3 Facilities Management Goals to Set for Q3 and Q4

by James McDonald on May 18, 2017
dots-pattern
inner-blogshape

It seems like just yesterday everyone was returning to work from the holidays. But somehow, Q2 of 2017 is already upon us. Because facilities leaders are planners by nature, you’re likely already mapping out the second half of the year (and hopefully scheduling yourself a vacation somewhere tropical). 3 Facilities Management Goals to Set for Q3 and Q4

One of the most important things to the FM team is aligning HR and ITBut when you’re simultaneously planning for the future while handling day-to-day events, setting objectives several months into the future can be a challenge. To help you prioritize your plans for the remainder of 2017 and make this your most successful year yet, we’ve compiled our top suggestions.

1. Streamline Processes with IT and HR

What do the most successful workplaces have in common? They all have a well-defined and streamlined flow of information between the IT, HR and FM departments.

If one of your resolutions was to make new friends this year, we suggest starting with the heads of HR and IT. Not only do you share common goals, each department houses valuable data that would benefit the others. The HR team has all the data about each individual employee, the IT team has all the data about security and asset usage and the FM team has a wealth of data about how workers use their workspace.

Together, the three of you can integrate your systems and share information that benefits the entire workforce — especially when it comes to onboarding new employees.From attracting and retaining talent, driving down costs and increasing revenue, working together will ensure you’re meeting the expectations of the C-Suite and bettering your organization as a whole.

2. Review Space Utilization and Map Out an Optimization Strategy

While you likely review space management data on a regular basis, it’s always good to consider the big picture a few times throughout the year. How would you answer the following questions?

  • On average, how many people are using each workspace?
  • Are there any spaces that are under-utilized or entirely vacant?
  • Which spaces are most popular and why?
  • Are there any areas that are congested and overcrowded?
  • Would your workspace benefit from being re-configured?
  • Are employees using designated spaces as intended?

Knowing the answers to these questions will help you better optimize the workspace and ensure you’re working to keep employees engaged and costs under control.

As an FM leader, make sure you integrate existing apps into your IWMS to fully leverage your data3. Improve Your IWMS Usage

Your IWMS solution is only as powerful as the data it’s fed and how well it’s adopted by the facilities leader and the workspace he or she supports. In other words, if you want more bang for your buck you need to take stock of your IWMS utilization.

Here are a few potential areas of opportunity:

  • Integrating existing apps into the IWMS platform
  • Using reporting tools to craft a more comprehensive snapshot for the C-Suite
  • Leveraging space utilization information to drive decisions and forecast real estate needs
  • Tracking assets to ensure you’re not making unnecessary investments
  • Ensuring the workforce is correctly submitting work orders
  • Implementing digital signage and wayfinding to improve the visitor experience

Bonus Tip: Plan a Vacation

This may sound like a joke — but we’re being completely serious. As a facilities leader, you have a lot on your plate. And while you may thrive under pressure and consistently drive success on little sleep, this shouldn’t be a norm or you’ll face professional burnout.

Take care of yourself, strike up a work-life balance and, most importantly, schedule yourself some time for rest and relaxation. Your organization relies on your quick-thinking and strategic mind, and taking time to refresh will ensure you can continue exceeding expectations.

Preparing for the next half of the year can be overwhelming, but by setting key priorities tied to company-wide initiatives, you can make sure you’re preparing to focus your energy in all the right places.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

James McDonald

James McDonald is a sports enthusiast, brother in Christ and once swam in a tank with the infamous TV sharks.

Capterra Ratings: ★★★★★ 4.5/5