Quietly Visible

Working in a toxic work environment can chip away at your self-esteem, self-confidence, and resilience. It can lead to working excessive hours, a lack of boundaries and leave you feeling stressed and exhausted.

Some people don't even realise that the environment is the issue and think that the problem is them.

In this episode I talk about the dangers of working in a toxic environment, and share tips and advice on how you can address it.

In this episode of the podcast I talk through a scenario where a woman who is a senior leader, and the 'only' one in the room like her amongst a team of extraverts.

Unrealistic expectations have knocked her confidence, perfectionism puts a lot of pressure on her, and this affects how she comes across and is perceived by others.

If this applies to you, I discuss ways in which you can turn this situation around and regain your confidence, increase your presence, and communicate with impact.

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.

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 Type individual who hit burnout in 2018. During her recuperative phase, she came to the realisation that she had not been taking good care of herself, by living a life based, not on her own terms, and discusses the changes she made/her journey of transformation. Louise, now coaches women to be all of who they are, to not follow the rulebooks of others, and to live life authentically, on their own terms.

About Louise Lewis

Louise is a ICF accredited coach (PCC level) with a diploma in professional coaching practice. She is also certified in embodied healing systems (with a personal focus on childhood trauma and the impact of dysfunctional family systems on us as adults).

https://website.louiselewiscoaching.co.uk/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/louise-lewis-acc-coach/

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 consulting firm), discuss and elaborate on their respective definitions of 'Thought Leadership' and how, as an introvert, you don't have to shout from the rooftops to showcase your knowledge and expertise. Kate also provides listeners on ways you can get started in authentically getting your knowledge out there.

About Kate Pozeznik

Kate resides in the US and left the corporate world five years ago to launch Quirk, a personal branding and career consulting firm that helps accelerate the careers of women executives and rising professionals who are seeking a life of fulfilment and freedom. Kate has been partnering with C-level executives for nearly a decade in a variety of capacities, currently by equipping leaders with curated career marketing materials, digital personal branding, and client-centered career coaching.

She has orchestrated several career transitions of her own, including a shift from stay-at-home mom to the tech world. In her search for the ‘right’ career, Kate gained experience across industries and functions. This includes selling new construction homes for a large builder; fundraising and curriculum development at a marine science non-profit; writing and event planning in academia; and developing marketing collateral and aligning research and advisory services to c-level executives at management consulting companies Gartner and The Hackett Group.

Kate is recognised for being a confidence booster, relationship builder, and steadfast promoter of authenticity as a vessel for life and career success. She has been an invited guest career expert on podcasts and social audio events, written business articles for career professionals, developed a library of how-to career guides, and regularly engages colleagues and job seekers through relevant, interesting social media content.

Kate is also a ADHD and mental health advocate, supporter of women and minorities, avid traveler, salsa and bachata dancing enthusiast, collector of mid-century modern furniture, single parent, solopreneur, former island dweller, exercise champion, and rescue dog mom.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kpozeznik/

https://quirkpersonalbranding.com/

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 throughout her own personal and work life journey which led to her developing her own brave, to now coaching women to intentionally build their skill of bravery - to stress less, work less, and then earn more.

About Nicole Trick Steinbach

Nicole is the Founder of Trick Steinbach LLC, the host of the Celebrate Brave podcast, and an International Bravery Coach. She helps women build their bravery and shows them how to stress and work less.

After spending nearly 20 years working in tech, Nicole had become a Global Senior Director. She spent 13 years living in Germany, travelling the world, and leading global teams across all functional areas in over 25 different countries. In 2008, even with all of her success, Nicole realised that she felt exhausted, unhappy, and alone. Through coaching, Nicole discovered how her relentless pursuit of an ever-changing definition of "success" was pushing away her support network, deflating her confidence, and driving her to burnout. Over the next ten years, Nicole was able to build her own unique, gorgeous, wonderfully fulfilling life, full of connection and appreciation, rest and joy, safety and wealth. The key was realising that bravery Is a skill that she could intentionally develop and practice.

Now she teaches women all over the world to build their own brave. Nicole's framework for clarity, momentum, and accountability helps her clients set goals and establish the mindset they need to sustain their success. Nicole coaches women to view all of their successes, mistakes, and even failures as equal stepping stones to building their brave life and career.

When Nicole isn’t serving her clients you can find her reading a new book, enjoying the outdoors with her two kiddos, and learning with others on her own podcast.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoletricksteinbach/

https://tricksteinbach.com/bravepodcast/

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 negative impact of not regulating your emotions and the positive benefits (not just for you but also for others), when you self-regulate.

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 your power.

The resources referred to at the end of the episode can be found on the free resources tab at https://aboundingsolutions.com.

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 when you leave the room aligns with what you want them to say.

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, there will be times when you do need to make an on the spot decision. Particularly if there is an immediate threat to the business. If you want to improve your on the spot decision-making style, in this episode I share some tips.

