In today’s digital age, employees are as comfortable in front of a video call as they are being face-to-face in the workplace and business is conducted as successfully in a virtual environment as it is in a physical one.
Technology continues to play a significant role in enabling more agile working with flexibility and work/life balance more important than ever. For many employers, there are big conversations needed around the future role of the workplace with no ‘one size fits all’ answer ready to easily deploy.
Should Management be Face-to-Face in FM?
In facilities management, however, a different debate is taking place. Many businesses continue to have physical office space and these buildings still need oversight. Security, upkeep and issues management are just a few of the vitally important aspects of facilities management, regardless of the corporate view on future working.
But with advances in technology, can leading a facilities team be a hybrid role? More importantly, should it be?
4 Reasons Why Face-to-Face Management is Key in FM
Our view here at RFM is no, and here’s why. Four reasons why face-to-face management is key in FM:
- A physically present facilities manager will roll their sleeves up and immerse themselves in the day-to-day job. This also means they’re on hand to oversee their team and ensure that issues and queries are quickly and efficiently dealt with. Their presence will help forge better relationships and foster a sense of team; all important to job satisfaction and performance.
- You’ll get a better service because your professional team are on-site and able to properly assess every situation to ensure you get the right outcomes. Where complex or unexpected issues arise, the presence of an onsite manager to help guide decision making can ensure swift action happens.
- An onsite manager can focus on strategic building management, which includes preventative methods. Being present on a regular basis means your facilities manager can build an in-depth understanding of how a building works and the elements relied upon to keep it running, meaning potential problems can often be mitigated by proactive maintenance, upkeep and servicing.
- It takes time to learn and understand each business and the building portfolio they have and so we believe it’s important to ensure each facilities manager has the right number of accounts to give a professional and personal service, not the maximum number.
Re-designing FM Management
As employers look to re-establish and redesign what their working model is for the future, it’s important that the workplace continues to be part of that conversation. There is a real opportunity to ensure office space is relevant and purposeful for both employers and employees who are navigating a hybrid future and with that, the ability to take a fresh look at office design and maintenance.
To explore how RFM can support your hybrid working ambitions through space and facilities management, speak to us today.