I was told recently that my frustration with finding a business training program for my coaching practice that addressed my Introverted nature was a limiting belief. I was limiting myself subconsciously by thinking an Introvert can't do any business program out there. And yet instructors will admit that in learning business you need to find one that is focused toward the coaching industry and not a brick and mortar business because there are differences. So why wouldn't there be different training for someone who processes energy differently? "To some extent, we've always had an admiration for extroversion in our culture. But the extrovert ideal really came to play at the turn of the 20th century when we had the rise of big business." ~Susan Cain (author of Quiet)
Now I will freely admit that I have blocks about the business aspect of coaching. It is not my passion, the coaching is, working with people, being an ear for others. Reflecting back to them what they are sending out. However, my dislike of networking and promoting myself isn't a belief that I can't do it! I can, I have, it's uncomfortable and draining. This is because I am an introvert and I don't thrive on those kinds of things. And the list goes on...This is a huge problem that needs to be addressed as there are a lot of introverted coaches out there. Listening is one of our superpowers! Coaching is something that a lot of introverts are drawn to because of how we process energy and the stimulus around us. "I prefer listening to talking, reading to socializing, and cozy chats to group settings." ~Susan Cain
So why am I being told it is a limiting belief? My guess is because THAT coach is an extrovert who doesn't understand, they have fully bought into what Susan Cain calls the extrovert ideal. There are ways to be more outgoing if you are an introvert. There are ways to do business if you are an introvert. There are ways to learn things you aren't particularly interested in if you are an introvert...Charisma and flashy presentation are not the only ways. "Most people who have grown up introverted in this very extroverted culture of ours have had painful experiences of feeling like they are out of step with what's expected of them." ~Susan Cain So I will continue to search for the program right for me. One that I can maintain, one that speaks to me.
Now I will freely admit that I have blocks about the business aspect of coaching. It is not my passion, the coaching is, working with people, being an ear for others. Reflecting back to them what they are sending out. However, my dislike of networking and promoting myself isn't a belief that I can't do it! I can, I have, it's uncomfortable and draining. This is because I am an introvert and I don't thrive on those kinds of things. And the list goes on...This is a huge problem that needs to be addressed as there are a lot of introverted coaches out there. Listening is one of our superpowers! Coaching is something that a lot of introverts are drawn to because of how we process energy and the stimulus around us. "I prefer listening to talking, reading to socializing, and cozy chats to group settings." ~Susan Cain
So why am I being told it is a limiting belief? My guess is because THAT coach is an extrovert who doesn't understand, they have fully bought into what Susan Cain calls the extrovert ideal. There are ways to be more outgoing if you are an introvert. There are ways to do business if you are an introvert. There are ways to learn things you aren't particularly interested in if you are an introvert...Charisma and flashy presentation are not the only ways. "Most people who have grown up introverted in this very extroverted culture of ours have had painful experiences of feeling like they are out of step with what's expected of them." ~Susan Cain So I will continue to search for the program right for me. One that I can maintain, one that speaks to me.
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