What Are The Key Skills Needed to be a Facilities Manager?

Facilities managers are responsible for the security, maintenance and services of work facilities to ensure that they meet the needs of the organisation and its employees. 

Facilities managers essentially look after all of the services that helps a business or other organisation do its work. 

There are many skills needed to be an effective facilities manager, which makes it a dynamic and exciting career path. 

Key skills for facilities managers include communication and influencing skills, in person and in writing, analytical and problem-solving skills, decision-making, the ability to lead and manage teams and projects, teamworking, attention to detail but also the ability to see the implications for the bigger picture, commercial awareness, customer service, organisation, time management, prioritising and the ability to handle a complex, varied workload and a good knowledge of IT packages. 

These are just some of the key skills that can be applied across multiple facilities management positions.  

These skills are needed to carry out the responsibilities of a facilities manager.

Responsibilities can include overseeing and agreeing on contracts and providers for services including security, parking, cleaning, catering, technology and so on, supervising multi-disciplinary teams of staff including cleaning, maintenance, grounds and security, ensuring that basic facilities, such as water and heating, are well-maintained, managing budgets and ensuring cost-effectiveness, allocating and managing space between buildings, ensuring that facilities meet government regulations and environmental, health and security standards, advising businesses on increasing energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness, overseeing building projects, renovations or refurbishments, helping businesses to relocate to new offices and to make decisions about leasing and drafting reports and making written recommendations. 

Facilities Management is a diverse, broad-ranging sector so any combination of these skills and responsibilities could apply depending on your role, type of industry and company you work for and the objectives of that company.  

Any building or entity that serves a purpose must be managed. To do so you need a process and someone to execute that process. That is what Facilities Management encompasses. Whether it’s a place of work, a public building or a support service such as a data centre or catering company, a facilities management process and facilities manager is needed. 

In 2022, facility managers must also practice sustainability.  

Sustainability refers to ecological practices meant to limit a company's environmental impact.  

There has been an increase in demand for companies to reduce their waste and consumption of natural resources, and much of that obligation has become the responsibility of facilities managers.  

Choices that FM's make regarding equipment, energy consumption and operations can have a significant impact. 

It's important for facilities managers to make connections and develop a strong professional network so that they can game insight regarding technology, innovation and potential challenges.  A professional network can also help guide a facilities manager in the hiring and contracting aspect of their job, and aid in finding resources and opportunities for professional development and skill-building. 

Vision refers to the way a person sees the future position of a company or department, and it's closely related to elements of a company mission.  

To have a positive vision, managers need the ability to imagine the future of the departments and the futures of each staff member they manage.  

It's important that they are positive, innovative and forward-thinking so that they can lean the company towards a successful future. 

These are just some of the key skills that are needed to work as a facilities manager.