In this episode, I delve into courageous conversations for introverted women leaders. I explore practical strategies and insights to help you navigate challenging conversations with confidence and authenticity. From defining what courageous conversations entail to embracing introversion as a strength, I provide actionable tips for building confidence, navigating power dynamics, and creating safe spaces for dialogue.

This episode is different from the norm as it is to announce that the tickets for the first ever conference for introverted leaders taking place in London on 13 September 2024 are now available. You can find out more about the conference at https://aboundingsolutions.com

If you experience imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and a lack of self-confidence, it can be easy to think it is just you. But many women like you across the globe experience it and in this episode, I talk about how widespread it is.

Is a lack of self-belief holding you back from going after what it is that you want to achieve? Or causing you to doubt yourself and lack self-confidence? In this episode I talk about the importance of self-belief, what it is, and how to develop it.

Many people mistakenly think that in order to be seen and stand out, you have to be the loudest in the rooom. But that is not true. I have a saying that goes 'You don't need to be loud to stand out as a leader, but you do need to have presence'. Inspired by a post I saw on LinkedIn, in this episode I talk about not needing to be the loudest in the room, but as a leader, the need to be visible and have presence. Something which many introverted women find challenging.

As human beings, it is part of our nature to want to be accepted, and consciously or subconsciously we tend to seek approval for our everyday and life choices, actions and behaviour from our peer groups. But what if this need for validation and approval means that we grow up believing and trying to be someone who is not who we truly are and therefore not living life on our own terms? In this episode, former lawyer, Louise Lewis, shares her story of being a very driven, motivated typical A...

Generally, most introverts shy away from being in the spotlight and having attention focussed on themselves. Demonstrating their thought leadership is a good way for them to become widely known in their organisation and industry for their knowledge and expertise. If you hate self-promotion, it enables you to self-promote in ways that don't make it feel like it is all about you. In this episode, Carol and Kate Pozeznik (founder and CEO of Quirk, a personal branding and career...

I attended a woman's leadership conference and the question was asked whether attendees wanted to be CEO of a large corporate. Only a few women raised their hands. The person speaking said that more women should want to and this got me thinking... I can understand why women would not want to, and I can understand why women would. What about you? Do you want to be CEO of a large corporate, or are you simply not bothered?

The Miriam-Webster dictionary defines the word 'brave' as "the quality or state of having or showing mental or moral strength to face danger, fear, or difficulty". Whilst some of us are born braver than others, it is actually a skill that many of us have to learn, develop and build on. In this week's episode, Nicole Trick Steinbach, Founder of Trick Steinbach LLC, the host of the Celebrate Brave podcast, and International Bravery Coach, discusses many of the challenges she has faced...

Self-regulation is a powerful tool for navigating the complexities of life. If we don't regulate our emotions, it can lead to a number of challenging situations. Stress, strained relationships, irrational decision making, and a general feeling of not being in control. Self-regulation enhances our decision making, strengthens relationships, helps us to manage stressful situations in a healthy way, and contributes to a more positive outlook on life. In this episode, I talk about the...

Unfavourable bias towards introversion and any other oppressions as a result of other intersecting identities may have taken away your power. You may have internalised these biases and/or oppression without even realising it. This can show up as self-hate, imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and other self-limiting beliefs. In this episode, I make you aware of the fact that this can happen, so that you can check whether this is the case for you and do something about it so that you reclaim...

Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, is said to be known for the quote 'Your brand is what people say about you when you're not in the room'. For some introverted women leaders, personal branding and self-promotion don't come naturally and can feel inauthentic. However, being clear about your brand and communicating it through self-promotion can give you a competitive advantage. In this episode, I talk about how you can develop your personal brand so that what other people say about you...

People need to have confidence in the decisions made by their leaders, and if a leader seems indecisive, it does not instil confidence in them. Introverts are known for thinking and processing information before speaking and making decisions, whereas extraverts are said to speak and process their thoughts whilst they are speaking. Misconceptions about introversion mean people can misconstrue the thinking style of introverts. Whilst quick decisions are not always the best decisions,...

Every year at the beginning of January, I see untold people setting goals or making New Year resolutions, only to find that within just a few months (weeks even), they've abandoned them. This episode is a recording of a LinkedIn live where I shared what you can do to set yourself up for success.

Why is it important to set intentions? In this episode, I talk about the benefits of setting intentions to help clarify your goals, and enhance your focus and motivation, as well as guiding your actions. I share an example of an intention that I set almost 3 years ago to illustrate how setting intentions can make a difference.

Do you look at other people who you think are 'better' than you, compare yourself to them and put yourself down in the process? If so, it can chip away at your self-belief and self-confidence. In this episode I discuss this and what to do instead. To access my 5 Day Mind Cleanse to help you challenge and change the self-limiting beliefs that hold you back, so that you can confidently pursue your aspirations, go to https://aboundingsolutions.com/5-day-mind-cleanse/ For a free...

Unfavourable bias in the workplace towards introversion, may make it more challenging for some people who are introverted to feel a sense of belonging at work. If organisations really want to be inclusive, they also need to look at whether they create an environment where ALL staff feel like they belong. In this episode I talk about the importance of feeling a sense of belonging at work, what can happen if you don't feel like you belong, as well as the positive benefits of feeling like you...

Many introverted women don't like self-promotion. However, research suggests that extroverts get more opportunities at work because their performance is more visible. This is due to them being more likely to speak up about their successes and achievements and what they are working on. In an ideal world, your work would speak for itself and you would get recognition on the basis of your outputs and achievements. However, your work is not always going to be seen by those who need to know...

It can be hard to pick yourself back up and continue moving forward when you've had a setback or failed at something in your career or as a leader. Do you find that you've lost the motivation and the confidence to pursue your aspirations? If so, how you respond to setbacks and failures will determine how you get through them, and in this recording of a LinkedIn Live lunch and learn session, I share tips on what you can do to develop resilience and stay motivated and confident when facing...

I have coached many leaders to secure senior leadership promotions, and there are some common barriers that I see repeatedly that get in the way of securing those roles. In this episode I talk about these 3 barriers and what you can do to overcome them.

Is shyness holding you back in your place of work? Is it stopping you from having your voice heard and your contributions recognised? In this episode, Kate Baker, Head of Product globally, for the Alternatives business of HSBC Asset Management, shares some of the strategies that have helped and still help her overcome (or not) her own shyness. Tied in with this, Kate, drawing on her personal life and work experiences, recognises that none of us should be treated any differently because of...

It is often said that the first step to achieve something is to believe that you really can achieve it. But, sometimes we let our fears, negative thought patterns and long held habits hold us back. A growth mindset is central to you achieving your goals and aspirations. In this episode Ryane LeCesne, known as The Advanced Accelerator Coach, discusses feeling stuck and trapped, and how you can face your fears and advance your professional dreams by overcoming and healing from the self-limiting...

As I'm sure you will know, these days, if you’re not self-promoting and raising your visibility and profile, you can easily go unnoticed and get passed over for promotion. But, being visible and raising your profile doesn’t have to be challenging, draining or exhausting and you don’t have to do something just because everyone else is doing it. As an introverted female leader, you can be quietly visible in your own authentic way. It’s about finding ways to do it that work for you. One way...

As an introvert, do you shy away from public speaking in the belief that only those who are more extraverted will excel at this task? Well, believe it or not, not all extraverts feel confident about having to speak in public either. But, for you introverted listeners, do know that it does not have to be seen as a daunting task, and if you are currently in a leadership role, there are ways you can move from outside of your comfort zone and into the realm of public speaking comfortably and with...