What An IA Manager At Compass Diversified Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Finance Industry
Barbara, a Manager - IA at Compass Diversified, learned the crucial importance of effective communication in navigating a demanding career, wishing she'd understood this sooner. The ability to "speak up," to manage workload expectations, and to prioritize tasks proactively, prevented burnout and proved essential for success in such a "busy line of work."
Communication, Stress Management, Overcoming Challenges, Resilience, Work-Life Balance
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Barbara Anderson
Manager - IA
Compass Diversified
Makerere University Kampala
Makerere University Kampala, BSc Agri-Business Management
Business & Related
Finance (Banking, Fintech, Investing)
Finance
Scholarship Recipient, Immigrant
Video Highlights
1. Effective communication is crucial, especially when managing multiple responsibilities and deadlines. Learning to clearly communicate needs and limitations is essential to avoid burnout and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
2. Overcoming shyness and speaking up about workload is key to success in a demanding career. Proactively seeking help and prioritizing tasks are important skills to learn.
3. Cultural differences can significantly impact communication styles. Recognizing and adapting to these differences, while maintaining assertive communication, improves workplace interactions and reduces stress
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone would have told you before you entered the industry?
I think the most important thing I have learned has been how to communicate. I know that seems very simple, but I grew up in a culture where children were seen, not heard. Growing up in that culture, it's not easy to speak out.
Being a very shy person by nature as well, it was always a challenge for me to speak out, to put out my ideas, or to let my supervisors know that I couldn't handle everything at once. Early in my career, I found that I may have taken on more than I could chew because it wasn't easy for me to say, "Wait a minute, this is probably too much." So I was taking on more and working longer to try and meet all these deadlines.
I guess that was burning me out. Over time, and due to some cultural differences, I've learned to speak up. I don't mean speaking up in a rude way, but rather talking about things like having many responsibilities.
It's about going to my boss and saying, "I have this list of things to do. I believe this is a timeline I need to finish by. How do you want me to prioritize this? What's your priority on this?" Then I ask, "Are you okay with this timeline?"
If the timeline isn't okay, I ask if it would be possible to give someone else this task since I won't be able to make the deadline. It's about being able to communicate those things that I found very challenging earlier in my career.
I wish I had learned this much sooner because I wouldn't have burned out so many times. That's very important, especially in such a busy line of work. It's good to speak up and not to take on more than you can handle without being aggravating or burning bridges.
People understand and they want to help, but if they don't know you need help, then they can't really do anything about it. So that's pretty much the biggest thing I would say that I've learned.
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