You’re good at your job and want to do better but can’t find the time. You can learn these facility manager skills through online courses without big-time commitments.
Whether you just had a promotion and you’re new to management, or you’ve plateaued, learning some new facility manager skills can help you improve and grow your career. However, the problem many of us run into is that in-person training doesn’t always fit into our schedule. Plus, depending on your location, attending specific trainings in person might not be feasible.
There’s a lot to be said for in-person training sessions. You can get instant feedback, easily ask questions and get answers, and you get that personal interaction that can be helpful in learning. Online courses, both real-time and asynchronous, have come a long way, though. You don’t have to travel. You don’t have to worry that you’ll miss a class because you were at work late or a family event took precedence. And the quality is generally much higher than it was even a few years ago.
The biggest problem with online courses perhaps, is deciding what to choose from. There are thousands of online courses that cover every imaginable topic and can be as simple as watching a short video or as intensive as signing up for a master’s degree program. More to the point, however, what are some of the facility manager skills you can learn online?
If you’re ready to bring your cleaning organization to the next level, schedule a call with Janitorial Manager to see how our software can make your janitorial operation more successful!
The 6 Most Valuable Facility Manager Skills You Can Learn From the Comfort of Your Couch
Many people in management get there by working their way up the ladder. They have the knowledge, skill, and experience to do the job. However, there are still numerous facility manager skills that are missing. Knowing how to do your job is, of course, extremely important. But management is also about people skills, organization, bookkeeping, and many other smaller tasks that many of us learn as we go, often through mistakes.
Many of these skills are just as valuable as knowing how to fix a leaky faucet or repair a vacuum cleaner. Luckily, these facility manager skills are also easy to learn online!
1. Registered Building Service Manager. This certification, from Building Service Contractors Association International (BSCAI), is so much more than just one or two skills. It’s a comprehensive course that covers four sections divided into topics, including Metal Surfaces, Carpets, Green Cleaning, Chemistry, Insurance & Legal, Unions, Personnel Management, and much more.
2. Certified Site Supervisor. This is also a more comprehensive certification, and also from BSCAI. You’ll find topics here that include Hiring & Firing, Safety & Security, and Account Management.
3. Financial Analysis. Finance management is crucial to your success in facilities management. The University of California, Irvine, offers an online course you can take individually or as part of their Certificate Program in Facilities Management. Among other topics, this course explores Life-Cycle Costing, Return on Assets, and Net Present Value.
4. Conflict Resolution. No matter how well our teams get along, it’s nearly impossible to have a workplace without occasional conflicts, making conflict resolution one of the facility manager skills that can transform your business, as well as, potentially, your personal life. Cornell University offers an online program in conflict resolution that includes four classes designed to give you the tools to “implement a proven problem-solving approach to find workable resolutions.”
5. Safety Skills. As a facility manager, part of your job is to keep your team and your customers safe. That’s why basic safety skills are essential. The OSHA Education Center offers a 30-hour online course that covers topics such as Emergency Action Plans, Electrical, Flammable & Combustible Liquids, Bloodborne Pathogens, and more. Any of these could be helpful in daily tasks.
6. Good Communication. You could arguably say that conflict resolution and safety skills fall into good communication. The truth is that communication is the bedrock upon which so many other facility manager skills rest. There is no shortage of communication courses available online. You can find them on big online learning sites, through major universities, or through your local community colleges. As just one of many examples, Eastern Gateway Community College in Youngstown, Ohio, has a self-paced, online Interpersonal Communication course that runs about 24 hours.
With your foundational skills in place already, updating your abilities with a few additional skills like these can mean the difference between struggling to get the job done and going in relaxed, knowing you have the skills you need for anything that might come up.
Take advantage of the value Janitorial Manager can bring to your cleaning operation to streamline your processes like never before. Learn more today with a discovery call and find out how to make your cleaning operation more efficient and cost effective!