Activate your Introvert

This episode explores 

• Communication and influence for introverts
• Does Introversion mean you’re no good at public speaking
  What have the drag queens of the undersea world got to do with running your meetings

This week's interviewee is Andrew Palmer. Andrew helps clients shape & present their messages and tell their stories with confidence, authenticity & gravitas. Which is something many introverts struggle with. Andrew's website is thegravitasmatrix.com

How many times have you held a meeting with your team and thought “I wish those 2 would say more” and at the same time wondering why that other two never shut up? 

Now you can find out what the drag queens of the undersea world have to do with running better meetings.

For more on running meetings that make things happen, click here.

Introverts are plagued by public speaking anxiety and don’t make good speakers, it's wrong! Once you've listened, you can get more ideas to help at "Myth introverts don't like public speaking

This week's interviewee is Will Kintish, a UK leading authority in Business Networking Skills training. Will shows people how to become effective online networkers and when we resume face to face networking he'll be helping with face-to-face networking skills again. Will's website is Kintish.co.uk

You’ve probably noticed how most introverts aren’t big on self-promotion as they prefer their work to speak for them, you’ll be helping yourself and them if your recognise that.

That doesn’t mean praising them more, although praise never hurts, but your praise is external validation. Most introverts prefer internal validation. So, help them to validate themselves by helping them realise what makes a good job (in terms of some specifics) and help them see what they’re doing well at that level.

Now they know you value them as your comments are at a level of detail they appreciate rather than a simple “that’s good” AND they’re better equipped for future internal validation, which helps their confidence and your productivity.

Introverts can't sell - Not only is this WRONG, it's dangerous as some introverts start acting as if it's true. Hear why I think it's wrong as I put this myth into the bin. For more selling tips listen to the interview with Ben Kench, author of Selling for Dummies.

This week's interviewee is Fredrick Kyomya, founder of the Creativity School and author of The Creative Thinker. We’re talking about being an entrepreneur as an introvert with the added issues of being younger than many entrepreneurs – we’ll see how that affected Fredricks journey.

Connect with Fredrick on LinkedIn

I was recently asked "does it take longer to manage introverts?". My answer was NO as a good manager manages different people differently, not just focusing on introverts.

The longer version of my answer was published on LinkedIn, and I also talk about running meetings that make things happen here.

Extroverts are better networkers than introverts.

I might not throw this one straight into the bin, but only before we agree on defining better. You can get more ideas about networking for introverts at NinjaNetworking.co.uk

Business networking has been radically changed by the last few months. Groups have either stopped, or now meet virtually.

Does this change how you network? Does this suit introverts more than extroverts, and how should you change your networking now?

Angie Phillips is a graphic design consultant, prolific networker, chairs one networking group and is involved in several others.

Angie's website is  https://ANGcreativedesign.co.uk

You probably have to run some of (or all of) your team meetings online now. Simple tip - build in more breaks than you would for face to face. More about running meetings that make things happen here.

"Introverts are snooty or antisocial", before chucking this one in the bin I look at where it might come from.

Does it make a difference if you have a purpose?

Bunny Young was a stunt woman, then became a businesswoman and  Business Therapist. Bunny helps business owners to discover their purpose and how to prevent burnout in SMEs.

Also coming up –introverts don’t have charisma, and don’t facilitate your own meetings.

Bunny's website is  https://abetterplaceconsulting.com/

Don't run your own meetings, it will help your team (especially the introverted team members) engage more if you get team members to run them instead. More about running meetings that make things happen here.

"Introverts aren’t charismatic", before chucking this one in the bin we look at what charisma really is and whether introverts have any.

Impostor syndrome is something many people struggle with and many introverts talk about it. BUT - it is not just an introvert problem. 

In today’s episode we are exploring impostor syndrome with researcher and impostor syndrome expert Lindsey Sharratt. 

Lindsey's website is  https://www.agamegroup.com/

How can you help your team members increase their self confidence? This can apply to introverts and extroverts in your team, although many people seem to apply it to introverts more readily. There's three steps discussed in this episode. More about helping others be more confident here.

"Introverts can't run meetings", as they're too quiet! Guess what I think of that one!

Company culture gets blamed for all manner for things from incredible success to company failure – is that realistic? Fixing company culture often seems to be the leadership nirvana.

In today’s episode we are exploring company culture, how it affects introverts and how introverts can affect culture.

When you want to understand about company culture, go to the best - I am really pleased to be interviewing Benjamin Drury – the Culture Guy.

How can you help your team members increase their self confidence? This can apply to introverts and extroverts in your team, although many people seem to apply it to introverts more readily. There's three steps discussed in this episode. More about helping others be more confident here.

"Introverts don’t listen in meetings", as "proof" I was told that they don't interact as much as others in the meeting. 

How does good leadership interface with the introvert/ extrovert issues?

This week’s episode discusses leadership with author and leadership expert Roger Fairhead. Roger helps difference makers make a difference.

Watch out for my favourite quotes from the discussion "you can manage things, but you need to lead people" and "you can't get people to change their behaviour, by getting them to change their behaviour"

After such a good conversation you may not need another leadership tip! So I'll focus on something important when you're running meetings and leading your team - active listening and the 3 D's of Active listening

My new book, available on Amazon will help you improve the meetings you run.:

https://introvertinbusiness.co.uk/running-meetings-that-make-things-happen/

Introverts are quiet, what really? Let's explore the truth of this one, think about where it might come from and then chuck it in the bin!

Have you ever suffered self doubt? What labels do you apply to yourself and how do they serve you? Introvert is, at one level, only a label.

In this week’s episode I’m really pleased to be interviewing Claire Sewell. Claire helps turn self doubt into sales by helping female business owners overcome self doubt, learn to sell with certainty, win more clients and build their business and income more boldly.

Claire and I have had several discussions on leadership, introversion/ extroversion, self-doubt and labels. More precisely whether labeling people is positive, or negative.

You can contact Claire on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-sewell-sales-and-mindset-coach/

Do you see beyond the labels you apply to people in your team? The attributes you attach to the label you apply, do not define your team..

Introverts can't be good public speakers as all good speakers are extroverts. Have you heard that one too? I've heard it several times, and it's going into the bin.

My new book, available on Amazon will help you improve the meetings you run.:

https://introvertinbusiness.co.uk/running-meetings-that-make-things-happen/

How does an introvert survive and thrive in the deeply extroverted world of brand marketing and how can getting more wild help your business prospects?

I am delighted to be interviewing Mark Sears. Mark used to be the head of Group Brand Strategy at Virgin Group. Mark now helps organisations and change makers evolve and adapt and runs a company that I love the name of it’s called Rewilding. His website is https://marksears.co.uk/

And watch out for my favourite part from Mark - "how do we create a change that’s bigger than ourselves".

In your team meetings, get a different team member to facilitate each one.

Introverts aren't loud enough to run meetings; well where has that one come from? I've heard it several times, and it's going into the bin.

My new book, available on Amazon will help you improve the meetings you run.:

https://introvertinbusiness.co.uk/running-meetings-that-make-things-happen/