Our Gardian of the Month is Karen Williams, Director, Global and Commercial Strategy for the National Association of REALTORS®.
EG: What’s one professional development goal you’ve set for yourself this year?
KW: Implementing what I learn through books and education in a purposeful and meaningful way. I am a lifelong learner and was someone who always loved school, so making development a priority is easy for me. What can get lost in the everyday shuffle is taking those learnings and adding them to that everyday shuffle. I know I’m finding success in this goal when I’ve shared a story from a book I’ve read or brought up a concept discussed at an event during a team meeting to discuss.
EG: What tip or trick would you share with someone not super comfortable with networking?
KW: If you’re not sure where to start, just start walking! If you’re at a reception for instance, make slow laps around and through the room, being sure to pause to grab a snack or refresh your drink along the way. You’ll be amazed at the amount of conversation opportunities that will naturally arise by simply ‘being there’ and in proximity. Need a quick break? Find a quiet table along the perimeter to ‘check your emails’ on your phone to reset and do some observation. Just be mindful to keep it a quick break!
EG: What strategies do you employ to encourage knowledge sharing within your team or organization?
KW: I find a ripple effect to be particularly successful. If I can prove the value proposition to even one person, then that person acts as a megaphone to amplify my message. If they bring someone along, then that’s two amplifiers, and it compounds from there. My experience has shown that grassroots efforts are the best multipliers for impact, which is hard for leadership to ignore!
EG: Just for Fun - If you could have an all-expenses paid trip to anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
KW: As someone who gets to travel globally for work, this is a tough one! I do have a love of Disney Parks, so my first idea would be a whirlwind trip to all of the parks worldwide – Shanghai Disneyland, Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea, Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland, and wrapping up in the U.S. with Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, and Walt Disney World in Florida.
EG: What is a resource that has been valuable to you in your work, and what makes you appreciate it?
Click the video below to see Karen's response!
Resource: TimeAndDate.com
