Club Automation was honored to sponsor the IHRSA Women’s Leadership Summit on November 14th, hosted by Athletic Business. The itinerary was packed full of networking and career growth opportunities, and featured career mindset strategist and author, Debbie Peterson, who helps professionals create clarity for their careers. If you’re looking to increase your productivity and become a better leader in your community, join us here as we reflect on our takeaways.

As we reflect on the Women’s Leadership Summit and elaborate on additional ideas, let’s take a look at a few actionable ways you can begin to strengthen your network and career.

Seek Good Counsel, Supportive Networks and Mentoring

One of the best ways to exponentially grow your career in the club industry is to surround yourself with experienced and talented professionals who are willing to share their wisdom. By finding someone who cares about your career development and who has achieved what you want to achieve, you are massively accelerating your growth.

It’s an idea that’s been shared widely: Good leaders surround themselves with good people, but great leaders surround themselves with people who are even better than they are. Of course, a great example of this is as simple as asking a senior leader for advice, enrolling in a formal mentorship or even attending professional events like the Women’s Leadership Summit. But other examples of embodying this spirit is by hiring out of your comfort zone and developing leaders within your club.

We bet you’ve encountered this before: you table a resume or hesitate to call an applicant that seems “too expensive” or experienced for the role. It’s an important consideration for your business, but on the other side of the coin, that more experienced applicant could challenge the status quo at your club and help you take your business to the next level. Stay open, and consider all the opportunities to learn from those around you.

Proactively Solicit Feedback and Follow-Up Accordingly

There are many types of bosses out there; some will be open about your performance and others not so much. If you truly want to improve and show your team how much you care, ask them for their honest feedback. This not only strengthens your performance, but it will also strengthen your relationships at work. Ask your team and yourself,“What specifically could I be doing better?” Listen respectfully and make sure to thank them for their input.

To take it further, you should make sure you’re ticking these 5 boxes when it comes to soliciting feedback from your team and following up:

1. Create an environment of open dialogue that pervades the whole business
2. Be specific when soliciting feedback
3. Always acknowledge and validate concerns
4. Communicate a clear commitment to learning
5. Meet it with action
   

Be a Problem-Solver and Embrace Difficulty

Careers noticeably take off when a professional faces a difficult problem head-on and then finds a way to solve it for the business. If there is a specific area at your club or in the club industry at-large that people are struggling to solve for, take it on and see if you can find a way.  If you see an area of the business that you think could run more smoothly if you threw out the “We’ve always done it this way” mentality, commit to tackling it.

The courage to challenge what suffices in favor of what really works turns out to benefit your business either way. If you don’t solve the problem, your team and community will at least notice your willingness to try. When they notice your willingness to try, they’re encouraged to innovate and optimize the processes they are in charge of. And if you do solve for the complex problem, then you’ve found a way to provide rare value.

Final Thoughts

The IHRSA Women’s Leadership Summit was a great opportunity to network and learn from the industry’s top female leaders. There are many tips and schools of thought when it comes to leadership and career development. Focus on being self-aware and getting more intentional about your career development, and you’re on track to amplify your impact in the club industry.

The softwares and services you’ll find with Club Automation are built by club owners, for club owners. We understand the questions you face every day in your career, and we’re invested in helping you navigate them. We truly consider ourselves partners in your journey to building the club of your dreams.

Interested in learning about how a club management software could revolutionize the way you lead your club? Book a demo with our team today.

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