We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Nicole F. Smith, M.Ed.. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Nicole below.
Nicole, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
Within my organization, self-awareness is the cornerstone of personal growth and professional success. Our mission is to empower you with the tools and insights needed to transform your life and career by developing and facilitating a deeper understanding of the connection between behavior, emotions, and leadership effectiveness. The story behind the mission was realized when I was an adult dealing with the uncertainty of marriage, kids, and a corporate job.
Growing up in an emotionally chaotic household, I had to manage living with a parent who did not know the impact of their behavior due to challenging mental health. Fast forward to adult life, there were responses that I had seen to deal with conflict or chaos, and I had to determine if they were the proper reactions. In my studies, I learned very quickly how one’s experiences, education, and emotional maturity can have a compounding effect on employees within the workplace.
The secret sauce is emotional intelligence and understanding that our learned responses can be unlearned, and we can respond appropriately versus reacting irrationally. Within my organization, we stand by our mission that Emotional Intelligence is the key to self-awareness, cultivating meaningful relationships, fostering empathy, and embracing resilience in the face of life’s challenges. As the CEO and founder, I am committed to equipping clients through our mission with the tools and insights needed to navigate emotions, communicate effectively, and make conscious choices that align with their core values personally and professionally.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
After 26 years, I became a Corporate Graduate stepping into the entrepreneurship world! With my background in Talent Management, Leadership Development and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, I took all my valuable lessons learned and became a best-selling author, a nationally ranked Leadership Coach, a certified DiSC and Emotional Intelligence Coach and Practitioner, and an international speaker – all while leading JMS Creative Leadership Solutions, a leadership development and coaching practice based out of Charlotte, NC. I am a proud alum of UNC-Charlotte, a Certified Cornell Graduate of the Women’s Entrepreneurship Program and a Tory Burch Foundation Fellow. I possess an exhilarating passion for empowering individuals to maximize their emotional intelligence, igniting their awareness of how their behavior and actions shape their remarkable presence.
Growing up in an emotionally chaotic household, I saw emotions expressed in unhealthy ways. I learned early in life the impact your behavior has on others. In addition, several unhealthy conflicts of my own in the workplace allowed me to dig deeper into why people behave, specifically in the workplace, the way they do, which all stem from emotions and how they have or have not been taught to handle them. One specific outburst was a turning point for me as it pulled me out of character. I knew I had to learn how to gain control of my thoughts to slow down the momentum to see the impact and cultivate interpersonal relationships. I then dove into emotional intelligence, leveraging my psychology degree.
Emotional intelligence helped me better understand my emotions and those of others. By improving skills such as empathy, active listening, and effective communication, individuals can build stronger and more meaningful relationships with family, friends, colleagues, and acquaintances. Most importantly, it provides peace and allows me to keep my emotional power.
To help my clients have the same transformative results, (but sooner in life!) I provide emotional intelligence assessment to assess one’s emotional intelligence quotient (EQ), DiSC behavior assessments to assess communication and behavior styles along with leadership coaching, extensive coaching programs, professional development workshops, keynote speaking engagements, as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion consulting and training. Yes! EQ can be the bridge to foster inclusion and create a dynamic workplace!
This is what sets me apart! I am not following outdated leadership styles and I use instructional coaching methods to help cultivate a growth mindset. I am helping individuals and teams maximize their emotional intelligence and use EQ to have transformative results all while keeping their peace and power. This is critical for the workplace of today. We have younger generations entering the workforce and we must adapt and pivot for everyone to thrive. We must be focused on more than just getting the task done. To thrive in today’s workplace, we have to focus on our own self-awareness to then focus on others leaning into more empathy and compassion.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
In running a business, everyone is not here to “support you” or have your best interest at hand. Majority of us have the mindset to support and build up one another and others see you as competition. I had to learn fairly quickly after several incidents where there were multiple red flags. I should have leaned into my intuition or discernment and trusted myself when I saw the red flags. As an entrepreneur, it can feel very lonely at times in which you may have a tendency to “loosen your boundaries” when you meet who you think are like minded.
I still go in trusting individuals, however I listen to my intuition faster, or better yet, trust myself a little bit more in how I am feeling about the relationship or encounter. As a business owner, you will find that people have a lack of understanding of your goals, or your confidence may trigger their insecurities. As you rise in your success, it will require a different level of you which means who you surround yourself with may have to change as well.
We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.
I met my business partner at the young age of 18! Where was my mindset? – not in business. My business partner was and still is so cute! My business partner is my husband of 25 years. Marcus Smith was my resident advisor at UNC-Charlotte during my freshmen year, so we have grown up together. He and I have similar business acumen. However, as we have grown over the years, he leans more towards the financial side of the business, and I tend to deal with the client and human resources side of the business.
Working with my spouse as a business partner has been a remarkable and fulfilling journey. The foundation of our partnership is built on trust, shared values, and a deep understanding of each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Communication is vital; we maintain open and honest dialogue, ensuring we are always on the same page regarding business decisions and goals.
Our complementary skills and perspectives enrich our business strategies, enabling us to navigate challenges with resilience and creativity. We appreciate each other’s dedication and unwavering support, both in professional and personal aspects. Working closely has strengthened our bond, and we celebrate our achievements as a team, making the journey not only rewarding but also an enriching experience for our relationship. We understand the importance of separating work from personal life and setting clear boundaries to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Overall, having my spouse as a business partner has elevated our business success and deepened our connection and love for one another.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jmscreatesleaders.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenicole_smith/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenicolesmith/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolesmithatjms/
Image Credits
1st professional photo: Rae Images of Charlotte, NC