Change happens, change is constant

It was Einstein who said: "In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity" - how relevant is that quote in today's economy?

 06 November 2008

It was Einstein who said: "In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity" - how relevant is that quote in today's economy? FMs will hear demands to make savings and cutbacks to meet their business requirements regardless of industry sector. The downturn in the money markets affects us all in one form or another. The wise FM will have by now already foreseen these demands and started to prepare and respond. This current downturn will allow good FMs to become a fully recognised asset and contributor to their companies, bottom line in these troubled times.

My advice: use your membership network through Sigs and sector forums as well as your regional colleagues and through the website forum where you have the opportunity to converse with more than 12,000 members that have access to the same facility.

Einstein also said: "The only source of knowledge is experience" - use your BIFM network to share problems and issues to gain the experiences of others.

"Imagination is more important than knowledge" was another of Einstein's assertions. For me this is about forward thinking and not letting history get in the way of progress.

This leads me into the project that I proposed to the board on a review of how senior volunteers currently interact with our head office teams plus the interface with other senior volunteers through committees, Sigs, sector forums, regions and Members' Council. The prime objective however, is a review and proposal based on the future of the Professional Standards and Education, Audit and Governance, Members' Services, and Knowledge Committees. This will of course have a knock-on affect to other areas of the volunteer force which will be highlighted in our findings.

I strongly believe that the BIFM is reaching another great milestone in its provision of services and processes it undertakes. Change is inevitable; those that do not embrace change cannot therefore expect to gain from its longer term benefits.

If you have any views as to what you believe to be a suitable structure for volunteer interaction with staff and the membership in general please do contact me with your ideas. I will feed your views into the project working group at our next workshop.

Please do contribute - it's your professional membership association, help shape it.

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