Management Reflection Assignment
Interviewee: Jill Amerie, Manager/Owner of Skyline Xtreme Xhibits
How did your interviewee come to be a manager (i.e., what career path she or he followed)?
From very early on, I always knew that I would some day, have my own business and thus become a Manager. I just did not know when and where I would start my own business, and what it would be. After spending 10 years in the tradeshow exhibit industry working for a husband & wife team, I came to realize that this was what I wanted to do. So, I took a leap of faith and moved my family to Austin to start a business. Although my entrepreneurial spirit and drive pushed me in the direction of business ownership, what it did not do was instill in me, the tools in which I would need to become and effective Manager. I became a Manager out of necessity and I had to teach myself how to be a Manager. This is something that I am still learning how to do, 15 years later. It is also something that I have to push myself to do every day, as I do not enjoy managing. I have read that the skills and personal traits that make someone a successful entrepreneur are not inherently the skills that make someone a good Manager and I 100% believe this. I am a risk-taker that thrives on uncertainty and Managers, thankfully, are much more conservative in nature.
Has your interviewee found that professional certifications, volunteering, and continued education are important factors to career development?
Yes, 100%. Always, always, always, network and continue to build your own brand. You want to become the expert in your craft and a student of your industry so any time that you can get yourself out there and insert yourself into the community, do it.
What has surprised your interviewee most about what it means to be an effective leader (as opposed to the popular view of what a successful leader is and/or does)?
I think one thing that has surprised me the most is how different people are in the way they want and like to be lead and managed. Yes, there is a "popular view" on what a successful leader is and does but one thing, that this view or theory does not factor in is the personality traits of the individuals within a company. I think it would be a big mistake to take a broad stroke "popular view" approach without knowing who your people are and what makes them tick. For example, if I compare two of my Sales Consultants. Consultant #1 is a true Hunter who's inherent goal is customer acquisition and Consultant #2 is a true Farmer who's inherent goal is customer retention. Both are great sales people who's styles and personalities are important to the success of my business but with them being so different, in order for me to be an effective leader, I have to take these personalities into consideration when I am managing them. My Hunter is money motivated, likes to work independently, enjoys the thrill of the chase and tends to go after the quick big deals. She thrives on praise and her incentives need to be structured towards her gaining something. My Farmer is a collaborative nurturer who cultivates strong relationships and customer loyalty. She thrives on constructive criticism and her incentives need to be structured towards her not losing something. Both styles are absolutely necessary for a company to be successful but both have to be managed differently. I have to be so careful because I am a Hunter and I like to surround myself with other Hunters so managing Farmers is not something that comes easily to me.
What advice does your interviewee offer to someone in your position and with your short- and long-term goals?
Stay true to yourself and don't let others sway you. I look back at my choice of college. I knew that I was a very outgoing, creative person who loved anything to do with design and yet I chose an engineering and math college because I felt that's where the money was. No surprise that I didn't last more than a year. Had I taken the time to truly listen to my heart, I would have saved a lot of time, energy and money and would have been further along in achieving my goals.
Set achievable goals for yourself and don't worry about what other people are doing or what other people have. Focusing on the "noise" around you only steers you off course and leads to failure.
From a career standpoint, I believe that the best way to find a job is through the network that you have created. Thus, internships are HUGE and should be well thought out. Also, when you choose your internships be mindful that they should build on each other so, upon graduation, when you are writing your resume, you have many internships within the field that you are pursuing.
Make yourself stand out from the crowd by creating and cultivating your own personal brand. Going through this exercise will help you focus in on what your strengths are and can aid you in choosing your career path.
Do your research before you walk in the door for an interview. Learn about the company, it's competitors and by go the extra mile by knowing who it is that you are being interviewed by and what makes them tick. This will help you feel more confident and will give you something to talk about with them that will make you more memorable in their minds.
Surround yourself with people who make you are better person both personally and professionally. Being around like minded people who have the same goals as you helps propel you to achieve your goals.
Balance is key. If you don't focus on that then nothing matters.
