FMJ Facilities Management magazine providing industry-specific intelligence to FM and property professionals
THE INSTITUTE OF WORKPLACE AND FACILITIES MANAGEMENT’S VIEW
LINDA HAUSMANIS,
CEO IWFM
Networking is the seed for professional growth, collaboration, resource sharing and, ultimately, building relationships that matter. At IWFM, our volunteer-led Networks, Regions and Special Interest Groups are crucial for shaping our agenda and driving positive outcomes. Joining a networking group isn’t just about turning up and collecting business cards or snapping QR codes on phones, but unlocking knowledge, opportunities and support which can make all the difference – career long.
For professionals deciding which way to proceed, ask: What do I hope to achieve? Do I need knowledge on specific trends, to build a reputation, find a mentor, to give or gain insight? By understanding what you want to attain, it helps you find the best people, place and specialism at the right time. IWFM’s communities enable members to play to their strengths and explore areas they want to develop or contribute, cultivating the holistic knowledge needed for success.
When you’ve gained a better idea of what you want, it’s time to get involved. Call on existing contacts if you have them or turn up and take part; gain a sense of the atmosphere, whether you have the conversations you want to have, if you feel the information is relevant and if you have anything you want to contribute. There may be instances where you learn from a strategic leader, as with IWFM Mentoring, or share your experiences with a more junior professional – the result is a win for the community. It’s only until you share that you recognise your level of understanding, how it relates to the sector and what you need to build on.
You’ve put in the effort, now it’s time to follow up. Engage with your group online or in person; it helps keep you on the radar, both enhancing your reputation and up to date with developments. Networking can be a marathon, not a sprint; by putting in sufficient time and energy, you can discover new opportunities, stand out as an authoritative voice and be a trusted resource for your peers.
Getting established in a networking group enables you to stay ahead of trends, discover diverse perspectives, find solutions to challenges you might be facing and learn how others pursue their practice to benchmark your performance. Beyond the day-to-day of work, there’s immense value in meeting others that understand what you’re experiencing, will encourage you and talk; they could end up a collaborator, a font of knowledge or a good friend. Either way, you’ve gained.
THE FACILITIES & WORKPLACE MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT’S VIEW
BERNARD CROUCH,
ACUMEN FM
With so many demands on our time why spend time attending networking events, many of which take place in the evening after work?
There are many benefits. Firstly, it is worth highlighting how the more formal networking events contribute to our professional development. Continuous professional development (CPD) is of benefit to you and will be welcomed by your employer. Some membership organisations promote CPD more than others. Any networking event that has been allocated a CPD number should contain a reasonable amount of knowledge (and not just be a sales presentation that merely talks about one company’s product or services). Of value in the world of Facilities are CPD events that provide updates on new legislation. Changes to the Health & Safety Act, the Fire Safety Act and the introduction of the Terrorism (Protection of premises) bill or Martyns Law being some examples of where a networking event will help to keep you up to date.
Career development isn’t the same as professional development, as what I am referring to is around the discussions that you might have at a networking event. The person who tells you about an FM course that they did and that you should do. The discussion with someone who has a vacancy that could just be the next step in your career. The career change discussion that could occur, ‘have you ever thought about moving into project management’ (for example).
While it is true that your peer group will typically be made up of people you have worked with or studied with, you can broaden your peer group with people who perhaps are working in different parts of FM e.g. maybe you are working in a private sector city centre office building and they are on a public sector campus site out of town and with a fairly different set of challenges and daily tasks than you might have.
Regarding which networking events you should attend, there are CPD and networking opportunities depending on where you either see yourself or would like to be. Some membership organisations’ events will only be open to members, however full details of their events are on their websites.
