Editor’s Note:  This is another in a series of articles of informative topics specifically for facility management professionals.  This article, however, is one every chapter member should read and weigh.  The articles, entitled Vice President Practices, are prepared by Joyce Strait, vice president, Central Ohio IFMA Chapter.

This is a series of fun statements to test where you are on your FM career pyramid.

There are four choices per statement. Write down your choice.  Once you have decided on your response there will be a scoring key for points assigned to that answer.

Progression up and down the FM pyramid will be determined by these scores. Every time you score 20 points you go up one level.

Ready? Sound interesting? Let's see how you do?
 

Starter Points Section 1
1. The International Facility Management Association (IFMA) is the world's largest organization for facility professionals.  Its website, educational programs, electronic updates and publications are some of the ways it helps members keep pace with the profession.

A.  I belong and fully appreciate all that IFMA offers.
B.  I belong.  My boss made me do it, and I pay very little attention to it.
C.  I don't join organizations.  I’d rather spend money on past issues of out-of-date magazines.
D.  I have heard of IFMA and will investigate further to join.

If you answered:
A.  10  points.  Congratulations.  You are well on your way up the FM Career Pyramid. IFMA is a great resource for your development.
B.  0  points.  You only progress if you take opportunities presented to you.  You may want to reevaluate your participation in the organization.
C.  -5  points.  Let's hope retro comes back into style or civilization regresses so you will be on top of it all.
D.  5  points. You are headed in the right direction.  Start making smart choices now and set a good precedent for yourself.

Basic Instincts Section 2
2. Security calls you on a Saturday evening.  A pipe broke and the front office is flooded. You:

A.  Panic and call your boss.
B.  Call in an emergency crew to do cleanup.  On Monday business as usual.
C.  Ignore it.  Your hours are 8-5 Monday through Friday.  It will have to wait until Monday.
D.  You call in an emergency crew to do cleanup.  On Monday you apprise senior management of the occurrence and your actions to resolve it.

If you answered:
A.  0  points.  Calling your boss may be okay, but calling in a panic isn't.  You still have a way to go in developing your career.
B.  5  points.  Taking care of the problem is laudable, but acting like it never happened is counter-productive.
C.  -5 points.  Stay home.  Why bother coming in at all.
D.  10  points.  Not only do you take care of the situation, but you let everyone know about it.  If you don't communicate positive PR about yourself, no one is going to do it for you.

3. You are on the elevator with the CEO of your company.  There are just the two of you. You have 30 seconds of quality time with the major decision maker in the organization.

A.  You stare at the front of the elevator door as you always do.
B.  You make small talk to kill any awkward silences.
C.  You are prepared for this and start a discussion on the cost benefits of projects you would like to get done.
D.  You start a stare-down to see who will blink first.

If you answered:
A.  0  points.   Asocial behavior will not get you anywhere in the company.
B.  5  points.   At least you are making an effort to be recognized as a friendly face even if the CEO has no idea who you are.
C.  10  points.  There is nothing like a captive audience.  Besides, if you sound like you know what you're talking about, not only might you get approval for a project, you have raised yourself in the CEO's estimation.
 D. – 5  points.  Your career is going nowhere (except down the tubes).

Wasn't that fun?  We will continue with additional FM Career Pyramid questions again next month.

• Kelly Browne, business development, Integrated Building Systems.
• Randy Cook, regional account manager, North American Roofing.
• Michael Edwards, branch manager, Securitas Inc.
• Michael Gottron, owner, Engineered Systems.
• Greg Hutt, marketing director, Re-Construction Inc/Surfacequest.
• Marvin Kyle Jr., leased facilities and support manager, American Family Insurance.
• Shelly Sensenbrenner, facilities project manager.
• Martin Stewart, vice president, EES facility services.