Leading Her Introvert Way: Conversations about executive leadership, career growth, business and mindset for mid-life Black women.

67: Incredible Introvert Energy: The Kind of Presence Quiet Female Leaders Use To Get Promoted

• Nicole Bryan • Episode 67

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Uncover the magic of "incredible introvert energy" and why presence isn't just a buzzword, but a powerful force in leadership. We dive into how introverted female leaders can leverage their unique strengths to build trust, believability, and inspire others to follow. It's not about how loud you are but the depth of impact you create. From preparing for a job interview to leading crucial projects to managing your peers and team, we discuss strategies to amplify your presence and effectively set the tone for success in any professional setting. Join us in embracing the vital role of presence in leadership and discover how to let your introverted energy shine.

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Speaker 1:

Hi, lady Leader, and welcome to the Leading Her Way podcast. This place is a safe space for all introverted female leaders who want to take their careers to the top. So if you are an ambitious woman and you are introverted and you have your sights set on having everything that you ever wanted in life, both on the personal side and the professional side, then you are in the right place. And if this is your first time here, I extend to you a very warm and sincere welcome. And if you are a returning OG, then welcome back. You know how we do it here. I hope that, as this podcast, this episode, reaches your ears, that you are doing really, really well.

Speaker 1:

As for me, honestly, these last few weeks I have been ripping and running and seems like my to-do list is, frankly, never ending, and I am confident that you can relate. But at the same time, although I've been really, really busy, I've been enjoying myself too. So I've taken a couple of trips, I'm spending more time with friends. I deliberately have made a conscious decision to find not more balance because that balance word, that B word, is not necessarily something that I subscribe to, but I definitely want to spend more energy and time deliberately building my personal life back up, and so that's exactly what I've been doing. It is exhausting. You can imagine, as an introvert, my first instinct, honestly, at the end of the day, or on the weekends, hell, even sometimes, as soon as I get up, my instinct is to just want to either crawl back under the covers or sit in the chair. You know, take in some silence, be by myself, regroup. I'm also encouraging myself and taking the steps to spend time with people who are worthy of my time and energy, my limited time and energy, and I've been enjoying it. I am tired, it's true, but have been enjoying it. Are anything like me, who you often kind of cave to your immediate instinct to be by yourself rather than with other people. I would encourage you to try something different. You may find that it energizes you or it gives you something that being by yourself does not, that being by yourself does not, and you may be able to find a pattern or start a new custom for yourself where you get to have the both, that's, the both worlds. You get to enjoy quality time by yourself while also spending time and giving energy to other people.

Speaker 1:

So today we're diving into a topic that's crucial for every female leader's success, which is presence. Now, presence is extremely important, but it is different for introverts, particularly introverted women, and so I refer to presence for introverted women as incredible introvert energy. It's the powerful way introverted female leaders impact their organizations through depth rather than volume. Now, before we explore how introverts can leverage their natural strengths to develop powerful presence, let's talk about why presence matters so much, particularly in the professional world. You've probably noticed that executive presence comes up constantly in performance reviews, promotion discussions and leadership development programs. Maybe you've even received feedback that you need to work on your executive presence to advance in the next level.

Speaker 1:

Presence isn't just some intangible nice to have quality. I know it may feel like that sometimes to many of us, but it's not. Presence is not intangible. It's fundamental to leadership effectiveness because it directly impacts three critical elements trust, believability and others' willingness to follow you. Think about it.

Speaker 1:

As a senior leader, you'll frequently face situations where you don't have all the answers. What carries you and your team through these moments isn't just your technical expertise, it's your presence. It's that unique quality that makes people believe you'll figure it out. That gives them confidence to follow your lead, even when the path isn't clear. When your presence is strong. People trust your judgment, they're willing to put in extra effort, to take risks, to innovate. But when presence is weak, that's when you see hesitation, lack of engagement and ultimately, a breakdown in team effectiveness. This applies in every leadership context. Whether you're interviewing for a new role. In every leadership context. Whether you're interviewing for a new role, leading a critical project, moving to a new division or simply having a one-on-one conversation with one of your team members, how you show up physically, mentally, emotionally sets the tone for every interaction and relationship.

