So you want to be a General Manager; Top Five Tips from an Industry Expert
So excited to write this for my talented powerhouse friend and colleague – Lauren.
I’m an experienced General Manager, specialising in Retail Operations & Strategy and People. I am Sydney based but my career has taken me to all parts of Australia. I have also been lucky enough to travel and have reported into partner offices in Singapore, Hong Kong, London, San Francisco and New York.
I started my career on the shop floor and still make sure I am visiting stores and the teams weekly. This is where my creativity and ideas are sparked. It is also a reminder of what I’m passionate about – The Customer, my team and of course product.....
I am also a Mother. I have 2 young children who need me daily. Juggling work and home can be tough and there are good and bad days (and very long), but I have been lucky enough to have supportive CEO’s, great team, a very supportive and flexible family and a very supportive husband. I couldn’t have my career without them all. It really does take a village, and I’m so grateful.
One tip as a working mother – no one will manage your time for you – you must do it yourself, hold yourself accountable and make time for work and family, I believe in work life integration and if you can have an employer that embraces that, you are half way there.
Here are my top 5 tips for Success
#1 Find your tribe and love them hard
Dream teams are really a thing in my mind! As an employee or an employer, find the people who will support, guide, drive, inspire and work for and with you. I have so many people in my life who I have known through work and they are all there for different reasons, but it makes your job and day a lot easier with the right people around you. I have also learnt so many things and still continue to from them, it amazes me the growth in people.
#2 Be Gracious
Always be gracious. Don’t get me wrong, show your fire when it’s needed but always do it with respect and with good intentions. When receiving feedback, it is how you handle the feedback and what you do after it that highlights who you really are. When giving feedback, be empathetic but always honest, it will support growth. When you leave a Business, do it with grace, it is part of your journey and it’s important to keep relationships in the industry.
#3 Use your Intuition
There is the saying, Trust your gut.... I say use it! But team it with informed information. When the two marry up, it can be like looking through a crystal ball.
#4 Play
Work really really hard, but have fun while you are doing it. You should be having fun anyway if you are in a job you are passionate about...... I am a spirited leader and have realised only recently, this is OK. Do you. You can still excel with a smile, a laugh and if you have ever worked me with me (music!). Be respectful of the environment you are in and the timing, but it is a sad workplace where there is no play.
#5 Stay Relevant
Talk to people! Understand your customer, talk to your teams, work with them. Times change very fast and so does information and technology. You have to understand the target market you are working in. The relationships you keep, make sure you keep them and share ideas; be aware of the market and what is happening. Enrol in professional development, get a coach, find a mentor, we must always be learning.
With Love,
Kylie xx
Want to know more? Check out Kylie’s experience on LinkedIn …
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylie-quirke-182b3635/