Episode Summary:

How does an introvert stand their ground during conflict, earn the trust of senior executives, and become the go-to person in a corporate environment?

In this episode, Anthony Kuo shares his transition from a promising but unsatisfying career in corporate America to becoming a career satisfaction coach. He shares candidly about the challenges faced by introverts in the workplace and how they can leverage their unique strengths to succeed without compromising their true nature.

Key Points:

1. How being in a minority group at school affects one’s identity and sense of belonging:
   
   
   • School can be hard when you’re not one of the majority.
   • When you realize that you’re different and not necessarily in a culturally acceptable way or a way that feels safe.
   • When your friends had a language to talk to each other and you weren’t a part of that, and didn’t know the cultural references they were making.
     
     
2. Challenges of being an Introvert in corporate America:
   
   
   • Being technically proficient at the job, but realizing the need to be able to tell stories and persuade others to see your point of view.
   • Being used to deferring to authority due to the hierarchical nature of Asian culture, and learning to speak up and assert yourself and stand your ground when questioned or challenged by more senior executives.
     
     
3. Leveraging Expertise and Building Trust:
   
   
   • Gaining trust and influence in the workplace through personal reputation, the ability to tell compelling stories with data, and the ability to hold space and demonstrate empathy for multiple points of view.
     
     
4. Career Satisfaction:
   
   
   • Career satisfaction is about using your personality at work and having your personality and all of its quirks and wonderful uniqueness be engaged, appreciated, and valued at work.
   • Career satisfaction is about figuring out what it takes for you to thrive.
   • 30% of the time, what employees are looking for is accessible exactly where they are - they just have to reach for it.
   • Quitting is not always the solution - career change is stressful and expensive.
   • Most of the time, career dissatisfaction is because a part of you is craving change, and another part of you really values something that is being provided through your current role. Identify what it is you value.
     
     
5. Advice for someone who is not satisfied with their career right now:
   
   
   • Listen to your dissatisfaction. Pay attention. Get curious.
   • Ask yourself: what is it that you are not getting, what is keeping you here, what is it exactly that you enjoy.

How to Connect with Anthony Kuo:

• Website: UntamedCareer.com
• Social Media: @UntamedCareer on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram
  
  

Next Steps:

• If you enjoyed this episode and found Anthony Kuo’s insights helpful, please take 30 seconds to scroll down to the “Write a review” section on your listening platform, rate it, and share one thing you learned.
  
  
• If you are an introverted professional or business owner who wants to get known, but something is holding you back from putting yourself out there, I am hosting a FREE online workshop on Thursday 5 September 7-8pm AEST (Melbourne) in collaboration with Wyndham Learning Festival:
  
  BOOST YOUR WORK VISIBILITY: 3 ESSENTIAL TIPS FOR INTROVERTS AND QUIET ACHIEVERS

Register at the link below, and a Zoom invite will be emailed to you before the workshop.

https://www.wynlearnfestival.org.au/event/grow-your-visability-a

This episode was edited by Aura House Productions