Know Your Currency: Carla Harris Powers Up With Lessons on Authenticity and Taking Risks
Carla Harris delivering her Intentional Leadership Keynote at The Big RE. (Photo by Karianne Munstedt.)
Her pearls are “hard-earned and hard-learned.”
Carla Harris, senior client advisor at Morgan Stanley, author, acclaimed singer and leadership icon, told the live and virtual audience at Take The Lead’s recent Power Up Conference: The Big RE: Rethink, REwrire, Recreate, that 35 years of surviving and thriving on Wall Street has earned her deep credibility. And these are lessons she shares.
“@Carlaannharris, senior client advisor at Morgan Stanley, author, shared her #leadershiplessons at the recent @Takeleadwomen #PowerUpConference: The Big RE. “Your authenticity is your distinct competitive advantage. People will trust you.””
“Your authenticity is your distinct competitive advantage. People will trust you,” said Harris. “Your success depends on your ability to successfully penetrate relationships.”
Her “pearls to allow you to maximize your success” begin with knowing you have two types of currency: relationship and performance. The two are not the same.
“Performance is the currency generated by delivery of what is requested—and going beyond,” said Harris, who received the Leading Woman Award at the conference. Relationship currency, she said, is gathered from mentors and sponsors and the two are very different.
““Performance is the currency generated by delivery of what is requested—and going beyond,” said @Carlaannharris who received the #LeadingWomanAward at the @Takeleadwomen #PowerUpConference. #careersuccess”
“A mentor is who you share your fears, mistakes, tragedies and triumphs with. A mentor’s job is to give you tailored advice, tailored specifically to you,” said Harris. “The sponsor is the person you tell the good, the good and the good. They are using their valuable political and social capital on you.” She added, “The currency that becomes most important is relationship currency as there are no diminishing returns.”
Read more in Take The Lead on Carla Harris
While performance is absolutely key, Harris said, “Your ability to ascend will be a function of somebody’s judgment. Judgments are directly informed by relationships.”
Dr. Lily McNair, Take The Lead board chair, introduced Harris and told the audience, “I’m embarking on my own Big RE as I stepped away from the role of president of Tuskegee University.”
“Dr. Lily McNair, @Takeleadwomen board chair, told the audience at the #PowerUpConference, ”As I think about my #power, I ask myself, ‘What am I passionate about? What are my strengths? What drives me?’ Every person has a story, truth or insight to help you transform. Call on those relationships and insights.” ”
Her remarks coincided with what Harris offered on relationships. McNair added, ”As I think about my power, I ask myself, ‘What am I passionate about? What are my strengths? What drives me? Every person has a story, truth or insight to help you transform. Call on those relationships and insights.”
Dr. Nancy O’Reilly, founder of Women Connect4Good and former board chair of Take The Lead, was on hand at the PowerUp Conference to welcome participants. She also highlighted the role of relationships and the value of networking.
“I’m leaving here with sisters,” O’Reilly told the audience. “This is an opportunity to realize what’s important and the most important thing is relationships. When we work together, anything is possible.”
““I’m leaving here with sisters,” @DrNancyOReilly, founder of #WomenConnect4Good and former board chair of @Takeleadwomen, told the audience at the #PowerUpConference. “This is an opportunity to realize what’s important and the most important thing is relationships. When we work together, anything is possible.””
Harris reiterated that no one will go to bat—or the board room—for you if they do not have a relationship with you.
“The secret,” Harris said, “is the frequency of touch,” or the number of encounters whether virtual or in person.
What can cloud both relationships and performance, Harris said, is fear. “If you consider yourself a leader, you must be comfortable taking risks. Fear has no place in your success equation personally or professionally.” She advised, “Failure always brings you a gift of experience.”
Knowing who you are and being comfortable in all dimensions of y ourself allows you to interact with others authentically, Harris said. “People will always tell you what they value. Then you can strategize on how you will deliver on that value.”
“Knowing who you are and being comfortable in all dimensions of yourself allows you to interact with others authentically, @Carlaannharris said. “People will always tell you what they value. Then you can strategize on how you will deliver on that value.” #careeradvice ”
“If you belong in the room, you have a seat at the table, you have the power to speak, use it.” She added, “Your voice is at the heart of your power.”
