Leadership according to Sir Chris Bonington

I had the pleasure yesterday of speaking at the BIFM conference, which had Chris Bonington as its guest speaker. Chris shared with the audience his renowned exhibitions, particularly to Everest, and he drew many parallels with the corporate world.



Here are just some of the highlights:

A true leader listens, consults, then makes firm, clear decisions.

A true leader knows when it's time to turn back.

Leadership is like a ball that you pass among the team, then the leader picks up the reins at the right moment, in a firm, decisive and tactful way.

Trust is what holds teams together.

A true leader acknowledges their wider team, they are all as important to the success of the organisation.

Want to improve your own leadership? Then let's talk 07717 787077

First recognition award for the Women in FM special interest group

As the new Chair of Women in FM, I was very proud this evening to collect the first ever BIFM award for ‘Best Sector Forum/Special Interest Group’ on behalf of Women in FM.

You can find out more about the group, and the events we are running, at www.bifm.org.uk or call Liz Kentish The FM Coach for more details 07717 787077 coach@lizkentishcoaching.co.uk

A week in the media

This week has been all about the published word. At the start of the week I was asked by BIFM to peer review the new Good Practice Guide to to Implementing a Sustainability Policy, and as a member of the Sustainability Committee, I was delighted to assist.

Yesterday's FM World quoted me talking about Etiquette in open plan offices - a fascinating topic and one which I'm sure we'll hear more about as budgets get squeezed and FMs are asked to save space costs.

Today's Daily Telegraph has an interesting four-page career supplement on FM - for once the media seem to approach FM as a seriously sector with much to offer the new entrant.

On Wednesday I was representing the Best Practice Club (www.bpclub.com) at their Internal Communications workshop hosted by DVLA - a day full of valuable advice from the many companies represented, and an opportunity to participate in discussion groups around market segmentation, measurement, engaging line managers and other ways to communicate.

Enjoy the rest of your week!

Liz

www.lizkentishcoaching.co.uk

Women in FM - new Specialist Interest Group announced

Last night, at the Women in FM event at the RCN in London, the group was formally recognised as a Specialist Interest Group (SIG). This means that the group now has a recognised status, formal representation and a voice in the decision-making structure of the BIFM, our institute.

It also means greater coverage in FM World and on the BIFM website www.bifm.org.uk to promote events and support communication, access to sponsorship and marketing relationships that the institute enjoys centrally, the opportunity to tap into other initiatives and support such as the Succession Planning Panel which can help our members move on to roles within other groups in the BIFM if they wish to.

I am proud to be a small and relatively new part of this new Specialist Interest Group and commend it to you all - both women and men!