Trust

Leadership Intentions Misread

How It Impacts Trust

(dropping) Pebbles in the Pond

Season 2, Episode 009

Ever felt like you are doing what it takes to be a good leader:

showing up
listening attentively
deciding thoughtfully,
inclusively..

only to discover your quiet presence is being perceived as

distant
disengaged
or worse, clueless?

Fellow Introvert Leaders, we know we operate differently, so are we better to name what makes us tick and what we are perceiving in order to minimise misconceptions?

Highlights from the LIVE broadcast

Click the buttons below to watch the full episode.

In this episode I am joined by Julie Goddard, a leadership psychologist, who focuses on building highly effective teams in High-Stakes Environments – so she’s the go-to in these high pressure times. She’s not here for gimmicks or personality pigeonholes (sorry MBTI fans) but she is here to talk about what really builds trust:

Humility
Clarity, and
Courage to lead with integrity

… even when it’s uncomfortable.

We unpack:

Why your good intentions don’t always land how you think?
How pressure scrambles perception; yours and theirs?
Why confidence is not a prerequisite for leadership (hint hint: it’s a side effect of action)

Most importantly for me, why, if you are an introvert, your quiet is not the problem but your unspoken assumptions just might be.

Don’t forget to check out the generous gift by Julie Goddard – ‘Guide to Building Trust – Your Way’ – see below.

If you are a quietly determined leader who wants to build trust without selling your soul, this conversation might just be your gamechanger. I invite you to join us in this conversation to lead with clarity and action, then confidence.

Join us on 5 June 2025, at 7 PM London time for a courageously candid conversation. Don’t forget to click ‘Notify Me’ (YouTube) or ‘Attend’ (LinkedIn) so you are alerted when we are LIVE.

Click the buttons below to watch the full episode.

guide to building trust – your way

Disclaimer: When you click on a resource or offer generously gifted by my guest, you’ll be taken directly to their website. Any information you choose to share via this link such as your name or email, will be between you and them. I’m not involved in that exchange and have no control over how your data is handled. Please engage mindfully and only share what you’re comfortable with.

Contact Julie here

Episode Preview

Testimonial

CREDITS
Brought to you by – House of Flourishing Introverts
Produced by – Intntnlty
Direction & Production – Dreamaniac TV
Executive Director – Szebastian Onne G. S.
Supported by – Intent to Flourish | The Linked Voices

Copyright: Flourishing Introverts

RESOURCES

Visit – Resources page – for tools and resources mentioned during the Interview

Click the buttons below to watch the full episode.

guide to building trust – your way

Disclaimer: When you click on a resource or offer generously gifted by my guest, you’ll be taken directly to their website. Any information you choose to share via this link such as your name or email, will be between you and them. I’m not involved in that exchange and have no control over how your data is handled. Please engage mindfully and only share what you’re comfortable with.

Contact Julie here

Day 09 – December 09, 2024

Day 09

...Honesty is the anchor

Welcome to Day NINE of our A-Z+ of Seasonal Sanity Savers – 2024.

Today, we meet the letter ‘H’, and I have chosen ‘Honesty’ as the Sanity Saver word for today. To me, it begins with being honest to ourselves – festive season or not?

Honesty is the anchor at this time of year for we introverts, as we sail on the good ship ‘Noisy Exuberance’ surrounded by festive jingles and non-stop activity. I could pretty much share an ‘adherence list’ to try out –

1. Start by being honest with yourself about your capacity, needs, and your priorities.
2. Be honest about agreeing to attend events you only really want to be part of.
3. Be honest about politely declining the ones that feel overwhelming.
4. Choose to assess your energy needs before making social commitments.
5. Be honest with the host about how long you can stay, without being apologetic.

What I am saying is that you give yourself permission to honour what feels right for you. Setting realistic expectations for yourself can prevent burnout and help you navigate the season with more ease.

Honesty with others is just as important. Communicate your needs clearly and kindly, whether it’s letting someone know you’ll arrive a bit later, or that you can only stay for an hour. When you express yourself authentically, you allow others to adjust their expectations and respect your boundaries. Simple but honest communication without over explanation.

Here’s one to avoid though – the so-called brutal honesty. This can slip past our politeness filter when we’re overwhelmed or worse. So, even more reason to look after your needs.

–
So, tomorrow’s letter is ‘I’ – go deep within and guess what the I will be? Well, I guess I gave that away didn’t I?

– —

Quietly, and honestly yours,
-Joanna

Joanna Rawbone
9 December 2024
1 minute

Festive Season Flourishing Introverts Grounded Honesty Integrity Seasonal Sanity Savers 2024 Trust Truth

Day 08 – December 08, 2024

Day 08

...using the power of being grounded

Welcome to Day EIGHT of our A-Z+ of Seasonal Sanity Savers – 2024.

My aim is to achieve a certain degree of balance in this festive season, so today’s letter ‘G’ is about being Grounded. To me it is about using the power of feeling centered and balanced during the whole season, as things only get louder around us.

While for extraverts the wild, noisy merriment is their energy maker, for me finding a way to stay grounded is the festive superpower for my sanity and joy.

It begins with finding a routine practice that helps you find your centre, irrespective of all the distracting noise around. Taking a few moments every day to do breathing exercises – slow, deep and calming breaths which . To find the calm and to be present in the quiet moments and space amid all the chaos around.

