As facility managers, we all want to feel valued, find opportunities for advancement and showcase our worth. Believing in your potential is foundational for upskilling, which is the process of acquiring new technical and soft skills that are essential for staying competitive and adapting to changing job demands.

Lifelong learning bolsters careers and contributes to personal fulfillment. Staying up-to-date with the latest trends offers a competitive edge and prepares for future obstacles. Contributing new knowledge and ideas in your daily work and interactions with internal and external stakeholders and the c-suite is imperative to showcase your capabilities. Doing so will help build a reputation that attracts opportunities and respect within your company.

A self-development plan aimed at achieving personal goals is essential. Outline your strengths and weaknesses to improve areas that will bring you more recognition and new challenges. Be honest with yourself and acknowledge what may need extra attention.

Here are some key focus areas to help gain more recognition:

Communication: Do you have strong interpersonal skills to effectively communicate with diverse stakeholders? Openly communicate with your team and foster a workspace where everyone wants to work collaboratively and their work is recognized.

Influence: Are you able to influence and create buy-in with the c-suite and all internal and external stakeholders?

Leadership and team management: Do you have the capacity to lead teams and motivate others to drive initiatives forward in a collaborative way toward common goals?

Collaboration and sharing: By sharing knowledge, mentoring, collaborating, and recognizing others, you build a reputation that attracts opportunities and respect.

Continuous learning and adaptability: How efficiently can you adapt to new technologies, changes in regulations, and evolving best practices for the company?

Problem-solving: In order to make improvements in your facility’s operations, do you identify issues, develop solutions, and have the analytical skills to implement these solutions?

Customer service and stakeholder engagement: Do you clearly understand what is needed to enhance satisfaction and retention and anticipate evolving needs?

Negotiation: Have you developed strong skills to negotiate contracts, manage vendor relationships, and achieve cost-effective solutions?

Time management: Can you efficiently manage multiple projects and tasks all while being effective at prioritizing your organization’s goals and deadlines?

Conflict resolution: While not an easy task for many FMs, it is extremely important to address conflicts constructively, all while maintaining positive work relationships.

You can upskill your worth by truly understanding what you can offer besides technical knowledge. Not only will this enhance your career opportunities but also contribute significantly to the overall efficiency, sustainability and success of your organization and team. Continuous self-improvement will ensure that you remain a valuable asset in the dynamic field of facility management.

Marcia O’Connor is president of AM FM Consulting Group. She is a strategic-minded leader with more than 20-plus years of progressive experience in corporate real estate, asset management, and integrated facilities management. Marcia has a passion for mentoring young professionals and helping people, teams, and organizations see their potential. She is the lead instructor for the University of Toronto School of Continued Studies, Facility Management Certificate Program.