This perception would further suggest that introverts lack the confidence and social skills that great leaders, pioneers, and change-makers possess.

You may be surprised to learn that 40% of leaders and executives identify themselves as introverts.

Their success proves that leadership and networking are not monopolized by those with an outgoing, and highly-confident temperament.

Here are six qualities that introverts leverage to harness effective leadership and networking skills.

1. Introverted leaders listen first and talk later

Introverts tend to shy away from small talk because it drains their energy. Typically, they prefer to stay on the sidelines and listen first before they weigh in with their own viewpoint.

This trait allows introverts to be especially effective leaders since successful collaboration requires effective communication.

2. Introverts have special internal powers

Introverts are known to have special internal powers—like thoughtfulness, creativity and vivid imagination. They can more easily form ideas, insights, and solutions.

An introvert who sits back in a meeting may be seen as not contributing—that is until he or she works out the solution that all the other meeting participants missed.

3. Introverts don’t have to fake sincerity

Because of their lower social energy, small talk can be cumbersome for introverts, which can make networking more challenging.

Introverts use their natural sincerity to lessen their anxiety and better engage others in conversation, often making meaningful connections.

4. Introverted leaders know the value of recharging

Introverts know that engaging in too many group activities and events drains them. Introverts are good at setting aside time to get back into their contemplative zone and re-energize.

They use this time to come up with new strategies and ideas and surprise their colleagues and bosses with their surge in enthusiasm and passion at work.

5. Introverts make great networkers

At their most tedious, networking events can devolve into a room full of people frantically trying to sell themselves and listening to no one. Because introverts are comfortable with silence, they are often better able to practice attentive listening.

Don’t let your fear of being an introvert hold you back from network events. Take advantage of my Free 15 Minute Coaching call and let me help you on your way.

The post 5 Reasons Why Introverts Make Great Leaders appeared first on WeBC.

Fear of success can be easy to miss because it looks a lot like procrastination and insecurity. Some of the things you may have plaguing your mind are:

What if I don’t actually want the spotlight on me?

You might observe and admire the success of others, but you are not comfortable with the spotlight being on you. Maybe you are worried that if you suddenly find yourself in the spotlight, it will end up disappearing.

What if attracting a larger following brings out all the critics and mean people?

The more successful and bigger you get the more people who are not part of your tribe may start to throw stones at you. Not rational but it feels real.

What if, when the time comes, I won’t deliver?

This fear is not about a lack of actual skill, it’s about feeling you will fall short of the mark. You imagine the worst-case scenario and decide it’s much safer not to put yourself out there.

Impostor Syndrome can sneak in.

Despite your indisputable track record of accomplishments, you’re afraid that you’re going to be exposed as a fraud. You think everything was just luck, or you barely managed to pull it off, and you’re afraid that you won’t do it this time and everyone will know.

I am afraid that success will turn me into something I don’t want to be.

Sometimes, fear of success comes from having certain ideas about successful people. You don’t want people to think you are nasty or snobby so you stay being a nice person even if it means forfeiting success.

If I can impart any advice it would be to work harder to be positive and confident, negative thoughts are for fear and self-doubt.

Continually remind yourself that you are part of something larger than yourself. Take time to find and maintain your authenticity. Never stop learning. Live in balance and anticipate and embrace your success. You have earned it.

Don’t let your fear of success stand in your way of achieving all of your goals and dreams. If you need some help Contact Jennifer Grant International for a courtesy consult.

The post Do You Have a Fear of Success? appeared first on WeBC.

Have you ever been so discouraged or humiliated by someone or something that you have never gotten over it even if what caused you to feel this way might be many years in the past?
If so, I would like to focus on some strategies that can help you to overcome adversity.
Adversity has many faces; it can be that your personal life is in chaos, you missed a big client contract, your start-up business is on the brink of failure and you don’t know where to turn for support. The time to prepare for adversity is not when it is staring you in the face but actually when things are going well for you.

Be Determined:

You have handled tough situations before and you made it to the other side. If you are determined, you will get through your current set back. Think about how you will overcome your current challenge, enlist others who support you, rehearse and visualize a positive outcome.

Be Responsible:

When people face adversity, they often retreat from the situation and hope that it will resolve itself. It won’t! You need to take responsibility to determine what actions, behaviour and conduct you may have displayed that contributed to the situation.

Use Your Experience and Abilities:

Failure happens to everyone and it is not a judgement of you as a person or your abilities. If you have received negative feedback, reflect on what you could have done different or better and plan to do it next time.

Your Strengths Are Your Greatest Power:

Continual growth, competency and proficiency are all important things to strive for but it is your innate strengths that will help you to survive when you are struggling to overcome an obstacle or a setback.

Stand Up and Start Over:

If you have reached the pinnacle of despair, this may be a time to reassess what you need to do to set a new course. I know you can do this!
If you need any guidance or assistance to overcome any adversity in your career, business or personal life, we are here to help. Contact Jennifer Grant International for a courtesy consult.

The post How Adversity Can Make You a Stronger Leader and a Better Person appeared first on WeBC.

Saying that we are busy just rolls off our tongues these days. People holding full-time jobs work on average 44 hours per week and in some professions, it can be 60 hours or more. If you are an entrepreneur, you are probably working round the clock. But being a broken record about how busy you are can have adverse consequences, or so I learned the hard way.

For example, when you tell people about the millions of things you have going on, you might be sending the message “Look at all my obligations and responsibilities. I am productive, industrious, accomplished and successful.” By sharing with others that you’re so busy, you inevitably place the focus on yourself. Doing so might be perceived as ignoring the needs of others.

