By Shannah Hayley, FSMPS, CPSM Director of Marketing and Community Engagement, City of Plano, Texas
Before joining local government, I worked for 20 years in the private sector within a male-dominated industry. While there were plenty of women employed within my particular professional services industry, not many held leadership roles. In fact, when I first started working at an architecture firm in the late 1990s, women held less than 10 percent of the leadership roles nationwide.
In other words: The #13Percent discussion isn’t limited to the local government world.
With that in mind, I’d like to share some of what I’ve learned throughout my career path. I started as a firm’s first-ever entry level marketing coordinator (and was called the “Girl Friday”). I ended my private sector career as the director of marketing and communications for an international company. Now I serve as the Director of Marketing and Community Engagement for the City of Plano, Texas.
I learned early on the challenge I faced wasn’t one of being seen as a competent female professional. The challenge was to be seen as an individual who possessed leadership potential. And honestly, this is a challenge nearly every young and ambitious employee will face. Gender is simply an added complication.
Regardless of where you are in your professional journey, I encourage you to keep these seven tips for career growth in mind:
Be a Learner.
If you want to play at an upper level, learn what’s important to the upper level. Read books on leadership, ask questions, understand what external influences affect decision making and organizational response. All too often we focus on excelling within our individual sandboxes, when really our sandbox is just a small piece of the overall picture that leadership oversees. Understand and be responsive to the big picture and you will become an even more valuable member of the team.
Get Rid of Little Miss Perfect.
The enemy of progress is perfection. We all want to do our work well, to be viewed as competent professionals. But it’s important to keep a careful balance between minimizing mistakes and getting things done. The pursuit of perfection is often a mask for our fears of failure. Don’t let fear hold you back
Don’t Be Passive.
Speaking of don’ts – don’t sit around and wait for someone to recognize your efforts or give you an opportunity. Do you want to swim in a bigger pond? You’ve got to get out of the stagnant water. It’s important to assert yourself, politely and professionally. Ask for an opportunity you’re interested in. Volunteer to assist with a project. Get to know people outside your normal work circle.
Let Go of Sally Field Syndrome.
Breaking myself of the desire for everyone to like me (to really really like me) all the time was my biggest growth challenge. Trying to maintain harmony kept me from having difficult conversations, addressing negative behavior and setting discipline which was necessary for the health of my overall team. A leader must simultaneously balance a focus on individual development and overall team performance. Your ability to do this effectively is a factor in your own career growth potential.
Give Credit. Accept Credit.
I find many of the women I work with do an excellent job of sharing credit with their colleagues. On the other hand, many do a terrible job of accepting individual credit for their efforts. Work on being able to say “Thank you” when offered praise – then be sure to include your team in recognizing their efforts.
Stop Saying “I’m Sorry.”
A couple of years ago, I realized I frequently started emails with an apology. “I’m sorry for the delay in getting back to you” and “I’m sorry I won’t be able to participate” and so on. The truth was I didn’t have anything to apologize for. I respond to emails in a timely manner, my time is limited and I can’t participate in everything I’m asked to attend. Constant apologies imply others control your schedule and your decision making. Leaders retain this control, so stop apologizing. Let a polite explanation stand on its own merits.
Build Your Bench.
No good career article would be complete without mentioning the value of mentoring. There’s little doubt the influence of a mentor can be extremely beneficial but all too often, priority is placed on one-on-one mentor relationships in the early and mid-career stages. While helpful, mentoring doesn’t have to be the result of a formal program. Formal and informal mentoring relationships can provide the foundation and process for learning and growth throughout your professional life. Actively build a strong team around you of mentors and peers who will challenge you. And keep in mind mentoring isn’t always a pairing. Try a peer group or a mentorship “board of advisors.”
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About Shannah:
Shannah’s pursuit of living life to the fullest has taken her all over the world with various communications-focused jobs, from teaching in Kenya to consulting in the United Kingdom. With a Master of Arts in Communications from Missouri State University, she leveraged her training in communications into a career focused on marketing, social engagement and business development. After 20 years in non-profit and professional services marketing, she transitioned into the public sector.
Shannah now serves as the Director of Marketing and Community Engagement for the City of Plano, the 70th largest city in the United States. Her responsibilities include process management, strategic planning, communications and supervision of all aspects of the City’s marketing and community engagement efforts. Shannah frequently leads training courses on core communication skills for internal staff development, as well as local and national organizations. In keeping with her commitment to professional excellence, Shannah earned her Certified Professional Services Marketer (CPSM) designation in 2006. She was admitted to the SMPS College of Fellows in 2013.
You can connect with Shannah via Email: shannah@plano.gov; Twitter: @shannahhayley; LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/shannahallowayhayley
