Uncover the Strength Within - Introverted Leadership and Quiet Confidence

Your Weekly Inspiration with Lily Woi

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?? Focus of the Week: Uncover the Strength Within - Introverted Leadership and Quiet Confidence

This week is all about redefining the narrative around introversion and confidence and uncovering the strength within you.?

Insight 1 - What does it mean to be confident?

Confidence is a funny thing.?

Confidence is the belief and the feeling that you are capable of doing something. So it's an internal feeling.?

But because it is an internal feeling, it's hard to measure. Instead, we tend to measure a person's confidence level by how they interact and behave in the world. The way they speak, the way they walk, the words they use, the tone, the loudness, etc.?

The way we measure confidence is a bit wrong.

We are measuring an internal feeling against an external action. The risk of measuring ourselves against people we consider confident is that if we don't behave and interact similarly, we judge ourselves and others as lacking confidence.?

So, rather than working on your beliefs about yourself. You work at a surface level - telling yourself you just need to speak up or speak louder, be energetic, smile more, be more outgoing, etc. And that's hard for people with personality traits that do not gel with this behaviour.?

That was the case when I struggled to accept my "introvertedness".?

But it was never about introversion or extroversion. That was the excuse I was using, and it became a convenient way for me to blame everyone else except myself.

Instead, it was about my mindset (perspective)- how I talk about and see myself. I had to take responsibility for my mindset. Working to shed all the limiting beliefs about what I think confidence means and figure out what it looks like and feels like to me because how we perceive ourselves is a reflection of how we live our lives.?

When I did that, things changed massively for me. Suddenly, I started to notice and receive opportunities I wanted, some of which I didn't even know existed.?

So, for those who feel you lack confidence, here is another perspective for you to consider.

Insight 2 - Beyond the Stereotypes: Embracing Introverted Leadership

An article in the HBR shows that the higher the position a manager has, the more likely they’ll be extroverted. Introverts tend to get stuck in low and middle-level managerial positions.?

?Some 65% of senior executives still see introversion as a “barrier to leadership,” and only 6% think introverts have the people skills required to oversee a successful team.??

Does this surprise you? Not me…we are living in a world built for extroverts.?

?While introverted leaders like Bill Gates, Marissa Mayer, and Mark Zuckerberg make headlines, they remain exceptions in a world favouring extroversion.?

That means introverts need to work harder to demonstrate their leadership potential, and often, the misguided way they have been told is to be “more extroverted”. That is the most damaging advice you can give to an introvert - stripping away their uniqueness to be someone they’re not.

?Introverts have a wealth of leadership skills that complement extroverts, such as naturally being more observant, reflective, perceptive, deliberate and calm. That’s why both exist! However, traditional leadership development does not develop future leaders who are introverts.?

?It is because it is often skills-based and lacks psychological development. This is the aspect that helps leaders rethink their worldview and mindset and supports them in figuring out how to use their uniqueness as their strengths.?

?This is a journey I’ve personally gone on in Deloitte, figuring out how to navigate a successful career and leadership role without being extroverted.?

It's time to redefine the narrative of introverted leaders and for you to step into your power. ?

Now what? So what?

To further explore the insights I shared above, check out this article link diving deeper into introversion, or check out my book - Quiet Confidence , where I've shared the strategies and insights I used myself and my clients to excel in their careers, build strong relationships with colleagues and clients, and tap into their full potential. A must-have for anyone who feels like they don't fit the mould of the "typical" successful professional.?

Ready to Take Action?

If you want more help to redefine your narrative and unleash your potential, I invite you to reach out for a free discovery/strategy session to explore how I can support you.?

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Warm regards,

Lily

Lily Woi - People & Culture Catalyst?

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