I never knew back in 1993 when I started my career as a lease administrator at what was then Barnes Quinn Flake & Anderson (and now Colliers International | Arkansas) that I would someday be a principal, overseeing 14.2 million square feet of property management space and a staff of 16 alongside longtime principal Phyllis Glaze.
But, it didn’t take long for me to realize that I wanted to build a career at the firm.
The principals were all good, hard-working, ethical people, and I wanted to be a part of the bigger picture. Thankfully, they noticed my dedication and hard work and good things started happening for me.
Here are a few of the lessons I learned along the way:
1. Surround yourself with good people and treat them with respect.
The relationships you make in the office, with your clients, with your peers at different firms and in your industry groups will become one of the most rewarding aspects of your career. Not only are they valuable resources but they can provide the support and encouragement you need to persevere in any situation.
2. Never stop asking questions.
The more you ask the more you learn. And the more you learn the more valuable you become as an employee and a leader.
3. Don’t hesitate to use the resources available from the founders and principals of your company.
Their decades of knowledge and experience can not only help you avoid mistakes, learn the business and grow your career, but your inquisitiveness shows dedication and a desire to advance.
4. Learn to delegate.
We can do a lot — but we can’t do everything. Make a reasonable assessment of what you can accomplish and delegate the rest.
5. Be adaptable and open to taking on new responsibilities.
This is one of the most critical things that I have learned. Adaptability enables you to learn new things and gives you options in your career. The more things you excel at, the more opportunities you have. And what may look like additional responsibility could actually be opportunity in disguise.
6. Listen.
Listening is critical to effective communication and maximizing your productivity. It proves to your clients and your superiors that you care about your job and want to get it right. And it prevents costly errors and wasted time.
7. Set career goals for yourself.
Not setting goals for yourself is similar to setting out on a road trip without a map. You may get there eventually, but it will generally take twice as long and cost twice as much. Knowing where you want to go and how you are going to get there is definitely a key to success.
The post Listen and Learn: A 7-Step Program to Advance Your Career appeared first on Arkansas Money & Politics.