Institutional Real Estate, Inc.

NAREIM Dialogues Spring 2018

The Institutional Real Estate Inc Sponsorship brochure, Connected-Investor Focused, We connect people, data and insights, sponsorship, events, IREI Products

Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/974130

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 11 of 51

BEWARE OF PIGEONHOLES NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT MANAGERS 10 When I began my executive search career, I was really surprised to hear, "I don't want to be pigeonholed," from candidates still relatively early in their careers. Similarly, I was surprised to hear my search colleagues refer to some candidates as "Role Players." To be pigeonholed is a bad thing. It's to be put in a box, typecast, or profiled. To be perceived as pigeonholed is to be consid- ered "small," as in the dictionary definition of a pigeonhole. Similarly, Role Player implies limits, as the role is highly defined. A Role Player is distinct from someone whose perspective and skill set are bigger and broader. In other words, a Role Player is distinct from a Leader. Role Player and Pigeonhole can be synonymous. Some narrowly-focused, highly specialized, Pigeonhole roles are great, even necessary. Brain surgery, for example. As well, in our early careers we are necessarily given roles that could become pigeonholes – skill acquisition is critical, entry roles tend to be tightly focused, and it is important to excel in early positions. Over time, though, ideally one grows from Role Player to Leader. Now, with recruiting assignments behind me ranging from Acquisitions Officer to President, as well as some reflection on my own career, I better understand the Role Player shorthand used by my recruiting peers, as well as the Pigeonhole fears of those early in their careers. Mary McCarthy, Managing Director, Terra Search Partners

Articles in this issue

view archives of Institutional Real Estate, Inc. - NAREIM Dialogues Spring 2018