Stereotypes can have many negative effects on some people. Including, internalising them and developing self-limiting beliefs, which cause them to doubt themselves and their abilities. This can bring on imposter syndrome, and a lack of self-confidence. It can be stressful and negatively affect our overall well-being. It is something that I have personally experienced and that I see time and time again in some of the women leaders that come to me for coaching.
Stereotypes can hold introverted women leaders back
Stereotypes can hold introverted women leaders back at work and subject them to unfavourable bias. This can result in being overlooked for opportunities, or not even being given access to opportunities. Some women themselves can experience confirmation bias and believe that because of these stereotypes, they won’t be in with a chance.
It can affect their performance in promotion interviews, job interviews, and other situations. If you are having challenges securing an executive leadership promotion, or lack confidence in speaking up and asserting yourself in executive team meetings, book a call with me here to find out how my coaching can help you.
Recognise and understand that these unhelpful stereotypes exist and that the issue is not you. Look at what is within your area of control and what you can change.
If you can change or influence change without bringing on emotional distress for yourself, then do so. Develop a growth mindset and an optimistic outlook. Don’t be fixed in your thinking, believing that nothing will ever change.
Ask yourself what your options are and what you can do about the situation. Get support if you find it challenging to do this on your own. Recognise that you may not be able to change the situation, but you can choose to change how you respond to it. Choose your ‘battles’ wisely, knowing which to take on, and when to walk away.
Have stereotypes previously held you back?
If stereotypes have previously held you back in your career, you can’t change what has happened in the past, but you can change what you do going forward from today.
Get clear about what it is that you want for your career (and why) and create an action plan to help you achieve it. When writing your plan, think about what support you need and who can help you. If being held back by stereotypes has chipped away at your self-belief and self-confidence, do the work on you that is needed.
Many opportunities come about as a result of networks. Various research studies suggest that women do not utilise their networks as effectively as men. Whether you want an internal opportunity or an external one, develop and utilise your network.
Opportunities are often given to those whose performance is more visible, and I see many introverted women who don’t openly talk about their success and achievements and letting those who need to know, know. They don’t self-promote because they say it feels like bragging and boasting. Raise your visibility and profile and self-promote in ways that feel authentic.
Give your self-confidence a boost Â
If stereotypes and labels have chipped away at your self-confidence, to give it a boost, remind yourself of your previous successes and achievements. Keep a success folder (whether physical or electronic) and keep in it emails, notes, etc of when you have received praise and recognition for your achievements. When your confidence dips, take it out and read through them. This will help to give you an immediate confidence boost.
Develop your self-awareness so that you know the triggers which knock your self-confidence. That way you can put measures in place to prevent your confidence from taking such a big knock that it wears you down.
Don’t mistake a lack of confidence for a lack of competence. Identify whether it is competence you lack or if it is confidence. If it is competence, get the necessary training and development to bring you up to speed.
If it is confidence, address any self-limiting beliefs, and practice, practice, practice what it is that you need to gain confidence in.
Unhelpful stereotypes about introversion can lead to an unfavourable bias towards introverts. For many introverted women leaders, this has a negative effect on how they are perceived and their progression. And some introverted women also internalise those unhelpful stereotypes, which can contribute to them experiencing self-limiting beliefs.
Get to understand what introversion actually means and get to know yourself and see those unhelpful stereotypes for what they really are.
When we put on a persona and try to be someone that we are not, we put pressure on ourselves, which can be stressful. For someone who is introverted and acts extraverted for the majority of the time, not only do they put themselves under pressure, but it is also exhausting. The dangers of putting on an extroverted persona is the topic of the latest episode on the Quietly Visible Podcast.
First published on LinkedIn.
If you are an introverted woman and a senior leader and want to increase your confidence, influence and impact, take my free assessment and get a report identifying areas to develop. You can take the assessment here.
