How can I be more like my extroverted manager and speak up more?
How can I be more like my extroverted manager and speak up more?
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APPRENTICE star and West Ham United vice-chair Karren Brady answers your careers questions. Here, Karren gives advice to a reader who wants to learn how to be more resilient like her very confident manager. Q: My manager is a very confident, loud, in-your-face person. While I’m not an introvert, I’m definitely less outgoing and prefer to work in a more focused, calmer way than he does. He isn’t exactly rude to me, but I think I take some of the things he says to heart and become nervous around him.
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This has meant I now tend to say less in meetings – although, when he isn’t there, I’m happy to contribute my ideas. I think this might be a “me” problem, rather than something he needs to change, because it’s just his personality. How can I learn to be more resilient?. Sue, via email. A: It’s natural to reflect on your role in situations like these, but remember, growth is a shared responsibility.
Managers play a key role in fostering an environment where everyone feels supported. You should have an informal chat with your boss and explain that you admire his style (as who doesn’t like to receive a compliment?) and that, as a less-confident person, you would like to learn from him. Say that you are working on strengthening your resilience, and his support would be appreciated. He sounds like a person who would listen if you tell him exactly what you need from him.
To boost your confidence in meetings, focus on preparation: outline your key points ahead of time and practise how you want to present them. Think about how colleagues navigate challenges, communicate assertively and energise the team, then try to adopt similar strategies in ways that feel authentic to your own style. Remember, your manager’s extroverted behaviour is just one way of working – your quieter, more reflective approach brings valuable perspectives that are just as important to your team’s success.
