from you.
4. Become a mentor. Yes, but Liz you’ve just told us to become more balanced, isn’t this more work? No, this is about giving back, and many people I work with find this incredibly rewarding.
5. Find a coach. Coaching will help you build knowledge, skill and capability and enhance performance, and can be focused on your current job, and/or on an anticipated future role.
My last thought, directed to both men and women working in the sector, is:
Imagine how much more successful you could be if you invested some time in discovering your true potential and regaining the balance in your life.
Liz Kentish The FM Coach is the expert in the field of people development in the FM sector – for a free no obligation assessment of your skills and career options, contact coach@lizkentishcoaching.co.uk 07717 787077
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