Skip to main content
Facilitate Magazine: Informing Workplace and Facilities Management Professionals - return to the homepage Facilitate magazine logo
  • Search
  • Visit Facilitate Magazine on Facebook
  • Visit Facilitate Magazine on LinkedIn
  • Visit @Facilitate_Mag on Twitter
Visit the website of the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management Logo of the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management

Main navigation

  • Home
  • News
    • Comment
    • People
    • Reports
    • Research
  • Features
    • Analysis
    • Features
    • Round Tables
    • Webinars
  • Outsourcing
    • Contract Finder
    • Contracts
    • FM Business Models
    • Interviews
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Opinion
    • Procurement
    • Trends
  • Know-How
    • Explainers
    • Legal Updates
    • White Papers
  • Jobs
  • Topics
    • Workplace Services
      • Hospitality
      • Catering
      • Cleaning
      • Front of House
      • Grounds Maintenance
      • Helpdesk
      • Mailroom
      • Manned Guarding / Security
      • Pest Control
      • Washroom Services
      • Disaster Recovery
      • Specialist Services
    • Professional Performance
      • Behavioural Change
      • Continual Professional Development
      • Education
      • Management
      • Recruitment
      • Training
    • Workplace Performance
      • Benchmarking
      • Health & Wellbeing
      • Operational Readiness
      • Procurement
      • Security
      • Workplace User Experience
      • Workplace Culture
    • Compliance
      • Health & Safety
      • Risk & Business Continuity
      • Standards
      • Statutory Compliance
    • Building Services
      • Architecture & Construction
      • Asset Management
      • Building Controls
      • Building Fabric
      • Drinking Water
      • Fire Protection
      • HVAC
      • Landscaping
      • Mechanical & Electrical
      • Building Security
      • Water, Drainage & Plumbing
    • Technology
      • Building Information Modelling
      • CAFM
      • Data & Networks
      • Document Management
      • Information Management
      • Internet of Things (IoT)
      • Software & Systems
    • Energy management
      • Energy Management Systems
      • Electricity
      • Gas
      • Solar
      • Wind
    • Sustainability
      • Environmental Quality
      • Social Value
      • Waste Management
      • Recycling
    • Workspace Design
      • Agile Working
      • Fit-Out & Refurbishment
      • Inclusive Access
      • Lighting
      • Office Interiors
      • Signage
      • Space Planning
      • Storage
      • Vehicle Management / Parking
      • Washroom
    • Sectors
      • Corporate Office
      • Education
      • Healthcare
      • Manufacturing
      • International
      • Retail
      • Sports & Leisure
      • Regions
  • Buyers' Guide
Quick links:
  • Home
  • News
Topics

ThinkFM 2014: Positive influence

Open-access content Friday 16th May 2014 — updated 2.38pm, Tuesday 5th May 2020
Oona King

It is time for FMs to exert their influence and challenge their organisations to make positive changes that could affect our whole environment, says former minister


16 May 2014 

At Tuesday's ThinkFM conference, Oona King shared her thoughts on how FMs can increase their influence and bring about change to enable their organisations to thrive.


Sometimes you have to make people uncomfortable if you want to bring about positive change, so do you value your role enough to take yourself and your organisation out of the comfort zone? King warned: "If you want to change things you need to walk that fine line, which takes you to the very edge." 


Adaptive leadership 
FM is important because it either creates or restricts inclusive environments, increases or decreases risk to business, and promotes or prevents sustainability, said King. But are FMs fully harnessing their influence in their organisation? 

"When was the last time your department or company clearly articulated your belief that your existence is beneficial to the planet - not just to the shareholders, but to everyone?" she asked.

Quoting from the book The Practice Of Adaptive Leadership, she explained how and why practising adaptive leadership can help organisations adapt to change. This requires a number of elements, not least challenging your boss - something King did when working for former PM Gordon Brown. 

"Most people in a position of authority - even if they're well-meaning - don't promote positive change, they just keep the wheels turning. They don't check if they're driving in the right direction and they don't lead people to a different place." 

All great leaders will start with the "why", and if you can't explain to the people you want to lead why something needs to be done you won't bring them with you and get the change you want, she said. First articulate your belief - then draw up the plan, she counselled, after all, Martin Luther King's speech wasn't called "I have a plan".

The key adaptive leadership tests are:

1.Diversity: What is the make-up of your management team and your board?;

2.Experiment: Does your environment encourage innovation?;

3.Solve the right problems, not the wrong problems;

4.Be conservative & progressive;

5.Have the dream first, then write the plan; 

6.Once you articulate the dream, push yourself and others outside your comfort zone;

7.You don't have to change that much, but ensure that the change is potent;

8.Do challenge the expectations of the people who hire you;

9.Learn to manage loss for yourselves and others; and

10. Be a little bit crazy. 


Summary

  • If you stand up for what you believe in it may come with a price;
  • Have courage to make changes;
  • Book: The Practice of Adaptive Leadership: Tools and Tactics for Changing Your Organization and the World by Ronald Heifetz   

Register your interest in next year's ThinkFM conference here.

Also filed in:
News
Content
Topics

You might also like...

Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linked in
  • Mail
  • Print

Today's top reads

 

Latest Jobs

Project Leader (Maternity Cover One Year Contract)

Cambridge
Circa £50,000 Pro Rata + Benefits & Opportunities
Reference
56378

Maintenance Supervisor

Surrey
Up to £43,000 + Excellent Package & Opportunities
Reference
56376

Regional Facilities Manager

South West England
Circa £40,000 + Benefits & Opportunities
Reference
56375
See all jobs »

 

 

Sign up to our newsletter

News, jobs and updates

Sign up

Subscribe to print

Sign up to receive our bi-monthly magazine

Subscribe
Facilitate magazine cover, June 2020
​
FOLLOW US
@Facilitate_Mag
Facilitate Magazine
Facilitate Magazine
CONTACT US
Contact us
Tel: 020 7880 6200
​

IWFM

About IWFM
Become a member
Qualifications
Events

Information

Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
Cookie Policy
Think Green

Get in touch

Contact us
Advertise with us
Subscribe to Facilitate Magazine
Write for Facilitate Magazine

General

IWFM Jobs
Help

© 2022 • www.facilitatemagazine.com and Facilitate Magazine are published by Redactive Media Group. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any part is not allowed without written permission.

Redactive Media Group Ltd, 71-75 Shelton Street, London WC2H 9JQ