When envisioning influential leaders, traits like outspokenness, charisma, and extroversion often come to mind, favoring those who naturally seek the spotlight. Yet, introverted girls and young women possess unique leadership qualities, including exceptional listening skills, a reflective approach, and the capacity for making thoughtful decisions. This article shared by Beauty Without Borders aims to guide introverted females toward achieving leadership roles in their fields, offering strategies tailored to harness their inherent strengths for professional success.
Take Note of Other Powerful, Successful Women
Famous and established young, introverted female leaders, such as Oprah Winfrey, Amy Schumer, Rosa Parks, and Meryl Streep, serve as a source of inspiration for introverted women everywhere. Their stories and achievements demonstrate that introversion, often seen as a barrier to success, can actually be a powerful asset. These women have harnessed their inner strength, creativity, and reflective nature to make significant impacts in their respective fields, proving that leadership and influence are not solely the domain of the extroverted. Their success encourages introverted women to embrace their unique qualities and realize their potential in a world that often celebrates extroversion.
Find Grants to Power Your Business
For women entrepreneurs seeking financial support for their businesses, numerous grants offer a valuable resource. These grants, provided by a mix of governmental agencies, nonprofits, and private entities, are designed to alleviate the unique challenges and financial hurdles women face in the business realm. Notably, these grants do not require repayment, offering a distinct advantage over traditional loans. By tapping into these opportunities, women-owned businesses can secure crucial funding to help start, sustain, or grow their ventures, contributing significantly to reducing gender inequality in the business sector.
Hold One-on-One Meetings
A common challenge introverts face in a leadership position is to clearly communicate their ideas to team members. This is because while group meetings are great for connecting with various stakeholders at once, they can be mentally draining for introverts who prefer to communicate one-on-one, have flushed-out conversations, and exchange ideas.
Hence, whether you’re currently an employee or in a managerial position, start scheduling one-on-ones with team members. Personal conversations are not only great for problem-solving, but they help to learn, build relationships, and develop trust, according to Airgram. Additionally, those you are speaking with may also feel comfortable airing their ideas and solutions, which they would not be able to express in a group setting.
Lastly, consider taking your one-on-one meetings outside. This way, you can walk and talk in fresh air, which could lead to increased creativity, lower anxiety, and an overall mood boost. If your office is situated in an area with a high walk score, there’s a strong chance you have a park or similar destination you can head to for your meeting.
Step Out of Your Comfort Zone
Becoming a leader means taking on more pressure and responsibilities than others. This requires stepping out of your comfort zone and taking risks, which can involve suggesting unconventional business strategies, experimenting with new technologies, and more.
Additionally, becoming a leader will entail being in a group setting, especially during C-Suite meetings, and making connections with suppliers and other business complements. While these can be done in a one-on-one setting as well, you’ll be expected to be able to hold your own when facing tough questions from stakeholders or board members during meetings. Hence, it’s best to start early and volunteer to lead meetings where you’re the subject expert and develop competency in public speaking and presentation.
Develop Sound Project Management Skills
Project management is a key skill all leaders need to learn to be successful, and the best way to do so is through practice. As the project owner, not only will you be provided with responsibilities, but you will need to learn how to delegate tasks to employees as well.
If project management is not your strong suit, don’t fret, as following these steps to start a project kickoff will set you on the right track:
- First and foremost, set up a meeting with the project sponsor to thoroughly understand their requirements, expectations, and timeline for the project.
- To ensure you use the meeting time wisely, consider focusing the meeting around these three questions – What is the problem that the project should address? What would a successful outcome look like? Who in your team can I work with on a day-to-day basis to develop this project?
Additionally, request the project sponsor to assign a champion i.e. the team member who will lead the project and work with you on a day-to-day basis to ensure timelines are met, according to Poppulo. When it comes to keeping track of personal responsibilities and timelines, using a project management tool is the go-to option.
Introverted girls and young women may not align with the conventional image of leadership, yet they hold unique strengths that render them equally effective as their extroverted peers. Their leadership can shine through in personalized interactions, such as one-on-one meetings, where they excel in articulating their visions. By embracing challenges and stepping beyond their comfort zones, they demonstrate a willingness to take calculated risks. Additionally, their thoughtful approach to project management and skillful delegation underscore their capacity to lead efficiently, showcasing that introversion can be a powerful asset in leadership.
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Guest Writer:
Amber Ramsey