Inspiring the next generation of workplace leaders

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\”The best way to predict the future is to shape it.\” A great quote shared with us by Thomas Mitchell, one of our guests featured this week. One way we can shape the future of FM is by positively supporting and influencing those who want to join our efforts. Our impact as an industry is not limited to one generation, and it\’s imperative that we as a whole continually look for opportunities to inspire the FM generations after us. Dr. Eunhwa Yang and Thomas Mitchell give us a few ideas on how to do just that. 

Next Generation Workplace Leadership & FM Education

Dr. Eunhwa Yang  Assistant Professor, School of Building Construction at Georgia Tech

\”So that\’s why the school and I have been involved with IFMA Atlanta Chapter, to bring professionals into the classroom. So they can pass down those experiential knowledge, tacit knowledge to the younger generation at Georgia Tech.\”

No stranger to the importance of educating the future generation of facilities leaders, Dr. Yang, Associate Professor at Georgia Tech\’s School of Building Construction, has made it her goal to create organic opportunities for her students and potential FMs to take a peak into what roles are available to them in the future workplace. 
 
Recognizing the talent gap in the FM industry as a whole, Dr. Yang has decided to do her part for the students in her classes by educating them in a variety of ways. She admits that while videos and books are classically valuable tools, she believes interacting with actual people can never be replicated, which is why she has made it a priority to bring FM professionals into her classroom to help inspire the next generation of FMs. The interactions her students have with real, working facilities leaders can provide lasting impact and has inspired many of her students to pursue careers in our field. 
 
Dr. Yang and I agree that coming from a human-centric industry, the face-to-face interactions that take place are irreplaceable. While online classes and communication isn\’t going away, human contact should always be part of the strategy when you\’re looking to inspire talent or individuals coming into the FM space. 
 

Inspirational Facility Management Leadership

Thomas L. MitchellSenior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, FM3IS Associates

\”This is an opportunity for folks to know the value that FM provides, not just towards maintaining these facilities, but the success of our entire organization. We can be the leaders in promoting original innovation.\”

Thomas Mitchell just may be one of facilities management\’s biggest fans. As the Senior VP and COO at FM3IS Associates, he preaches the importance of his company\’s motto, \”integration, inspiration and innovation\”. One of his main goals is to spread the word of the great work and influence the FM industry has on the built environment. This is a man who really loves what we do, and the perfect candidate to discuss how we can inspire future FM generations.

Thomas believes the most valuable resource any organizational leader has is their people. One way to influence the people on your team is by practicing a term called deliberate talent management. Thomas explains the development and maintenance of talent can be viewed in the same way you would view a building\’s lifecycle, there are various stages depending on that building. This helps leaders proactively place the right people, in the right position, at the right time. 

In this episode of the podcast we cover how by raising awareness of this process and placing value on developing individuals, FM professionals will create opportunities to lead their organizations towards success, and will help facilitate the success of the industry as a whole. 

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