Nicole McClain, MBA, MSN, RN, MRMC

I attribute much of my success to my children, who have been a constant source of motivation. I have always wanted them to understand that their potential is unlimited and that they can achieve their goals through focus and determination.

Throughout the years, they often saw me balancing responsibilities, attending their practices while studying with a book in hand and a laptop nearby. Even now, as they are grown, they continue to see me pursuing further education and working toward another degree.

I believe it is important for children to witness this level of commitment. In today’s environment, where there is often an expectation for immediate results, it is essential to reinforce that meaningful achievement requires effort, persistence, and time. My goal has always been to demonstrate that success does not happen by chance. It is the result of consistent hard work and dedication.

One of the most impactful pieces of career advice I have received is this: holding people accountable may feel uncomfortable, but allowing individuals to fail because you avoid coaching, confronting, or correcting performance is far more detrimental. This perspective has stayed with me and continues to guide my leadership approach.

A common challenge, particularly for newer leaders, is establishing clear boundaries while maintaining positive relationships. There is often a concern that accountability may affect how they are perceived. However, effective leadership requires a willingness to address performance directly and constructively.

Accountability is not intended to be easy. It is a necessary responsibility. When approached with clarity and purpose, it supports growth, strengthens performance, and ultimately benefits both the individual and the team.

Know your audience and prioritize listening. One of the most important lessons in leadership is to pause and listen before responding. It is easy to react in the moment, but taking a step back allows for a more thoughtful and controlled response.

Understanding your audience helps you tailor how you communicate and engage. Active listening provides the insight needed to respond effectively rather than react impulsively. This has been a challenging but valuable lesson in my own development as a leader. Over time, I have learned the importance of slowing down, allowing situations to unfold, and approaching them with intention.

Effective leadership requires the ability to connect with others, adapt your approach, and lead with empathy. This is especially important when working with newer generations, where understanding perspectives and building trust are essential for strong engagement and outcomes.

The biggest challenge in my field right now is leading this younger generation and mentoring and coaching them. Right now, there are four generations in the workforce, so learning how to navigate and engage them has been challenging. You have to adapt to everyone - they all have their different personalities, they all have their ways of showing their feelings, they don't really communicate face-to-face anymore, everything's through text. Every person I hire that comes up underneath me, I ask them: how do you want me to communicate with you? How do you receive feedback? Because some of them would like for me to text them, some of them would like for me to have a conversation with them. You just really have to figure it out - they all want it different.

My core values include a strong sense of willingness, empathy, teamwork, resilience, and trustworthiness. As a nurse, empathy is foundational to how I lead and interact with others. I strive to understand perspectives, support my team, and foster a collaborative environment.

I also place a strong emphasis on focusing on what is within my control. Effective leaders do not expend energy trying to manage every variable. Instead, they remain grounded, adaptable, and resilient. I work to maintain that perspective in my daily practice.

I consider my ability to remain resilient, build trust, lead with empathy, and contribute as a team player to be among my strongest assets as a leader.