I recently met with Irene Patterson here in New York. She is the epitome of a woman in a leadership role who is living an ageless, authentic life. Irene is a colleague from Orlando. Professionally, she is the executive in charge of the Hughston Clinic Southeast where I’m in private practice. I enjoyed our sit-down conversation because she really exemplifies the archetypal smart, savvy woman who embraces her variety of lived experiences.
During our chat, I asked Irene to share her rare and admirable leadership philosophy with me. Her secret: being relatable!
To be authentic you need to bring who you are, to the adaptable situation.
Ultimately, leadership is not one roadmap, it’s adaptable. Irene’s leadership approach is fascinating because it is so incredibly authentic. She’s able to tap into her empathetic and approachable nature and relate to a variety of personalities. For Irene, she brings that subtle magnetism to those tough and ever-changing situations.
For every issue that arises, Irene does three very important things before moving forward. These are things that every great leader must do!
- Observe the situation.
- Analyze.
- Proceed with the solution.
Her background and dynamic prepared her early on for the strong personalities she would deal with in her leadership roles, and the hustle it would take for her to accomplish her goals. She credited her humble beginnings and the lessons that her mother passed down.
A realistic understanding of life gave her the ambition and fire to succeed in her leadership roles.
Irene’s mother laid the foundation by being very realistic about all the walls she’d have to break —
- as a woman.
- as a minority.
- as someone coming from a poverty-stricken community (where resources were very limited).
Advice for new leaders.
We’re mentoring a couple of women in our practice to take leadership positions, and I asked Irene what kind of advice she would offer them.
Her advice: “Do not put yourself in a box”.
No two situations are the same so leadership solutions can’t be one-size-fits-all. As women in leadership roles we need to always remember to be:
- Authentic
- Adaptable
- Courageous
- Different – and willing to change the trajectory when necessary.
- Relateable
- Strong
I always like to say, especially in this Ajles Life community, that until we decide we are worth the daily investment in ourselves, nothing else matters.
I think self-care is a widely overused term, but I like to ask all of my guests about their personal investments in themselves. Irene’s personal investments involve beauty and fashion – she unwinds through massages, getting her nails done, meditating, and quieting her mind.
If you’re a strong, authentic woman in a leadership role, we’d love for you to add your voice to the collective.
Join Ajles Life community for exclusive conversations in a society of authentic and courageous women who lift each other up. Or come meet us in person at the next Doyenne dinner with like-minded, smart, savvy women.