It took six months before she hit a single Connor Group goal. It took eight months before she memorized her QUACKs. But Lisa May’s hard work paid off. Since joining the Dayton market in 2019, she’s been one of our top sales associates.
“I love sales, but it wasn’t easy. I’m very black and white. I came from a retail position where I was more focused on operations,” Lisa said. “I had to work really hard at it.”
Lisa won National Top Sales in February of 2021. But she wanted more.
“Lisa is so organized and disciplined, so naturally she goes to the operations side of our business,” partner and senior director Katie Powell said. “If we had the operations role when Lisa first started, I’m confident that’s where she would have started.”
With Katie’s leadership, Lisa worked hard to learn our systems and transition from a sales to manager role. She failed her first test out, but she remained determined to succeed.
“It goes back to her grit. I remember Lisa saying, ‘That doesn’t mean anything. I’m going to pass next time,’” Katie said.
This month, Lisa tested out as an operations manager with an 8.0 score. She’s the final manager test out of 2022. Loop caught up with Lisa to talk about her newest promotion…
QUESTION: What was the hardest part of learning the manager role vs. sales?
ANSWER: The hardest part for me was balancing new responsibilities and that sales must come first. I’m still working on it. I came from retail, but I was an operations manager in retail. I naturally gravitate to operations. My mantra now is, “there are no operations without sales.”
Q: Who helped you most throughout your training?
A: Katie Powell. She took me under her wing the first time at Hunters Chase. She told me, “I’m not going to let you be left behind.” She pushed me and gave me a lot of tough love. I’ve always wanted to be a manager, but I didn’t have quite what I needed yet to do the role. Katie told me it would be a long journey, but I would be better prepared and set up for success in the end.
Q: What did you learn from failing the first test out?
A: My first test out was a general manager test out. I passed the operations side with an 8.03 score, but I didn’t have the balance between sales and operations. I failed the sales section with a 7.75. I learned it’s ok to fail and try again. The second thing I learned was The Connor Group won’t set you up to do something you’re not ready for, and that’s ok.
Q: What would you tell others sales associates aspiring to pursue a manager career path?
A: Trust the process. Do not compare your timeline to others. It’s easy to look at one of your peers and see their promotions or additional responsibilities they are taking on. Put your nose to the grindstone and be relentless. You’ll get there.
Q: What’s your favorite part of the operations manager role?
A: Expense control. I like having all the numbers in my hand, knowing what I can spend and where I can save. One of the biggest things I’ve learned transitioning to operations is seeing what happens behind the scenes. For example, when you look at a turn board and your lease expiration worksheet, I see the work that goes into it – the work orders, supplies, and customer service.
Q: What’s next?
A: My personal goal is to test out as a general manager by March of 2023. I want to be a business owner in all aspects. Just because I’ve earned this promotion doesn’t mean I can’t keep going. I won’t lose the fire for the other side of the business.