This spring, I was pleased to share time with many powerful women at a Leading Women Executives training just outside Chicago where I chatted with mid-career, high-potential executives looking to leverage their leadership skills, fortify succession plans and increase advancement in top-tier organizations. This is what I learned from these valuable conversations.

1. Leading Women
Executives
Nichole Jordan | Spring 2019

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I was fortunate to participate in a discussion at a Leading
Women Executives forum just outside Chicago, visiting
with high-potential executives looking to build their
teams, fortify succession plans and increase
advancement in top-tier organizations.
Authentic leadership is honest, principled
and never holds back
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Their passion was tangible.
When assessing one’s own leadership style, or even just
considering how to tackle an individual problem, we each
chart a path based on our unique aspirations,
circumstances and opportunities. Every choice comes with
unending opportunity and potential — but it can be
challenging to make conflict work for you.

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Here’s what I shared with that group
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What life and leadership principles
ground your decision-making?
4
Above all else, integrity and honesty. My team and I have real conversations about what works and where
we can improve, constantly offering feedback and looking at outcomes and results. It’s a reliable check-in
for personal growth, professional progress and the state of client relationships.
How you prioritize your goals will help determine your approach.
Can you accomplish
everything at the level
your work demands?
Do you need to occasionally say
no to an opportunity to create
better outcomes elsewhere?
Strong leaders are resilient, agile and
fearless, but they also recognize what
they have the personal bandwidth to take
on, and what can wait for another day.

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What are some key factors that you
believe have contributed to your success?
5
Your team, talent and the people you surround yourself with daily will
influence your enduring vision and strategy, helping you listen when
appropriate and take a leap of faith when the situation demands.
Beyond people-power lies data.
My father was a math teacher and he likes to tell stories about how I
helped him grade papers starting at age two. A love for math was a big
part of our family and I still lean on this today. Figure out how to
measure your data and progress, and consider that information when
devising your next move.

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How do you hold onto your authenticity
as a leader in times of intense stress
and conflict?
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Authentic leadership means holding fast to your principles and trusting
the team you built to do the same.
When conflict arises, remain calm and
measured. Listen and find a win/win for
the teams. Candid and direct feedback
about the situation is essential.
If the situation is intense or
emotions are high - offer
directives slowly and with care.

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What professional qualities distinguish
a potentially great aspiring leader from
their high achieving peers?
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Great leaders try new things and fail quickly.
No team is ever able to do everything all the time—your success
depends on your collective ability to prioritize and your desire to
help others find innovative solutions.
Today’s most successful senior executives are adaptive and build relationships
on multiple platforms. They believe strongly in the firm’s mission and understand
how to connect with and learn from others.

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What would your answers have been?
Comment below!
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Nichole Jordan
National Managing Partner,
Markets, Clients & Industry
@NicholeJordan26
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