There were two reasons Building Operating Management launched the FMXcellence recognition program about this time last year. One was to share examples of best practices in action. That was the impetus behind this month’s cover story and the expanded coverage that appears online, which includes a series of five audio slide shows featuring 2010 FMXcellence honorees and a group on MyFacilitiesnet.com for discussions of issues related to clout, respect and credibility.
The projects and programs that earned FMXcellence recognition reflect the broad scope of initiatives that facility departments are working on today. This diversity created a challenge as we developed plans for the cover story package — finding a common thread that ran through all the projects.
That’s where the word “clout” came in. I suspect that many facility managers have never thought of themselves as having clout. But “clout” offered a new way of looking at the facility department’s place in the organization. Facility managers can add value in many ways, and “clout” enabled us to look at methods facility managers could use to parlay their accomplishments into a new status within the organization.
The word also suggested a willingness to be assertive in advancing the facility agenda, an assertiveness that facility managers sometimes lack. That’s not to say facility managers can demand that others in the organization pay attention to facility priorities. But in many cases it is possible to push facility issues harder than in the past without being too pushy.
Speaking of accomplishments: The biggest reason we developed the FMXcellence program was to recognize the accomplishments of facility departments that are adding value to their corporations and institutions. We’re now looking for candidates for 2011 FMXcellence recognition. If you have a program or project that is adding value, we want to hear about it. Click here to learn more. I look forward to hearing about your work.