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.

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.

It is said that 'behind every successful woman is herself', and although Sherry Shannon-Vanstone grew up in a time when few women were encouraged to study science and mathematics, she has thrived and succeeded as a mathematician, inventor, entrepreneur, mentor and philanthropist. Furthermore, Sherry's strong beliefs in equality, diversity and inclusion drive her contribution to the advancement of women in science and technology.

In this episode, be inspired, as Sherry, shares her journey from childhood to adulthood, and perspectives on growing, thriving and succeeding, as an introverted woman in what have been traditionally, competitive male-dominated industries.

About Sherry Shannon-Vanstone

As a well-known serial entrepreneur, Sherry Shannon-Vanstone has made a significant contribution to the spectrum of digital industries from cryptography to telecommunications and technology, while also making a major contribution to the advancement of all women.

Throughout Sherry's career, she has been a trailblazer in the fields of STEM, business, and philanthropy. In honour of her late husband, Scott A. Vanstone, Sherry founded ProfoundImpact in 2018 - a next-generation social engagement and interaction platform for use by universities and their alumni to engage, discover, and measure the impact that the institution and its community have on technology and the world. It also aims to build a sense of community for a global audience of affinity groups such as women in STEM and entrepreneurs.

Sherry was the recipient of the prestigious Leadership Excellence Award inEntrepreneurship for 2020 from Women in Communications and Technology(WCT). This award celebrates individuals who have the courage to go it alone, as a start-up or a woman-led business.

In June 2019, Sherry received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws (LLD) from WesternUniversity and in 2015, she was awarded –WOW - the World Waterloo Region’s Female Innovator of the Year.

Sherry holds a Master of Science degree in mathematics from the University ofTennessee and was a cryptologic mathematician with the US Government.

Sherry has resided in Canada for 26 years and holds citizenships in both Canada and the US.

Email: sshannon@profoundimpact.com

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/sherry-shannon-vanstone-10281b4

Many women leaders shy away from difficult conversations because they dislike confrontation. But not having them when needed can lead to problems further down the line.

In this episode, I talk about why we don't like confronting conversations, and share tips on how you can have them and feel better about having them.

Sir Michael Parkinson was a prominent British journalist and broadcaster. He was a white man who held high profile roles, yet experienced imposter syndrome throughout his career.

Having coached senior leaders, executives, members of the judiciary, and many others to overcome imposter syndrome, it is something I see time and time again amongst senior leaders.

If you experience it, in this episode I unpick imposter syndrome to help loosen its hold over you.

Extraverts get more opportunities at work because their performance is more visible. As an introverted woman it can be easy to get on with what you need to do and not be visible. In this episode I share 3 strategies that will help you to increase your visibility so that you lead with influence and impact.

https://aboundingsolutions.com

If you work in a toxic environment, it can be frustrating and stressful. And if you are not in a position to change your job, you may be finding it very challenging. In this episode, I talk about how to thrive in a toxic work environment.

Whether you are trying to get a promotion, change your career, or achieve some other goal, continuously being told no can be disappointing. This can lead to discouragement and even despair if left to linger. In this episode, I talk about how to stay focused and motivated so you achieve your goals, even when you keep being told no.

With a reported 50% of UK adults spending 11 hours a day screen time, having a digital detox is beneficial for us.

In this episode I share my experience of having a 3 day digital detox and 3 of the lessons that I learned about myself.

We are hearing more and more about a topic that I am quite passionate about - 'Psychological Safety', and of which I am aware is a challenge for many introverted leaders in the work environment. First coined in 1999 by author and Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at Harvard Business School, she states that “psychological safety means an absence of interpersonal fear. When psychological safety is present, people are able to speak up with work-relevant content".

Today's conversation with psychological safety expert, Stephan Wiedner, using his own insights, puts the concept into perspective and further discusses how companies can create a culture that lets people feel that their voice matters, leverages people's differences and in turn enables each individual's unique skills and talents to be valued and utilised.

About Stephan Wiedner Stephan Wiedner is an entrepreneur whose mission is to abolish apathy in the workplace. He firmly believes that for great work to take place, everyone needs to have the courage to speak up and the confidence to know they’ll be heard.

His passion for unleashing the collective potential of people has led him to cofound Noomii.com, the web’s largest network of independent life coaches and Skillsetter.com, a platform similar to a flight simulator for practicing interpersonal skills.

Stephan has been a guest speaker for Truth, Lies, and Workplace Culture Podcast, Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast, Building Psychological Strength Podcast, and many other audiences interested in psychology, business, and technology. His writing has been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur, and other popular publications.

In addition to his professional career, Stephan serves as a volunteer firefighter in his local community. Stephan is married with two children and enjoys spending quality time in the outdoors, hiking, biking, camping, and reading.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/swiedner/

Did you start the year full of excitement and energy to achieve your goals, only to find that halfway through the year, you're not seeing results and haven't moved forward? If so, in this episode, I share 5 tips to help you regain momentum when you are not achieving your goals.

