Are you a facilities coordinator striving to stand out?
Wondering whether your strengths hold up in today’s fast-paced workplace?
If so, this article is for you.
Whether you oversee office spaces, medical facilities, or industrial sites, your success hinges on delivering exceptional value that goes beyond standard expectations.
Many coordinators highlight skills like organisation or problem-solving, but too often, these are just industry norms.
In this article, you’ll learn which “differentiators” are merely table stakes and how to identify what truly sets you apart.
By the end, you’ll be equipped to identify what three things you’re doing that differentiate you from your peers.
Facilities coordination is a dynamic field, but it’s also one where differentiation is increasingly difficult. Employers and clients demand precision, adaptability, and foresight, and many coordinators respond with similar skill sets. Let’s break down some common “differentiators” that are often just industry norms:
Effective time management
Many coordinators pride themselves on juggling tight schedules, prioritising tasks, and meeting deadlines for maintenance or vendor coordination. While these skills are critical, they’re expected in the role.
Employers assume you can manage a packed calendar and keep operations on track. Claiming “strong time management” as a differentiator is like saying you know how to use a spreadsheet – it’s essential, not unique.
Stakeholder coordination
Coordinating with vendors, tenants, or internal teams is often cited as a standout skill. You might emphasise your ability to align everyone on a project or resolve conflicts smoothly. But in reality, this is a core part of the job.
Clients and managers expect seamless collaboration and clear communication as standard. If stakeholder coordination is your only differentiator, you’re likely blending into the crowd rather than standing out.
Budget oversight
Managing facility budgets or negotiating cost-effective vendor contracts is a common point of pride. But keeping costs in check is a baseline requirement for coordinators.
Whether it’s tracking expenses or securing competitive quotes, employers expect you to handle budgets competently. Unless your budget management delivers extraordinary savings or innovative cost-cutting, it’s unlikely to set you apart.
So, what does make a facilities coordinator truly unique? It’s often the specialised approaches or personal strengths that peers can’t easily replicate.
For example, a knack for predictive problem-solving that prevents issues before they escalate, a unique system for streamlining vendor onboarding that saves time, or an exceptional ability to build trust with tenants through tailored communication strategies.
These are the kinds of differentiators that resonate because they’re harder to mimic.
Key takeaways
Here’s a challenge: Name three things you do that your peers don’t. Are you using data from facility reports to propose cost-saving improvements that others overlook?
Do you have a creative approach to space planning that maximises efficiency? Or perhaps you’ve developed a personal method for de-escalating tenant disputes that keeps everyone satisfied?
In facilities coordination, standing out requires more than just meeting job requirements – it demands creativity, foresight, and a personal edge.
The next time you’re tempted to tout “time management” or “stakeholder coordination” as your differentiators, pause and reflect: Are these truly unique, or are they just what everyone else is doing?
Challenge yourself to identify three distinct strengths that set you apart. In a competitive field, true differentiation isn’t just a career advantage – it’s the key to long-term success.
What are you doing that separates you from the competition?
Thoughts? Questions? Let’s talk