Belonging is a key factor needed for inclusion in the workplace. When organisations are looking at being more inclusive, personality is invariably not part of the conversation. A growing body of research suggests that our workplaces favour extraversion. This includes my own research. I conducted a qualitative research study that explored the lived experience of …
Being Introverted and Feeling a Sense of Belonging at Work Read More »
Many people think that having smashed through the glass ceiling, women would be fearless, courageous, and exude confidence both outside and in. However, this is not always the case and sometimes, the more senior a woman becomes, the more confidence becomes an issue. Because of the demand of the role and the high expectations placed on …
Some Introverted Women Who Are Senior Leaders, Lack Confidence Too Read More »
Many people who want to make changes and improvements to their careers, hold themselves back because of a past adverse experience that they have blown out of perspective. They may not even realise that this is what is holding them back. They just know that having gone through a previous bad experience; they are not …
Confrontation is something that many people avoid. Reasons for this include fear – fear of upsetting the other person or fear of rejection; worrying about repercussions, or the impact; or even because avoiding the issue needing to be confronted seems so much easier. I often coach introverted senior leaders who don’t like confrontation, to understand …
Tips to Make Confrontation Less Stressful for Introverted Leaders Read More »
Industry specific conferences and festivals, award ceremonies, end of year celebrations and events… at this time of year, it always seems that there are so many networking events to go to. But for many introverts, networking is something that can be draining and overstimulating. Which can lead to them avoiding it. Or if they go, …
Networking Tips for Introverts Who Don’t Enjoy It Read More »
We often try to change who we are in order to fit in at work. I see this happen often. Examples include some women who think they have to be more aggressive when they get into senior leadership roles. Or people who are introverted who think they have to put on an extraverted persona. Or …
Do You Feel Like You Can’t Be True to Yourself at Work? Read More »
n a survey I did a while back, 78% of employed women said that fear kept them stuck in jobs they no longer enjoyed. Whilst my survey may not be representative of the total population, I found that figure to be alarmingly high. A fear of making a career change is a significant factor for …
Is Fear Keeping You Stuck in a Job You No Longer Enjoy? Read More »
Because introversion is less favoured in many workplaces, it can be challenging to thrive as an introverted leader. Many introverted leaders think that they have to put on an extraverted persona if they are to get ahead, have influence, and make an impact. Whilst putting on an extraverted persona (known as counter-dispositional behaviour) has its …
People who are introverted are typically not bothered about being in the limelight. By not being so, they may not be visible and may miss out on opportunities. Or they may not have the influence and impact needed as a senior leader. You may find that being visible requires activities that are overstimulating on your …
The Importance of Visibility for Introverted Women Leaders Read More »
Whether it’s redundancy, organisational restructure, a life changing event, or you wake up one morning and decide you want a change, there comes a time for many women when they reach a crossroads in their career and ask themselves ‘what’s next?’ Do I press the pause button and maybe take a sabbatical whilst I decide …