Do you compare yourself to other people who you think are better than you and put yourself down in the process or try to copy their style? If so, the best person to be as a leader is yourself, and to find your own authentic leadership style. And that is what I talk about in this episode.

Being a perfectionist can be very stressful when everything has to be perfect before you move forward. And if it isn't, it can cause you to procrastinate, to self-doubt, filling you with thoughts that you're not good enough; it can cause you to dither making decisions causing you to miss out on opportunities. It can also lower your tolerance of other people with that all or nothing thinking because they don't live up to your ideals.

In this episode I talk about where perfectionism comes from and what you can do to overcome it.

Are you settling for less than you deserve? Do you deserve to go for that promotion, or get a new role, but settle for less than you deserve because you are fearful or think that you are not good enough. In this episode I talk about not settling for less than what you deserve.

Meetings are probably one of the most psychologically unsafe spaces in the workplace. In this episode, I very briefly touch on the findings regarding meetings from my research study looking at what the experience is of belonging and psychological safety in the workplace for introverted women leaders.

For many of the introverted women leaders that I coach, it is once they fully understand themselves, understand introversion, and embrace who they are that they unlock their introverted superpowers and thrive.

They become more confident and self-assured which has a positive impact both professionally and personally.

In this episode, I talk about how understanding yourself is key to unlocking your introverted superpowers and you becoming the best version of you.

What does a confident and hopeful self mean to you?

As a primary teacher, chaplain and life coach, Jessica Rowlands has spent much of her life observing people, none of whom are ordinary. Listening to them, seeing them and attempting to truly understand and accept them for who they are including all the not so good bits as well as the good bits, Jessica has observed that this brings safety in relationships, hope and therefore growth and connection. Also, knowing that she is not on her own in her introversion, shyness and her anxiety, changes her reality, her outlook and attitude to life. It is ok to be herself, and for you to be you. The conversation in this episode covers a range of topics centering around the 'confident, hopeful self' and the journey to realising and accepting that it only takes one person to be interested, you in them and they in you, and suddenly you are no longer by yourself; you can begin to grow and flourish....and be your confident and hopeful self.

About Jessica Rowlands

Through the services they offer, Jessica Rowlands and her husband Ian, inspire and coach people and communities to reach their full potential. Jessica has been married to Ian for 35 years and has 3 grown up children, a dog and a grand dog!  She has a background in establishing and building church communities, and has been a primary teacher for 34 years, a Chaplain for 12 years and a qualified Life Coach for 3 years.

Her passion, with all her experience with people of all ages, is for those she meets to know how deeply loved and valued they are, helping them develop into who God has made them to be.  As CS Lewis says, ‘We meet no ordinary people’; Jessica believes she hasn’t met an ordinary person yet!

 https://www.thinplaces.co.uk/about

It is often said that women don't utilise their networks enough, but networking can be beneficial for career success. For introverted women, networking can be a bit of a nightmare. Not liking small talk, environments which are over stimulating, and being drained of energy from doing it. These can all contribute to some introverted women not enjoying it.

In this episode I share tips on how to make networking an enjoyable experience for introverted women and how you can make it work for you, whilst doing it confidently.

Old habits or long held beliefs, can hold us back in our lives and stop us from being the person we are meant to be.

Clinical Hypnotherapist and Advanced Rapid Transformational Therapist (RTT) Kate Hoyle, believes that you can't truly fix a problem until you go back to the root cause to find out what caused it in the first place.  Becoming a therapist was a complete change of career for Kate, which didn’t happen until she was in her early 50s. Before that she had worked in the City within law and finance. It was the transformation that RTT created for her own daughter that made Kate drop everything, retrain and follow her current path creating powerful transformations for others.  In this week's episode Kate shares her journey to where she is now, and her thoughts on self-belief and how if we want to change anything in our lives, we initially need to understand why we act in a certain way or why we hold certain beliefs.  Once we know, if there is something that we passionately want to do in our lives, we will have the confidence (and self-belief) to take a leap of faith and discover who we truly are and meant to be.

About Kate Hoyle

Kate Hoyle is a Clinical Hypnotherapist and Advanced Rapid Transformational Therapist (RTT) and believes that you can't truly fix a problem until you go back to the root cause to find out what caused it in the first place. She uses hypnosis to access subconscious emotional beliefs attached to past events and to convert these into beneficial and positive thoughts moving forward.

Becoming a therapist was a complete change of career for Kate, which didn’t happen until she was in her early 50s. Before that she had worked in the City within law and finance. It was the transformation that RTT created for her own daughter that made Kate drop everything, retrain and follow her current path creating powerful transformations for others.

www.KateHoyleHypnotherapy.com

www.facebook.com/katehoylehypnotherapy/

www.instagram.com/katehoylehypnotherapy/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-hoyle-8272079

A few thoughts for International Women's Day 2023.