Being a well-rounded person is not necessarily the best way to reach success, according to two leading business coaches.
“Being well-rounded is not a bad thing, but it is limiting,” said Barbara Stewart, founder of Accelus Partners, a coaching firm based in Houston. “We are always told to be good at a lot of things, but this does not serve you well when you are out in the world and have to state your case” to a manager or prospective client.
“Instead, you need clarity about what strengths you bring to the table,” she said.
Stewart and Susan Danzig, founder of Susan Danzig LLC, a coaching firm based in the San Francisco Bay Area, revealed tips on how financial professionals can advance their careers, whether that means taking an independent RIA to the next level or advancing within a larger firm.
The two business coaches, who were speakers at the Invest In Women conference sponsored by Financial Advisor and Private Wealth magazines in Houston, also explained how female advisors can overcome the “advancement challenge.”
“You need clarity about what you bring to the table” in order to advance in a firm or to move your own firm forward, Stewart said.
One way to start learning what your particular talents are is to take the CliftonStrengths assessment, which will identify your top five strengths, she said. “Also, pay attention when someone tells you that you have made some task look easy. As women, we often dismiss these compliments, but that is a first clue to what your natural talents are.”
Having this knowledge, you can then weave a conversation about your talents into meetings with potential clients and managers, she added.
“You need to identify your strengths to be able to demonstrate them to others,” Danzig said.
“Also, take note of the people you enjoy working with—the ones that you are happy to see on your calendar,” she added. That is your ideal client and the type of person you should target to grow your business.