What kind of job do you want?

Of the people I spoke with for the August cover story, Stormy Friday was the most enthusiastic about the benefits of FMs’ aiming to gain clout. But Friday, president of The Friday Group, was also the most clear about reasons that FMs might shy away from that goal.

The downside of having clout, she told me, is that it puts added pressure on FMs. One reason is you’re highly visible within the organization. “You need to make sure that you maintain relationships at very senior levels,” Friday said. But that doesn’t mean kowtowing to the boss. Instead, FMs have to push top management to be clear about its expectations for facilities, Friday said — and if those expectations aren’t high enough, FMs have to make the case that senior executives are underestimating the value that facilities can add.

Once a facility manager gains clout, expectations also go up. “You have to be fully aware of best practices and how they have applicability within your own institution,” Friday said. Metrics go from optional to indispensable. So does knowledge of what’s going on in the company.

If all that sounds a bit daunting, it’s important to keep some context in mind. Friday was talking about FMs who are recognized as having something to offer and who become invaluable to top managers because of what they can offer. For FMs in that position, some of the biggest facility management headaches go away, or at least come up less often.

For one thing, FMs don’t have to deal with so many surprises because they’re aware of the plans other departments are making that will affect the facility, like a decision to increase staffing.

Another big benefit is that FMs with clout are in a position to champion facility needs. That makes it easier to get a hearing for major facility investments like replacing an aging generator.

From Friday’s perspective, having clout makes the FM job more stimulating. It also makes the position more secure. Without clout, she said, “You’re much more vulnerable to somebody coming in and saying, ‘You know, these people don’t add a great deal of value. Have you ever considered outsourcing your facility department?’”

Clearly, a job with clout is very different from one that is focused on back-of-the-house maintenance and operations. What do you think? Should clout be part of the your job description?