Trust me, it could be something as simple as making a warm cup of tea in a quiet corner or watching the twinkling lights from your window, at a safe distance from the noise and hecticness. Little, conscious choices to make the season less chaotic and more manageable.

This allows you to tune into your emotional being, regulating your feelings to work for you and protecting you from feeling overwhelmed. A little proactive self-care action, a much needed one indeed.

As Danna Faulds suggests

“Here. Right here, right now, bring your mind to this place and time.
Invite it, even if it resists, to sit and witness what it is to be alive.
Let there be no ulterior motive in this moment but to be.
Rest on the waves of breath and choose to experience all of it.
Let thoughts float through and leave again, as the mind slowly settles like snow inside a shaken paperweight.
This is all there is.
Here. Right here and now.”

For me, staying grounded is about minimising the chaos I expose myself to, and the anxiety that comes with it by intentionally balancing it with a calm, centered state of being. That’s the way to navigate the festive season authentically as you, while choosing the moments of reconnection with self.

—
Tomorrow we dive into the letter ‘H’. What would you choose ‘H’ to be about?
—

If you are just joining us or missed any of the Season Sanity Savers 2024, fret not – you can get them all right here.

Quietly, and calmly yours,
-Joanna

Joanna Rawbone
8 December 2024
2 minutes

Balanced Centered Festive Season Flourishing Introverts Grounded Seasonal Sanity Savers 2024 Trust

Day 06 – December 06, 2024

Day 06

... the secret weapon for we introverts,

Welcome to Day SIX of our A-Z+ of Seasonal Sanity Savers – 2024.

Today’s letter is ‘E’ – for me this year it is about Empowerment. And it isn’t just a buzz word in my scheme of things.

Empowerment is the secret weapon for we introverts, especially during the festive season. And to be clear, when I’m talking about empowerment, it’s about being able to take intentional steps that enable us to increase our confidence, and take control of our life.

We begin with knowing who we are deep within and treating ourselves with kindness. The better we understand ourselves, the stronger we introverts are able to show up authentically.

So allow yourself a purposeful moment to pause. Reflect on what replenishes your energy and what causes your social batteries drain rapidly. Is it saying yes to gentler, quieter, smaller gatherings that helps you show up with confidence? Or is it respectfully but clearly declining an invite because the setup maybe too large, noisy and overwhelming for you?

Your needs and social capacity are essential when it comes to you feeling empowered, and having that self-awareness is a gift that helps you to decide what is best for you. After all, wouldn’t the host want that you show up as you, and everyone enjoys the evening? And sometimes that means choosing which setting is the right one for you.

Mind you though, being empowered to take control of your life also means balancing our quiet confidence with humility. It’s not about being loud or rude but about communicating from a place of confidence while being polite, clear and sincere.

So what intentional steps will you take so you feel more confidently in control?

– – –
Tomorrow’s letter is F! Can you guess what word we’ll explore? If you could pick a tool beginning with F for your sanity kit, what would it be? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
– – –
Missed the first few days? My lovely team got it sorted for you. Grab all the previous day’s Sanity Savers right here

Quietly, and confidently yours,
-Joanna

Joanna Rawbone
6 December 2024
2 minutes

Empowering Empowerment Festive Season Flourishing Introverts Letter E Seasonal Sanity Savers 2024 Self-Awareness Trust

Day 05 – December 05, 2024

Day 05

...Delegation is not offloading work.

Welcome to Day FIVE of our A-Z+ of Seasonal Sanity Savers – 2024.

Let us welcome today’s letter – ‘D’ and for me this year, it is about Delegation. If you have been following us from the beginning of December 1, you’ll see how it makes total sense too.

The festive season brings both joy and a deluge of tasks, often leaving professionals and individuals feeling stretched too thin. For we introverts, whether we are leading a team, or working with one – or might even be managing the holiday chaos at home, delegation is the superpower we need to keep things running smoothly. Well as smooth as they can go, right?

My suggestion is to start by assessing our team’s strengths and aligning tasks accordingly. If someone excels in data, let them handle the reporting. If someone else thrives in creativity, let them be the king or queen of presentation.

I’d say the key is to communicate our expectations clearly and agree achievable deadlines.

Many often misunderstand delegation as offloading work. That is not at all what it is. Delegation is empowering, encouraging others to take ownership by letting them know we trust their capabilities. At the same time, it allows we introverts to focus on the bigger picture.

It is about creating a collaborative, inclusive, encouraging environment aimed at results while reducing the end-of-year stress. Now who’d say no to that, huh?

At home, delegation is just as beautiful a tool to balance our own needs and yet indulge in co-operative planning of the festivities. Wouldn’t you agree?

Remember my fellow introvert, sharing the workload and asking people to pull their weight isn’t a sign of weakness, but one of wisdom and trust. Let’s defeat the overwhelm and restore some sanity filled celebration on our flourishing terms, shall we?
—
Tomorrow’s letter is E. I am ecstatic to know what do you think E will be about, and a hint – it is NOT Ecstatic, though it is okay to feel ecstatic about looking after your sanity. 🙂
—

If you are just joining us or missed any of the Season Sanity Savers 2024, fret not – you can get them all right here.

Quietly, and collaboratively yours,
-Joanna

Joanna Rawbone
5 December 2024
2 minutes

Colalboration Delegation Empowering Festive Season Flourishing Introverts Letter D Seasonal Sanity Savers 2024 Trust