In episode 376, host Mike Petrusky speaks with Edward Kacal, CEO at Servus Limited in Trinidad and Tobago where he is a proven problem-solver with a blend of analytical and intuitive skills driving positive long-term performance at a company providing outsourced integrated facilities management services. Mike asks Eddie about how the facility management industry is evolving and why leaders need to advocate for its growth and recognition both locally and internationally. They explore how AI is impacting the workplace and the FM profession as it revolutionizes building management and operations. Eddie says that FM professionals should strive to become generalists, being good at many different things, rather than being confined to specific job titles and descriptions. He encourages us to pursue continuous learning and professional development are essential to avoid becoming obsolete in a rapidly changing industry.
Agenda
- Exploring the top priorities for Service Limited, including market growth and the integration of AI
- Offering advice to FM and real estate leaders on how to stay relevant and add value to their organizations
- Sharing motivational quotes and insights to inspire listeners
What you need to know: Workplace takeaways
Takeaway 1: Embracing AI and new technologies is crucial for facility managers to stay relevant and advance in their roles
Eddie emphasizes the importance of learning about new technologies, especially AI, to improve building operations and management: “Learn all that you can about new technologies, as scary as they may be, and not just what can we use on our desktop, but what can we use in the building to help make the building work better and smarter in the future.”
He expresses a sense of urgency, noting that those who resist these changes risk becoming redundant: “I think, I think from a personal standpoint, you know, we got to all be making our efforts. And we see that if we see, we see people on this continuous education, they’re coming into webinars, they’re learning, they’re doing stuff, but I also think there’s a large cadre of FMs out there who are just going to work in the morning, fighting the fires, surviving, go home, come back the next day, fight the fires, and I worry about them.”
He also highlights the strategic value of being proactive with technology: “There’s a saying about it’s not going to be, you’re not going to be replaced by AI, but you might be replaced by somebody using AI. I think it’s going to be a lot more than that, but I think it’s not going to be a lot more than that. But FM is interesting because I think we will not be replaced by AI, but there are people amongst us who will be.”
Takeaway 2: Facility managers should prioritize continuous education and strategic thinking to avoid becoming stagnant and to drive value in their organizations
Eddie also discusses the importance of continuous learning and strategic thinking for facility managers: “Whatever you do, own it and try to become the best that you can be in that area. So that is going into discomfort. That is going to say when I’m getting home in the nights and my tank is empty, I’m going to still try to find some time to do something else, whether it’s weekends or carving out that half an hour, because if we’re just doing our job day to day, we’re going to be made at some point in time, our jobs are going to become redundant.”
He encourages facility managers to step outside their comfort zones and take on additional responsibilities: “I do the work. The results will follow the payback will follow. And having taken that person’s advice and doing the extra work that was outside of my job, that actually was the turning point that moved me from an engineer to a production manager to a plant manager to a general manager to a CEO in pretty quick succession, simply because I was willing to step out of my box and get involved with other things without being fussing about a couple of dollars.”
He also stresses the importance of not being limited by job titles and descriptions: “FMs, we tend to get categorized as jacks of all trades, and I’m a jack of all trades because I’m interested in so many different things, but people use that term not as a positive term. We hear about jack of all trades, but experts are none, but I think that’s wrong. I think we can be a jack of all trades and be very good at many things, and the term to capture all of that is called a generalist.”
Takeaway 3: Building a strong network within the facility management community can provide valuable support and opportunities for growth
Eddie highlights the benefits of networking within the facility management community: “Maybe more to just reinforce what I said, so one gets involved with your FM network, get involved with your chapter, get involved with IFA volunteer. To get involved because it’s having the network of people and having humans who you can tap into and get advice from is really heartening and a lot of FMs out there, they’re working by themselves, meaning they’re not interacting with a lot of other FMs so that it sometimes can be a lonely place.”
He shares his own experience of how networking and volunteering contributed to his career: “And just got deeper and deeper and deeper in, started at the chapter level with communications, then ended up taking on leadership roles, and then ended up as president for the COVID period, um, which was really interesting. Then somehow just started getting pulled into other communities, the business community and not only manufacturing community council and a few global level appointments at the audit committee, now only America’s board.”
He also notes that the support and advice from the network can be invaluable: “So get involved with your network and help whatever you put in comes back to you tenfold, right? And then again, I will reinforce the point of learning all that you can about new technologies as scary as they may be, and not just what can we do on our desktop, but what can we use in the building to help make the building work better and smarter in the future, I think in the future, if you look 10 years in the future, we’re going to have buildings that are really smart. That has very few humans behind the scenes doing FM stuff. And so, let’s make sure we are those people who are there, right?”
Workplace management insights
The FM industry can benefit from increased awareness and advocacy, both locally and globally.
AI is a critical technology that FM professionals should embrace to stay competitive and efficient.
Facility managers should strive to move from a tactical to a strategic role within their organizations.
Continuous learning and personal development are essential for career growth in the FM field.
Do a deep dive into more workplace insights by exploring all Workplace Innovator podcast episodes
