From the Background to the Boardroom: The Introvert's Rise

Greetings my fellow introverts,

Today's Big Question

How Can Introverts Turn Their Inner Strengths into Professional Superpowers?

This question challenges the traditional view of leadership in our society which often favors extroverted qualities. It opens up a conversation about the unique strengths of introverts, such as reflective thinking, deep focus, and empathetic communication, and how these can redefine what effective leadership looks like. Understanding and valuing these introverted traits helps create a more inclusive and diverse professional environment where different styles of leadership are recognized and celebrated.

My career trajectory as an introvert has been.....a journey. Along the way, I picked up some tricks for how introverts like us can set boundaries without losing sanity.

Today, I'm sharing how as introverts we can use our strengths not just for our career growth but also to add value to our workplaces.

1: Principle-Centered Leadership: Focus on developing a strong set of personal principles. This guides your decisions and interactions, allowing you to lead with integrity and authenticity, which resonates more deeply than surface-level charisma.

2: The 'Listen-Then-Lead' Approach: Prioritize understanding before seeking to be understood. This Covey principle is a natural fit for introverts. Use your listening skills to truly understand your team's needs and perspectives, then lead with solutions that address these insights.

3: Synergize Your Team: Leverage the diversity of your team. Encourage different viewpoints and find ways to blend these into a cohesive strategy. Your ability to synthesize varied perspectives can lead to more innovative and inclusive outcomes.

4: Quiet Time for Proactive Planning: Regularly schedule time for proactive planning. Use these moments for deep thinking and strategizing, allowing you to anticipate challenges and opportunities, rather than reacting to them as they arise.

5: Create a Circle of Influence: Instead of trying to change everything, focus on areas where you can make a real impact. Build a network of influence in these areas, and use your strengths to effect change within this circle.

Curiosity Challenges

Challenge #1: This week, identify and write down your core principles. Reflect on how these can guide your professional interactions and decisions.

Challenge #2: In your next team meeting, focus on understanding others' viewpoints before sharing your own. Note the difference this makes in the team dynamics and the quality of the discussion.

Key Takeaway: Introverts can be powerful leaders by leveraging their natural strengths and adopting principles that resonate with their inherent qualities. This approach can lead to a more thoughtful, inclusive, and effective form of leadership.

Action Steps

Conduct a Strategic Self-Reflection Session

• Schedule Your Session: Choose a time when you're at your mental best, free from distractions. This might be early in the morning or a quiet evening.
• Set Up a Reflective Space: Find a trusted and safe space where you can think without interruptions. This could be a quiet corner in your home, a park, or even a local library.
• Reflect on Your Career Path: Consider where you are in your career and where you want to be. Think about your journey so far, the highs and lows, and what you've learned about yourself.
• Define Clear, Long-Term Objectives: What are your major career goals? These should be significant milestones that you're passionate about achieving, like attaining a certain position, mastering a skill, or making a notable impact in your field.
• Identify Obstacles and Opportunities: What challenges might block your path to these goals? Conversely, what opportunities can you leverage? Consider factors like your current skill set, network, resources, and the broader industry landscape.
• Develop a Strategic Plan: For each goal, outline a strategy. This should include skill development plans, networking strategies, and any personal improvements you need to make. Break these strategies into smaller, manageable tasks with clear deadlines.
• Regular Review and Adaptation: Set periodic check-ins to review your progress. Be flexible and willing to adapt your plan as circumstances change or as you gain new insights.

Identify Where You Can Apply Your Circle of Influence

• Look for Opportunities: Where can your skills and strengths be most effectively applied? This could be in project management, team leadership, process improvement, or other areas.
• Align with Organizational Goals: Ensure that the areas you identify are in line with your organization's objectives. Influencing areas that contribute to overall success is more impactful.
• Define What You Want to Achieve: Based on your strengths and the identified areas of impact, set clear and achievable goals.
• Make Them SMART: Ensure your goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
• Outline Steps to Achieve Your Goals: Break down each goal into actionable steps. This might include acquiring new skills, strengthening certain relationships, or initiating specific projects.
• Set Timelines: Set realistic timelines to each action step to keep yourself accountable.
• Take Action: Start implementing your plan, utilizing your strengths and relationships to influence the identified areas.
• Be Adaptable: Be prepared to adjust your approach based on feedback and changing circumstances.
• Regularly Review Your Progress: Periodically assess how your actions are affecting your circle of influence.
• Revise Your Approach as Needed: Based on your reflections, make necessary adjustments to your strategies or goals.

Thought of the Day: "Strength lies in differences, not in similarities." – Stephen Covey. Embrace your unique introverted qualities; they're not just traits, but tools for making meaningful impact in the workplace.

P.S. I have a gift for you! I'm giving you a free workbook to kickstart 2024. Become More Awesome: 60 Challenges for Introverts includes daily challenges to step out of your comfort zone and step into your superpowers.

The workbook includes journal prompts, a character strenghts assessment, and mood wheel.

Looking forward to sparking more curiosity next week,

Marie