Are you quietly doing great work but still being passed over for promotion? If so, you’re not alone, and you’re not doing anything wrong.
For introverted women, the journey to senior leadership can feel like navigating a system designed for someone else. We’re often told to ‘speak up more,’ ‘be more visible,’ or ‘put ourselves out there,’ but rarely shown how to do that in a way that feels authentic.
And the reality is, introverted women face additional hurdles—not because we lack ability, but because our strengths are often less visible in environments that favour extraversion.
Here are 10 tips I’ve shared with clients over the years to help you move forward, quietly but confidently, toward the senior leadership role you deserve:
1. Believe you can achieve
Start by challenging the internal voice that says, “I’m not ready” or “I’m not enough.” Replace it with: “With the right preparation, I can do this.” Build belief through personal development, coaching, or upskilling, whatever closes the gap between where you are now and where you want to be.
Start to believe that you CAN do it.
2. Visualise the senior leader you want to be
Observe effective (and ineffective) senior leaders. What can you learn from them? What behaviours would you emulate or avoid?
Create a vision of your future senior leadership self. Then seek feedback to identify the gap between that vision and how you’re currently perceived. Develop a plan to close it.
3. Think strategically
Senior leadership isn’t just about managing your team, it’s also about understanding your role in the wider organisation.
Get clear on how your work contributes to bigger outcomes. Show that you can think ahead, connect the dots, and make decisions with long-term impact.
As a senior leader, you will need to be more strategic, so start developing your strategic thinking now.
4. Increase your visibility without being loud
Introverts are often overlooked because our impact isn’t always obvious. Build internal and external networks, speak up in meetings when you have value to add, and share your achievements in ways that feel natural. Visibility doesn’t require volume, but you do need to be intentional.
Extraverts get more opportunities in the workplace because their performance is more visible. Don’t let your performance go unseen.
5. Be innovative
Change is constant. Senior leaders are expected to solve problems, not just point them out.
Look for improvements in your team or processes. When you take initiative and drive innovation, you become harder to ignore. Be innovative in what you do. Identify innovative solutions that will improve the work of your team or department.
Be solution-focused rather than problem-focused. Not only will this help your work get noticed at a higher level, but you will also have good examples of your ability to think innovatively when applying for the promotion.
6. Keep a success folder
When it comes to applying for a senior leadership promotion, it is easy to forget things that you have done over the years. Examples that demonstrate how you meet the criteria or show that you have the required competencies.
Keep a success folder and record your successes and achievements. This is a great reminder of just how much you’ve accomplished. It provides a handy record to refer to that will quickly jolt your memory when updating your CV or preparing for interviews. Plus, it will also give you a confidence boost when your confidence is running low.
7. Get practical experience
Seek out leadership opportunities. Whether through acting up, cross-functional projects, or even volunteering on charity boards.
Leadership is not a title, it’s a behaviour. Start showing it where you are and take every opportunity you can to get experience at a senior level.
8. Be yourself
Don’t put on a persona to fit someone else’s leadership mould. This may be challenging if you work in an environment where extraverted traits are favoured. However, putting on a persona is exhausting and will eventually take its toll.
Be your authentic self, but recognise when to adapt your style to connect with others and get positive outcomes. Be authentic and be assertive.
9. Keep yourself marketable
Continuous self-development is important not just when you are working towards a promotion, it is whether you are a leader or not. It enables you to keep yourself marketable, keep your skills up to date and stops you from getting stuck in a rut.
Invest in your development, not just for promotion, but for your own growth. Get a coach, mentor, and sponsor who can support and advocate for you.
Stay curious. Stay relevant. Stay current.
10. Enjoy the journey
Leadership isn’t just about the next title, it’s also about growth, learning, and impact.
Don't become so focused on promotion that you miss the valuable lessons and moments along the way. These help to develop you as a leader. Even the knockbacks and challenges you go through will give you valuable lessons to shape your leadership experience.
If you’re finding the journey to senior leadership frustrating or unclear, this is exactly the kind of challenge I help my clients overcome. Feel free to contact me or drop me a message if you’d like support.
What has your journey to senior leadership been like? What challenges are you facing in getting promoted? I would love to hear what your experience has been, so please let me know in the comments.
