In episode 351, host Mike Petrusky speaks with Lorri Rowlandson, senior vice president for strategy and innovation at BGIS in Toronto, and Alana Dunoff, ProFM, FMP, IFMA Fellow, and a consultant and adjunct professor at Temple University in Philadelphia. They join Mike Petrusky on stage in front of an audience of facility management (FM) professionals at IFMA’s Facility Fusion in Austin, TX to record the live podcast episode “Leading through Change and the Future of FM Innovation.” They discuss change management and the role of technology in the built environment. The discussion includes practical use cases highlighting how facility managers can impact health in the workplace and how innovation in FM should start with small, incremental changes, with the panel emphasizing the role of technology, especially AI, in supporting human potential rather than replacing it. Both guests agree continuous learning and upskilling are essential for staying relevant in this rapidly changing industry, so they share some change management strategies and other practical advice.
Agenda
- Role of facility managers in modern organizations
- Impact of technology, particularly AI, on FM
- Importance of emotional intelligence and continuous learning
What you need to know: Workplace takeaways
Takeaway 1: Facility managers play a critical role in the health and well-being of building occupants, and they must embrace technology to enhance their capabilities
Rowlandson quotes Joseph Allen from his book “Healthy Buildings,” “Facilities managers have more impact on your health and your doctors do,” to highlight the role of facility managers in maintaining indoor environments that promote health, especially as society spends more time indoors compared to 30 years ago.
Her concern: “We spend 90% of our time indoors now. And so indoor health is something that hasn’t been talked about enough.”
The rise in chronic diseases linked to poor indoor air quality underscores the importance of facility managers in creating healthier spaces, and Rowlandson and Dunoff encourage the live audience to think of themselves as heroes. “You are heroes if you’re a facilities manager.”
Takeaway 2: Innovation in facility management should focus on practical, incremental changes rather than sweeping, world-changing initiatives
Dunoff encourages professionals in the field to focus on what’s important and shares an Eisenhower quote, “The plan is nothing and planning is everything,” to emphasis the importance of the process over the final product.
She explains: “It’s about the process that the outcome, the document, the plan is nice, but it’s the process that we go through that really makes the difference and that’s what allows us to be nimble.” And it’s this flexibility and adaptability that are key to successful innovation in facility management.
Takeaway 3: Leveraging AI in facility management can lead to more efficient and data-driven decision-making, but it must be rooted in solving real problems
AI has the potential to revolutionize facility management by providing tools to manage administrative processes and enhance decision-making.
Dunoff shares the example of her husband using AI to build a form, saving him two hours of work. “He’s like, I just saved myself two hours. And all of a sudden, all of them are like able to do something a little bit more streamlined and being thoughtful,” she says.
Rowlandson expands on the practical application of AI for solving complex ecosystems of problems like total cost of ownership for HVAC units. Facility managers now have the “ability to collect all of that into total cost of ownership decisions, just in time maintenance, prolonging the life of an asset, holding manufacturers accountable for the longevity of the product,” she says. It empowers them to dynamically adjust their capital plans and align with changing business goals, reducing administrative burdens, and improving outcomes.
Takeaway 4: Emotional intelligence and effective communication are essential skills for facility managers to navigate the changes brought by technology
“Our best intelligence is not artificial, it’s human,” says Rowlandson. She encourages the team to view technology as an extension of their capabilities, not a replacement. “They will accelerate human potential. I think the problem that we are going to face is that it’s going to create so much change in such a short period of time,” she adds.
Dunoff emphasizes the importance of change management and leadership skills. “Change is messy. It just is. It’s messy and it’s hard,” she says.
She advises facility managers to trust the process, allowing time for the “flavors to melt” and for the best outcomes to emerge. “It’s not about change being good or bad, it’s just change, right? It just means it’s going to look different than it did before,” she notes.
Takeaway 5: Continuous learning and upskilling are vital for facility managers to stay relevant and effective in a rapidly changing industry
The industry is evolving at an unprecedented rate, and facility managers must continuously learn and upskill to remain relevant. “If you have 10, 7 to 10 years left in your career, or more, develop a love of continuous learning,” Rowlandson says. She encourages facility managers to find learning methods that fit their schedules and interests, whether through podcasts, courses, or other resources.
Workplace management insights
- Facility managers play a crucial role in the health and well-being of building occupants, with a significant impact on indoor air quality and chronic diseases.
- Strategic planning is more about the process than the final document. It’s about being adaptable and nimble.
- AI and other technologies can enhance FM by improving efficiency, safety, and sustainability, but they should be used to solve specific problems rather than for their own sake.
- Emotional intelligence and soft skills, such as critical thinking and data storytelling, are essential for FM professionals to effectively communicate the value of their work.
- Change management is a messy process, and leaders should create a safe environment for their teams to learn from failures and adapt.
- Continuous learning and upskilling are vital for staying relevant in a rapidly changing industry, especially with the advent of new technologies like AI.
- Technology should be an extension of human potential, not a replacement, and can help in making data-driven decisions.
Do a deep dive into more workplace insights by exploring all Workplace Innovator podcast episodes.
