80. Introverted Leadership: Quiet Power with Erica Phillips, Executive Director, NAFCC

How can introverted leaders lean into their quiet power?

For this Women of Color Rise Podcast, I talk with Erica Phillips, Executive Director of the National Association for Family Child Care, a nationwide non-profit organization dedicated to promoting high-quality child care by strengthening the profession of home-based early learning programs. 

As a self-described introvert, Erica shares tips on how to lead as an introvert.

1) Practice self-care. Before a big presentation, Erica spends time by herself. She also meditates and takes walks.

2) Find ways to connect extroverted work to where you thrive as an introvert. For Erica, she loves conversations and building relationships. For extroverted work like presentations, Erica will connect with a few members of the audience beforehand and bring those conversations into her presentation. She’ll also structure her presentation like a conversation and bring in input from the audience.

3) Bring other voices to the table. Erica is an inclusive leader who deliberately includes others in her presentations to share their stories and perspectives.

4) Choose opportunities thoughtfully. Erica is happy to meet with audiences that may have different views, but she is thoughtful to ensure that there is some alignment in values. For example, Erica presented to the Reagan Institute where they were able to find alignment in their shared goal of supporting small businesses.

5) Know that silence may not be the answer. Audre Lorde said, “Your silent won’t protect you.” Erica realized that even though she might be uncomfortable speaking, she would be even more uncomfortable not speaking.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-80-introverted-leadership-quiet-power-with-erica-phillips-executive-director-nafcc