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Throughout my career, I’ve spent a lot of time listening to
leaders I admire and reading their insights about what has
made them successful despite risk, uncertainty and change.
Leadership Traits to Reach the
Top of the Corporate Ladder
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Some of the best leaders are able to see things differently
when they face challenges, which enables them to remain
future-focused in trying times. I want to share a few of the
most impactful leadership qualities I have observed
among clients, team members and corporate boards in a
range of areas. What are some leadership qualities that
stand out in your line of work?
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Resilience is a buzzword for good reason. I truly believe it’s the
most critical quality for anyone to further their business career –
from the most recent round of interns to the C-Suite. When you’re
working in the midst of periods of disruption and growth, it’s a lot of
change to handle at once to advance your professional career.
To be resilient, you need to be agile and have a focus on where you want to be.
A common practice I observed, and practice myself, is to create feasible
roadmaps (2 years, 5 years, even 10 years out) and review them quarterly. If
there’s one thing I’ve learned from the most resilient individuals, it’s to not beat
yourself up if you find that you’re running behind schedule. If anything, it serves
as a test of how nimble you can be. Make adjustments as needed. The best
coaches don’t always win the first half, they make halftime adjustments to win
the game. By creating a roadmap, you’re already gaining advantage over peers.
Be Resilient
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If you haven’t experienced the takeover of the digital
workforce yet, you probably will soon.
The more C-Suite capable you make yourself today, the more likely
you will be in those positions down the line. Communicate often and
listen intelligently. To become a part of the deeper, more strategic
conversations at a company, ask the right questions. Keep a close eye
on competitor news and announcements, read your company reports
and financial statements, and listen closely to what industry leaders
have to say. This puts people in a position to ask power questions.
Ask Power Questions
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Authenticity
By being authentic, you position yourself as more credible – which is
the foundation of networking and relationship building.
Given the way technology is removing layers of human touch points, it becomes
even more important to establish and continually build a network of professional
contacts. If you interact with and grow your network regularly, you end up with an
ecosystem of trusted colleagues, industry peers and go-to contacts.
Small touch points go a long way. Headed out of town on a work trip? Pick up the
phone and call to meet people who live where you’re headed. Scanning LinkedIn
on your lunch break? Don’t be afraid to comment on a post or article – even if
you’re not close with the individual; that’s the point of LinkedIn! Read an
interesting article? Share in a quick email with whomever may find it relevant.
Anything that creates a dialogue and keeps your name top of mind is a win.
Personally, I strive to connect with 5 people on any given day. Some days will be
more, some less. Do what works for you. Find an attainable number and go get it.
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Contact Nichole Jordan
Nichole Jordan
National Managing Partner,
Markets, Clients & Industry
Tweet me: @NicholeJordan26
Message me on LinkedIn
Click to watch
to the video
A special thanks to groups like BB&T’s Women Information Network for
providing me a platform to speak to and hear from employees looking for
advice on achieving corporate success. Here’s a quick video including
these and other leadership lessons I shared at one of their events.
