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Monday 19th March 2012
It's time to set new goals aimed at achieving success at the BIFM Awards, writes Oliver Jones, Chayora chief executive and the BIFM awards judges chairman.
22 March 2012
The New Year and the early signs of spring are good triggers for us all to set new targets and start new chapters in our business and personal lives.
In today's challenging economic times, setting ambitious new goals is an essential part of successful leadership: the traditional measures of headline turnover growth, profit improvement and cash collection need to be matched these days by the need to maintain high-performing teams and retain long-term customers through exceptional service.
In recent years, the BIFM Awards have grown in stature and today represent the crucible of constructive competition in FM in the UK, illustrating and showcasing the wide-ranging professional skills being deployed across our industry.
Targeting success as a finalist or a category winner in the BIFM Awards is therefore a superb way of creating focus, achieving team engagement and benchmarking.
The experience of recent winners underlines the sense of achievement that can be secured which range from enhanced brand profile and industry standing, to strengthened client relationships, tighter team working and improved margins.
As an example, when I was chairman and an investor in NB Entrust a few years ago, we set a series of measures of progress with our management team upon embarking on a major restructuring programme. The objective was to create a sector-leading FM business and achieve external recognition through a top industry award for excellence within three years. We were delighted when we achieved the BIFM Award for Excellence for Property Investors FM. It was a positive outcome - all the team had been core contributors.
Success in recognised awards programmes really delivers benefits! Only the best will make it, so deciding to enter requires a bold leader who puts their faith in their team.
So, perhaps you could be such a leader?
You don't have to be the chief executive or managing director, although their buy-in is important, but you must be a leader who can inspire others.
Get your team together and stimulate discussion to identify which category to enter and the areas where you need to do more to be an industry leader. Making positive change with a clear target for the BIFM Awards next year could be an important goal.
The competition will be tough, but the judges are first-class industry professionals. We had nearly 100 entries across 11 categories last year from the largest FM companies through to many of our excellent smaller businesses and partnerships.
The winners fought hard and represented the best of breed in each case.
Entries close on 27 April, so are you a leader and will this be your year? Good luck to all who step up to the mark in 2012.
You can learn more and enter at www.bifm.org.uk/awards
Oliver Jones is chief executive of Chayora and chairman of the judges for the BIFM Awards