Speaker 1:

Now here's where it gets interesting for us introverts. The traditional model of executive presence was created through an extroverted lens. It's often portrayed as this magical combination of commanding attention, speaking up first and dominating the room. But that narrow definition doesn't serve us or our organizations. So let's address three common misconceptions about introverted leaders and presence.

Speaker 1:

First, there's this persistent myth that because introverted leaders don't constantly step into the spotlight, that they don't want leadership roles, and nothing could be further from the truth. What I've observed is that introverted leaders often have deep ambition. They simply express and pursue it differently. Second, there's an assumption that quiet means having nothing to contribute. In reality, when introverted leaders speak, their words carry extra weight precisely because they've taken the time to process, to analyze and formulate thoughtful responses. And third, there's this bizarre belief that being introverted somehow means you can't build strong relationships. Yet research shows that introverted leaders often excel at creating deep, meaningful connections that build lasting trust.

Speaker 1:

So what exactly is incredible introvert energy? Well, think of it like a deep, clear bell tone versus a loud crash. It's the kind of presence that doesn't demand attention. It earns it, and it's expressed through a number of different things, like thoughtful silence, using strategic pauses and comfortable silence to create space for reflection and genuine dialogue. Or written mastery crafting clear, impactful written communications that showcase your analytical depth and strategic thinking. Another way is through focused attention, making others feel truly seen and heard, through genuine one-on-one connections and physical intentionality, using deliberate body language, meaningful eye contact and purposeful movement to convey confidence and authority. Or selective contribution, offering insights at strategic moment, ensuring your words carry maximum impact.

Speaker 1:

Let me share a quick example. One of my clients, barbara, was constantly passed over for senior roles, despite her exceptional and when I say exceptional, she's probably one of the smartest people I've ever met. She had exceptional technical skills and a strategic mind. The feedback she received she needed more executive presence Rather than trying to become more outgoing. We worked on amplifying her introverted strengths. She started sending out thoughtful pre-meeting briefs, giving her ideas space to be considered before the group discussion ever took place. She mastered the art of purposeful pause in conversations, creating space for deeper dialogue, and she focused on building deep one-on-one relationships with key stakeholders. The result Within 18 months, she was promoted to VP of Client Relations. Her CEO specifically cited her ability to bring a sense of calm, confidence and deep thinking to our leadership team. She didn't change who she was. Instead, she leveraged who she was to build trust and influence.

Speaker 1:

If what I share today resonates with you, if you're an introverted leader who's received feedback about your presence, or if you sense that your leadership presence might be holding you back from that next senior role, I'm here to help you tap into your incredible introvert energy. Let's have a conversation about your specific situation. Whether you've received direct feedback about your presence or you're sensing unspoken barriers to your advancement, we can work together to create a concrete plan that leverages your natural strengths to land that next senior leadership role you desire. You can visit my website at wwwthechangedoccom, or you can click the link in the show notes to schedule a call with me. During our conversation, we'll analyze any presence-related feedback you've received. We'll identify specific barriers holding you back from senior leadership, we'll create an initial roadmap for amplifying your incredible introvert energy and we'll discuss how we might work together to accelerate your path to executive leadership. Don't let outdated notions of presence hold you back from the leadership role you deserve. Hook your call today and, until next time, keep leading your introvert way.

Speaker 1:

That's a wrap for this episode of Leading Her Way. Thanks for tuning in. If you have thoughts, questions or ideas for future topics, connect and send me a message on LinkedIn and if you enjoyed today's episode, subscribe. And please take a minute to write a quick review on Apple Podcasts. Your review will help spread the word to other ambitious females so they know they're not alone and that this podcast is a community of support for all of us leading her way to the top. Remember your leadership is needed. Your leadership is powerful, so lead boldly Until next time.