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Facilities Management (FM) is, at its core, a frontline business. Unlike asset-heavy industries, value in FM is created daily, often invisibly by technicians, cleaners, help-desk agents, supervisors, and site FMs who operate closest to the customer. In such people-centric environments, service excellence and profitability are not driven by manuals or technology alone; they are driven […]

Why CEOs Must Leverage AI. It is a tool that is a true Leadership Multiplier to embrace, transforming insight and judgment. AI, the buzzword, has become an integral part of our lives, impacting everyday life. People often describe artificial intelligence as a tool for boosting productivity, speeding up information processing, or making routine tasks easier.

As parents, it is important to pause and reflect on what our success truly means for our children. Wealth, recognition, and social standing may define our journeys, but they should never define theirs. The true yardstick of success for our children is not what they inherit, but who they become. No matter how accomplished a

As CEOs, we do not have the luxury of viewing our businesses only through a distant macro lens. We sit at the intersection of strategy and execution, of people and performance, of risk and opportunity. When I reflect on 2025, it was not merely a difficult year—it was a revealing one. It exposed structural fragilities,

We all have an inner rhythm — a pulse that defines how we live, work, and renew ourselves, be it our lifestyle, our behaviors at work, or dealing with relationships, personal and professional, both. My philosophy has always been that of motion with meaning, what I call the relentless pursuit of doing something meaningful. I

Vision impact beyond leadership Having been at the helm for 17 years as CEO, I continually self-reflect on my effectiveness and impact, as well as my connection with my team and the broader organization. It has taught me that leadership is less about tenure and more about relevance; Leadership is never about holding power; it’s

There is a general perception that pursuing a career in the FM industry requires a technical qualification. This is not entirely correct, as people with generic skills can also enter the facilities management domain.  Besides, there are roles where technical qualifications are preferred but not always mandatory, such as Facilities Operations or Soft Services that include

In my recent efforts to bolster succession planning, a delicate play, I was acutely aware of my predicaments therein. For me, it was not a game of chess or cards, but rather a true litmus test of my leadership. Therefore, I was straightforward in strategizing my options. From engaging with my top leadership team to

Leveraging Self-Reflection to Carve a Path of Recovery and Resilience As a young entrepreneur in 1998, facing my first business debacle, besieged by the ecosystem adversity and haziness, I often wondered why I had to go through such upheaval. In these moments, we tend to overlook our own failures; few people take the time to

Harnessing Knowledge and Brand Loyalty Over the last forty years, during my hectic business and personal travels worldwide, I have gathered numerous observations on various facets of life. From travelling between countries and their cities, exploring their deep interiors, conducting business or visiting places, and meeting people from different walks of life, the exposure has

We are indeed living in a world that is very different from what is morally and ethically professed. Hypocrisy, double standards, deception, and pseudonymity are no more distinct. Until recently, we often associated these issues with specific societies or cultures, but now we observe them rampant across all levels, with deep erosion from top to bottom,

In a world increasingly driven by immediacy, marked by breaking news, social media storms, and geopolitical upheavals, public reactions and outcries are significantly influencing minds. The havoc wrought by these factors, whether due to political factors or a frenzy, is really unfortunate. Wars, market disruptions, and social media upheavals are tearing communities apart, often drowned out

We are a global facilities management (FM) industry player managing operations across the Middle East, Africa, Europe and South and Central Asia. Having a firm foothold with 75 million square meters serving over 150 global majors, we made our early inroads in India in 2012, though we remained a cautious player. We have now completed

And why we need more compassionate leadership Why Empathy, Not Fear, Drives a Business When you imagine a corporate leader, what comes to mind? For far too long, we’ve been drawn to the archetype of a person who claws their way to the top, sacrificing everything and everyone in the process. This idea of a

From the very beginning, as the Founder and CEO, establishing EFS as the provider of preferred choice has always been at the top of my business agenda. This approach has underpinned our success, and today EFS operates in 27 countries, including Saudi Arabia, where we are seeing significant demand for our offering through our subsidiary,

I am often asked what success means to me. Does it emanate from a title and its empowerment, or is it the wealth that one can amass? Is it material possessions, prestige, or fame? Some suggest that success can be measured through the eyes of those who love you or in your ability to meet

As I prepared for my maiden trip to Iraq, I deliberately set aside any preconceived notions. I arrived in Baghdad with an open mind, determined not to be influenced by the usual narratives: “Why Iraq?“, “How come?“, “Be careful“, or “Is it safe to travel?“. I literally muted these concerns. Upon landing, the sights and

Market pressures continue to push the facilities management (FM) industry to take action and innovate. In pursuit of cost efficiencies and response to industry transformation needs, agile and effective interventions are required. One critical area that both the workforce and the industry need to focus on is upskilling on-the-job. This remains a top priority for

In the backdrop of the competitive landscape and client pressure to cut costs, this is the first and last resort to upend the bottom line.   Identifying cost efficiencies in facilities management is on the mind of every FM operator. In the backdrop of a gruelling competitive landscape, coupled with clients’ demand to drop margins that

Winning must not be the only criterion; sustainable service delivery ecosystem and prudence must not be compromised. I have been an active proponent of a tactical but value-based approach to bidding for business. However, I also believe that while capitulating to the holistic needs of relevant requests for proposals (RFPs) during any bidding engagements, bidders

In the early stages of building the EFS organisation, I realised that ground-level engagement is critical for creating a robust workforce and a people-centric culture. This is particularly important in the facilities management industry, where two-thirds of the workforce is on the frontlines. We worked tirelessly to build an interactive and dynamic platform for ground-up

  When someone asks me about my title, I prefer to call myself the Chief People Officer. While the CEO is responsible for overall strategy, decision-making, and business performance, the idea that the CEO is also the Chief People Officer stems from my leadership philosophy, where I emphasise the importance of people in driving an

It is well-known that routine work engagements and formal office environments often provide open communication channels for employees to relax. However, it took me some time to grasp what holistic team engagement truly means outside the four walls of an office. While regular office dynamics involve numerous meetings, workshops, and routine interactions, they often fail

Pre-leasing reviews by Facilities Management help reduce future operating costs and meet end-user needs. The role of Facilities Management (FM) has long been seen through a narrow lens, often viewed primarily as a maintenance function focused on the upkeep of buildings and facilities. I have always advocated the multi-dimensional scope of FM. For instance, in

I must confess that I knew very little about wellness until I was engaged in a dinner conversation with my daughters about my health. After intensely scrutinising my medical tests, they convinced me to speak with Tulah, a clinical wellness concept in Kerala. When I initially met the Tulah team, there was a real focus

FMs to transcend beyond client satisfaction and contract management. I have always emphasized the dominant role of FMs in the facilities management industry, as they are at the epicenter of any FM engagement. I believe they are the key differentiators for the unique selling proposition of any facility management company or, for that matter, for

In our pursuit of life, encompassing lifestyle, family, and career, we tend to overlook certain vital essentials, such as health and well-being. These elements are must-dos or, I would say, integral to these pursuits, complementing your desired life goals. Therefore, it should be known that ignoring health and personal well-being is bound to contravene your larger

I firmly believe that contract transition is a vital aspect of any contract. Both the client and the outgoing service provider must exercise due caution when the contract expires or transitions to another party. However, in reality, I continue to observe parties being complacent, with dereliction on critical deliverables during the contract transition phase. This

Tariq Chauhan, Group CEO of EFS Facilities Services Group, explores the social dimensions of ESG and underscores the need for a holistic and heart-felt approach to overcoming the challenges and making an impact. For a significant period, I have advocated the necessity for corporations to deeply reflect on their social alignments before embarking on any environmental,