Episode 19: Influencing for introverts
In this episode James looks at how successful Insight teams learn to harness the power of their introverts.
In episode 17 we explored the ways in which Insight managers, researchers and analysts could develop trusted adviser relationships with senior decision-makers. But what if your Insight teams include a large number of introverts who feel very uncomfortable at the idea of reaching out to senior people and networking? Or, in today’s world, simply coming back into the office or switching their cameras on?
Several years ago, the IMA’s Julia Joskey looked at ways we could all harness the power of our introverts. More recently, at the November 2022 Insight forums, Lisa Dutton explored the broader but related topic of managing Insight people in a post-pandemic world.
In this episode we draw from both pieces of research - please listen to find out more!
Topics Discussed
- The mix of introverts and extroverts in Insight teams (1.58)
- Corporate life isn’t easy for introverts (3.28)
- How do we square these issue with the demands of influencing stakeholders? (5.30)
- Varying attitudes to in person and online events (8.27)
- The roles which effective leaders are playing in a post-pandemic world (10.51)
Highlights
- “Psychologists think that about one in three of the population are more introvert than extrovert, and informal surveys and discussions at the IMA’s Insight forums suggest that it’s probably a far higher proportion of Insight specialists.”
- “Corporate life isn’t always very comfortable for introverts. The problem is not us; the problem is that many of the working practices that have developed in our offices over the last few decades implicitly favour extroverts over introverts.”
- “A noticeable issue in recent months has been the varying degree to which leaders have grabbed the chance to come back to face-to-face forums or still prefer to sign up for online events; and another, the social awkwardness we sometimes see in more junior team members who have often joined their organisation during the lockdowns.”
This is episode 19 of the Transforming Insight podcast.
If you have the ambition to transform your Insight team and the role it plays in your organisation, please tune in to future episodes. Not only will we explore the 42 secrets of successful corporate Insight teams as outlined in the Transforming Insight book, we will also talk to senior corporate Insight leaders, delve into books that have inspired us, and discuss new best practice research carried out with the IMA’s corporate members.
You won’t want to miss this! So please hit subscribe - and thank you for listening.
About James Wycherley, the author of Transforming Insight
James Wycherley was Director of Customer Insight and Analytics at Barclays from 2005 to 2015 when he became Chief Executive of the Insight Management Academy (IMA). A popular keynote speaker and acknowledged expert on Insight leadership, strategy, and communication, he is the author of the book Transforming Insight: the 42 secrets of successful corporate Insight teams, and over 35 IMA publications. He has provided thought leadership in the UK, Western Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia, India, and the Middle East, and regularly hosts the IMA’s Insight forums - London, Manchester, UK Online and US Online.
The Insight Management Academy is the world’s leading authority on transforming Insight teams.
Resources:
If you would like more information on any of the ideas discussed in this episode of the Transforming Insight podcast, please visit www.insight-management.org
Copies of James Wycherley’s book Transforming Insight: the 42 secrets of successful corporate Insight teams can be purchased direct from www.transforming-insight.com
Disclaimer
The Transforming Insight podcast is published by the Insight Management Academy and produced by Zorbiant.
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