When it comes right down to it, everyone is busy. Your full calendar doesn’t make you extra special. So, don’t go around saying “I’m busier than you” or comparing your schedule to others. If you’re trying to stand out as an entrepreneur and in your business career, you’re not going to separate yourself from your competitors by telling everyone how busy you are. Instead of being a badge of honour, your busyness may send the signal to your potential customers and colleagues that you aren’t working smart.

At the end of the day, workaholics aren’t heroes. They don’t save the day, they just use it up. The real hero is home because he or she figured out a faster and better way. The next time someone asks how you are, try responding with “I am great and I’m always interested in new opportunities”. Such a response could spark a deeper conversation that could lead to more and better prospects

The post I’m So Busy …. appeared first on WeBC.

Using social media to your advantage

When you feel like your blog writing is in a slump, you can turn to social media to boost your self-confidence by talking to a trusted colleague, mentor or friend. Sometimes one ‘like’ from a real friend can make you feel better than 100 likes from total strangers.

Don’t Compare yourself to others

The most important thing you can do for your self-esteem on social media is to stop comparing yourself to others. When you stop focusing on how everyone else is doing, you have more time and energy to show your authenticity and true talent.

Know your strengths

Knowing what your strengths are will help you to make better decisions and write better blog posts. Don’t forget to ask for advice from any of your hero bloggers, they are usually happy to help.

Writing regularly helps you to find your personal voice

Writing and posting your thoughts online is a great way to become more comfortable with your voice and share your opinions. Don’t fret about little mistakes.

You can witness your personal growth

Scrolling though your old blog posts is also a great way to see how much you’ve grown as a person and a blogger. Your opinions and interests change over time and blogging allows you to witness how far you’ve come and where you were when you started.

Readership creates a feeling of acceptance and care

Everyone’s readership and engagement starts at zero, but the longer you stick to your blogging routine, the more engagement you will build.

The most important person to blog for is you

You can beat any feelings of negativity by looking back and remembering how much effort and hard work you’ve put into building your brand. So, no matter what happens with your business, rest assured that you’re at least doing something good by blogging even if it is just for you.
If you need help to find your blogging voice, contact Jennifer Grant International, who would love to work with you.

The post Blogging Can Improve Your Self-Esteem appeared first on WeBC.

A professional bio should include who you are as a person, your education, your history, your accomplishments and the way that you relate to your industry. Once written, your bio can open new doors and follow you to many networking opportunities.

Most importantly your bio can give potential clients and industry professionals a chance to learn who you are and what unique capabilities and talents you possess. And last but not least, a well-written bio should frame your professional image and personal brand to portray and market all of the great things you have to offer.

Here are 6 tips to think about when you prepare to write your bio.

• Your bio should be written in the 3rd person, using a friendly but confident tone. It shouldn’t take more than 30 seconds for the reader to figure out who you are and what you do. Select your words carefully and use strong verbs.
•  Identify the purpose of your bio and plan to make it relevant, concise, compelling and credible.
•  Your opening sentence is crucial to spark immediate interest and curiosity for the reader to continue.
• Make sure your personality shows through by speaking about what inspires you to do the work that you do. You can also include other interests or causes that you champion.
•  Make sure you provide a link to your company website or FB page, you want people to find you.
• Close your bio by describing what unique value you bring to your industry by stating what sets you apart from your competitors. Don’t hold back.

If you need help writing your bio, please contact us at Jennifer Grant International. We write the perfect professional bio.

The post How to Write an Impressive Bio appeared first on WeBC.

CEOs and Top Leaders

• 82% of people are more likely to trust a company when its senior executives are active on social media.
• 77% of consumers are more likely to buy when the CEO of the business uses social media.

Reputation

• 53% percent of vendors have lost orders based on information found or not found about them online.
• Business executives believe the damage to your reputation is the # 1 risk and 87% of them rate this risk as more important or as important as any other strategic issue. Very compelling!

Recruiting

• Companies that invested in personal branding initiatives for their employees found employees were 27% more hopeful about their company, 20% more likely to stay, and 40% more likely to believe in the competitiveness of their employer.
• 90% of recruiters said they conducted online research on potential candidates.

You Are Your Brand

Developing your personal brand requires you to find your authentic voice. When you find your voice and hit your stride, your audiences will start to react positively, which in turn will build your self-confidence and self-esteem. This will ultimately help you convert more leads into sales, retain and attract quality talent, improve your reputation so more people want to do business with you, charge a premium for your services, and stand out in a very competitive marketplace. If you need someone to create or enhance your personal brand, Jennifer Grant International can definitely help you to do so.

The post Personal Branding For Female Entrepreneurs- Part 2 appeared first on WeBC.

The first question to ask yourself is “What is it that differentiates you from everyone else?” Once you have that figured out, the rest is easy. (Well, maybe not easy but you will be on your way).

If you are skeptical about the benefits of personal branding, I have spent several weeks researching and testing this concept for my own business. I am sharing some of the stats I gathered that help prove the power behind personal branding.

Personal vs Corporate Messages

• Only 33% of consumers trust messages from a company while almost 90% of customers trust recommendations from someone they know. You want that someone to be you!
• 77% of all discussions on social media are people seeking advice, information or help. It is much easier to answer and interact as an individual as opposed to a company.
• 92% of people trust recommendations from individuals (even if they don’t know them) over companies.

Employee Power

• You will get 561% more reach when your employees share brand messages.
• Messages by employees are reshared 24 times more frequently than when shared by companies.
• Companies with engaged employees outperform their unengaged peers by 202%.
• Employees have on average 10 times more social connections than a brand does.
• Brand messages are re-shared 24 times more frequently when distributed by employees vs the brand.
• There’s no better way to personalize your brand than to showcase it through your employees. Every employee has a network of people who are genuinely interested in what they have to say.

Read more about personal branding in my next blog.

The post Personal Branding For Female Entrepreneurs: Part 1 appeared first on WeBC.