The Flourishing Introvert Talks

Oh the myths about we introverts are endless, unfortunately though it happens with our continued collusion. In this episode, my invitation is for we introverts to recognise and utilise our voices to effectively so we confidently debunk these myths while showing up as our authentic and unapologetic self.   Our well-thought through and clearly presented contributions often command more respect than...

With so much noise around us in both work and social settings, how do we quieter ones function effectively?   Drawing from my nearly 50 years of corporate experience, I discuss societal biases towards the extravert ideal that starts in childhood and extends through education and professional environments. It's these settings and other's expectations that often pressure we introverts to significant...

In this episode, I explore the significance of emotional intelligence (EI) for we introverts who are either climbing the career ladder or seeking a more fulfilling life. We explore the origins of EI that was then popularised by Daniel Goleman.     It would be remiss of me to talk origins in this way without mentioning Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences.   Understanding this history...

Let's talk about the confidence-building strategies specifically crafted for we introverts. Drawing from personal experience, I recount receiving feedback that suggested a lack of confidence, a common misconception about we introverts often compared unfairly to extraverts.   I also explore what true confidence entails, aligning with Dr. Rob Yeung's definition: taking effective action despite fear....

What does genuine self-care for introverts look like?   Often misconstrued as superficial indulgences, true self-care requires a deeper understanding of our 'wants' versus our 'needs'. While 'wants' are akin to icing on a cake, nice for sure, but essential? Not really!   The real substance lies in addressing our core needs.   In this episode I to help you identify and prioritise the deep-seated as...

This I believe is the right time for this episode for we introverts with festive season at its peak.   I explore how we socialise on our own terms during the high-energy, high expectation festive season. As an introvert myself, I've often faced misconceptions that I'm antisocial, shy or arrogant.     Apparently, introverts avoid people. We do not. It is about managing our social and emotional ener...

The very first ally we need is ourselves. This could not be more true for we introverts as well.   In this episode, I explore the concept of self-allyship for we introverts and how it differs from advocacy.   Previously, I discussed advocating for system-level change to support introverts. However, self-allyship is about providing personal support and encouragement in a world that often favours ex...

Celebrating Episode 250 together, can you believe it?   Do I, an Open Introvert, have any strengths to offer in a world of loud, confident, and spontaneous extraverts, that anyone will take notice of or find valuable?   Having been there and asked that question of and for myself I take a deep dive into some of the unique strengths and inherent gifts that we introverts bring to both life and work....

Join me as I proudly share the empowering concept of being unapologetically introverted. Growing up in England, where apologising was almost second nature, I've come to embrace my introversion without apology and that is no small-shift.   This shift has significantly boosted my confidence and self-belief - more so now that I understand and take pride in being an Open Introvert.   Through a persona...

To be an Introvert Advocate, I feel it is important that I share my own journey of becoming one. Having faced systemic biases towards the extravert ideal from school to business and everywhere else, I have learned that effective advocacy begins with self.   By sharing my personal experiences of the extravert bias and the pressures to conform to extraverted norms, I hope to inspire we introverts to...

This week I explore an intriguing question posed by a client of mine: Can introverts truly influence others?    In this episode I dive into the nuanced distinctions between being an influencer and being influential, especially from the perspective of we introverts.   The perception by introverts themselves and others, is that we introverts lack influence due to our quiet, think-say-think processin...

*** Summary ***   Dear fellow introverts, this episode is a little nostalgia, little learning and a lot of emphasis on power of storytelling for we introverts.   In this episode, I take you back to the autumn of '87, sharing how a nervous pre-interview night with my cat Chumley kicked off a lifelong journey of storytelling. Yup, you read that right.   Let us explore why and how storytelling is an...

None of us is a stranger to conflicts. Conflicts between introverts and extraverts have a challenging world of their own though.   As someone who has always shied away from conflict, especially when it turns heated, I have come to appreciate that when approached with emotional maturity, these disagreements can actually lead to enhanced creativity and authenticity.   It is about understanding, disc...

*** Summary *** In this episode, I confront the stubborn myth the return-to-office is the only way for business and teams to thrive. It is time we accept that hybrid workplaces are here to stay and I urge leaders to be inclusive in exploring the new ways of working that prioritise employee well-being and, crucially, introvert inclusion.   The outdated leadership practices often perpetuate bias—esp...

Is presence, and being present one and the same thing?   In this episode I explore the curious concept of presence and being present from an introvert's perspective. I am choosing to explore this from the lens of negotiation.   Through introspection and reflection on personal significance, impact on personal brand, and internal conflicts, I take you towards a deeper understanding of the distinctio...

Summary   Negotiation, Negotiation, Negotiation - it is happening everywhere and at all stages of our lives. I explore negotiation skills specifically tailored for introverts and how we already negotiate in our day to day lives. More importantly, how and why being more intentional in our negotiation skills serves us well.   I debunk the myth that negotiation only happens in boardrooms and among pe...

  Summary   If you are an introvert, I can almost guarantee that you have experienced bias. This episode is all about the prevalent extroversion bias within organisations. Our societal preferences for traits like chattiness and outward displays of confidence can mean that we are sidelined and our contributions go unheard.   I bravely explore bias we introverts are subjected to in environments that...

Summary   Let us unpack the complexities of building dynamically inclusive teams by leveraging the natural strengths that introverts bring to the table.   In this episode we explore how inclusivity within teams can be achieved through mutual trust, psychological safety, and what Enola Consulting calls "compassionate efficiency." It's about creating a space where everyone feels valued and respected...

Summary   If only people could just listen, and notice how it helps people to heal.   Despite my decades-long campaign to improve our listening skills, people are more interested in learning how to present or use language to influence. In fact from early years, we're taught how to read & write, but not how to listen.   Central to this episode is the inherent ability of introverts to be comfortable...

Summary   Oh the daunting world of networking, how it bothers we introverts.   In this episode I share how we can look at networking from a fresh perspective, an encouraging one at that.   Acknowledging our discomfort with traditional networking methods, I share my own journey and how I've come to see it as an opportunity to build meaningful relationships rather than just a transactional exchange....

Summary   In this episode I take a closer look at the reality of companies championing inclusivity and actual gap in implementation on the ground. This gap can create a trust deficit which is neither good for the team nor the leadership.   And psychological safety takes the hit in this process - which is never a good thing!   My primary aim is explore how we can accomplish authentic inclusivity wi...

Summary   Welcome to the new and 21st season of The Flourishing Introvert Talks.   We are diving into the often-overlooked contributions of introverted leaders within our evolving work environments. In the post-lockdown world there's been a noticeable shift from initial acceptance to a push for Return-to-Office mandates. This regression is driven by perceived declines in productivity—something I s...

Summary   Fellow introverts and allies - and just like that we have arrived at the Season 20 Finale of our journey of self-discovery and empowerment together as Flourishing Introverts.   As we bring season to a close, I explore what it means for we introverts to truly flourish as individuals, and the fifty percent of humanity that we represent. Let us explore the challenge of being expected to con...

Summary We avoid the difficult, don't we?   It is not easy to invite, open up to and engage in difficult conversations and decision making.   I explore the challenges we face when handling the difficult. Drawing from personal experiences and client stories, I discuss how making decisions—whether they're about ending a relationship or changing careers—resembles a complex dance that requires both gr...

Summary   Being a Cage-Rattler on a mission to shake out the Extraversion-Bias, an essential part of my work involves helping we introverts find our path to success and joy in a world designed for extraverts. This episode dives into the concept of limitless opportunities and how we can shift our mindset to recognise them.   Building upon episode 232 (from last week) I explore the power of mindset...