At Top Women: 'You are there for a reason'
CHICAGO - Allison Flatjord took the stage as the final speaker at the HBSDealer Top Women in Hardware & Building Supply Conference.
Held here at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk hotel, the Do it Best Vice President of E-Commerce shared fundamental principles for success when entering into a new role.
In a seminar titled, “Leadership … Now What?,” Flatjord discussed strategies leaders can use to excel in a new position or while facing ever-changing functions in their current career.
“The tip here, and this is really the foundation to being a successful leader, is to always remember you are there for a reason,” Flatjord told a ballroom packed with Top Women honorees and attendees. “You are in your role for a reason.”
Flatjord joined Do it Best as director of e-commerce in 2022 and was named vice president of e-commerce in early 2023. Prior to Do it Best, the executive was the chief marketing, merchandising, and digital officer for a national party supply e-tailer where she actively grew online sales and repeat purchases while leading an overhaul of the company’s web platform.
The executive shared a story about beginning a new job in the hardware industry and one of her early meetings with fellow leaders at Do it Best.
“In the first couple months I was learning the job and I had a particular day where I was sitting in a room and I was the only woman in the room and we were talking about heavy hardware topics and I said something,” Flatjord said. “I suggested an idea or something like that. And I got that reaction where you say something, you're really proud of it, and then everyone just kind of looks at you and kind of says, ‘Yeah,’ and then moves on.”
The meeting left Flatjord rethinking her new job situation.
“So for me, immediately I got that sinking feeling and that really let some doubt creep in. I was like, what am I doing here? Do people even understand what I'm talking about? Oh my goodness, am I the right person for this job?” Flatjord recalls.
She shared her feelings with the vice president of sales during a meeting soon afterward.
He asked her if she thought the people who interviewed her knew what they were doing and whether she lied on her resume.
The vice president told Flatjord, “These people are no dummies. They know the business, they know the role, they know what they need, and they know who you are and they chose you for this position. I would be very disappointed in you if you weren't asking questions that caused people to maybe look at you strangely or have a different reaction than you wanted because we brought you into this role because of who you are."
The conversation helped affirm, through logic, that Flatjord was at the right place and at the right job.
Flatjord also reminded those in the audience to be sure they know exactly what is the goal of the company they work for, or are interviewing for, and learn how the business makes money, whether its selling hardware, lumber, or building products.
Another piece of advice Flatjord shared was learned during her time at Harvard Business School where she obtained her MBA.
She advised audience members to look at the meeting agenda, the attendees, and the topics before entering into a meeting. The result is preparing solid questions in advance along with being able to contribute while having your voice heard.
Having a thorough understanding of a meeting's purpose and its outcome can be equally important.
"There are a lot of times that you could sit in a meeting and listen to subject matter experts and everyone else around the room is nodding and smiling," Flatjord said.
"My advice to you would be, do not let yourself leave that meeting without making sure that you understand the topic at hand and that you agree with the solution that's being proposed."
