Women Worth Watching: CBRE's Mandy Edwards
This post originally posted on WomenWorthWatching.com
When you start out in your career, it’s all about you. You’re on a mission to learn as much as possible, as quickly as possible. You watch what great leaders around you are doing and try to emulate it. You’re trying to get ahead and continue moving upward on the path to achieve financial stability and compete at a higher level. You’re trying to prove yourself to both your peers and your superiors.
But there comes a point in your career when it’s no longer just about you. It’s about the team that surrounds you, and your focus shifts. You realize that how you are achieving goals is dependent on decisions being made by those around you—people you have spent time coaching and mentoring. This is an eye-opening adjustment for many, but it is also the time when great leaders will shine.
Whether you’re managing one team member, or three hundred, it’s important to lead by example. There is no greater motivation than seeing the boss working alongside everyone else, showing that hard work is being done on every level. You also must understand the strengths of your team members and be able to delegate important assignments. And, don’t forget to have a sense of humor.
In whatever role I’ve had in my career, I’ve tried to figure out what results I needed to achieve and tried to never lose sight of that ultimate goal. By focusing on results and doing a great job, you naturally stand out. The real key is taking the time to support the growth and development of those around you—motivating teams to excel and allowing them to experience the glory of success.
