Professional Advancement

Advice from able leaders

By Erica Rascón on Nov 20, 2014 in People

Problem: You want to be a greater asset to your company but the path to success seems unclear and you feel like you’re spinning your wheels.

Solution: Advance your career by developing leadership skills that will prepare you for promotion. The skill set of a solid leader stands out on a resume or CV, and the effects of good leadership are often quantifiable.

The Balance Sheet caught up with managers and executives throughout the industry to reveal the most sought-after leadership traits that will help you get ahead and lead with confidence.

Getting Started

Most of today’s leaders began as deck hands, so to speak, performing intro-level tasks while struggling to find ways to shine. John Crossman, President of Yardi client Crossman and Company real estate firm, believes that you don’t have to be the best student or the most flawless employee in order to catch your boss’s attention. Work your way up the ranks by developing servanthood and passion.

“Being willing to learn and serve, helping your team, will provide you with the insights needed to do your job well and build a strong professional network,” begins Crossman.  “Then when your knowledge and experience are coupled with passion, you will be unstoppable. When you’re passionate, that overflows to the entire company. That’s crucial to success in every area.”

Integrity is another characteristic that can place you in better standing with your peers and your superiors. Chuck Fuhr, former Division President of Ryland Homes, Atlanta, served more than four decades in the real estate industry. He notes that professionals with integrity are priceless. They prove to be a solid, long term investment for companies. “A leader needs to have high integrity. Team members need to know their business or organization is being run in an honest and fair manner,” says Fuhr.

Unethical or questionable behavior is like duct tapping a broken rudder.  It may work for a moment but the situation is likely to get out of control. So much in the world of real estate is tight-knit and interrelated social networking. Bad dealings and poor relationships will place you at a disadvantage later.

Don Rogers, General Manager at Yardi, Atlanta, also acknowledges integrity as an essential characteristic of a good leader.  “A leader must be honest, be consistent, and do the right thing for your employees and customers,” says Rogers.

But even the best leaders may have a hard time discerning what is right, which brings him to another valuable feature: good communication skills. “It’s a common misconception that good leaders always have the answers,” Rogers says. “I don’t always have the answers but I try to take the time to learn the facts and make a reasonable decision after hearing them. So it’s equally important to have good communication – to be honest, and be open—and to empathize with others. Remember where you came from when working with your staff, and try to understand the other points of view.”

Full Speed Ahead

Once you’ve secured your first management position, working further upwards is a matter of strategy and careful planning. Laquna Marrable, Assistant Director of Human Resources and Employment Services, has hired for international corporations as well as private institutions. She has noticed that companies of all sizes prize strategic thinkers.

“It’s important for leaders to be able to see the importance of what they’re doing right now as it relates to the overall goals and missions of the company,” says Marrable. “They must be able to closely tie every project, every assignment, every team member, to the overall mission or objective. For example, ‘I’ve got Mrs. X working for me and she’s responsible for this. The responsibilities of this position relate to our mission because of Y and Z. By accomplishing her tasks, we’re 20 percent closer to the end result.’ That strategic approach enables leaders to make sure that everyone is on task working towards the bigger picture and it demonstrates a leader’s understanding of long and short term goals. It shows resourcefulness and vision. That adds to a leader’s value. A leader like that has grounds for future advancement.”

It won’t always be smooth sailing as a leader but with the proper perspective in place, you will be ready for whatever the winds of change blow your way.