Quietly Visible: Self Promotion Tips for Introverted Leaders

Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram… everywhere you look, people are doing it. Making a lot of noise and shouting out about how brilliant they are at what they do. But for the introverted leader, this tends to be something that doesn’t come naturally and that also feels very uncomfortable.

In a noisy, competitive environment, where it’s often, she who shouts loudest wins, as an introverted leader, promoting yourself and being visible, can often be a challenging thing to do.

Self promote, self promote, self promote, you need to be doing this is constantly rammed in our faces. Often, we are being told to promote ourselves in ways that gear more towards extroverted personalities.

Wanting to get ahead in their field but as the noise becomes noisier and the shouting becomes louder, it can make the introverted leader want to retreat even more. Social media, networking, large meetings and anywhere else where people are shouting about how fabulous they are, can become a big turn off for the introverted leader.

As an introverted leader, you don’t have to make a lot of noise and shout about how fabulous you are in order to be visible and stand out. You can be quietly visible and stand out in a way that plays to your strengths and that feels more natural to you.

Let your passion shine through

When you’re passionate about what you do, it is hard to hide it from others. Just talking about something we are passionate about, causes our faces to light up. When you talk about what you are passionate about, it gives off an air of self-assuredness and people are inspired by what you have to say.

To have passion for what you do, your work needs to be important to you, aligning with your core values and be intrinsically motivating. If you are currently in a job that you hate and therefore not passionate about it, putting aside the actual job, think about your strengths, your skills and the nature of the work you enjoy doing.

People are attracted to passionate people and by letting your passion for what you do shine through, people are more likely to take note and listen.

Focus on the results, the difference made and the part you played

Whether it is at a networking event, a promotional interview, or going for a new job, talk about the results you have achieved, emphasising the difference made and the part that you played.

Whilst it is important to acknowledge the part the team played in getting the results, introverts often make it ALL about the we, downplaying their role. Drop putting too much focus on the ‘we’ and demonstrate the value that you as an individual added. Too much focus on the ‘we’ can come across like the part you played was insignificant.

Demonstrate thought leadership

Whether it is writing articles, blogging, making advice videos, doing talks, or answering questions in groups and forums, showcase your credibility and knowledge about your subject area, through a medium that is most suited to you.

Write or talk about what you know. Offer advice, offer solutions, demonstrate thought leadership. Become known as an authority for what it is that you do within your circle of influence. You don’t need to call yourself a thought leader, that will be what people will see you as.

Doing this allows you to promote your expertise without making it feel like it’s ‘me, me, me’.

Make sure those who need to know, know

Who is it that you want to influence with your work? Identify who this is and how you can make them aware of who you are and what makes you so good at what you do. Whether this is by talking to them directly, or including them in emails where appropriate, or even through stakeholders or other people who are influential to them.

Make sure that they are aware of your successes and achievements, again focusing on the results and the difference that this has made, not making it self centred but about the value that you added.

Change the way you think about self promotion

The word self promotion can conjure up feelings of being self centred and can feel like it is bragging and boasting. That in itself can cause you to run away from doing it.   

What is it that you want to gain through self promotion? Is it a promotion? Is it a new job? Is it recognition for all your hard work? Whatever it is that you want to gain through self promotion, focus on that and how letting those who need to know, know about your achievements is the vehicle to you achieving that objective.

Rather than allowing it to make you feel uncomfortable because it doesn’t feel natural, changing your thoughts and beliefs about it will help to change how you feel about it.

Be yourself

Just because other people may be making a lot of noise and shouting out ‘look at me and how fabulous I am’, it doesn’t mean that you have to try and be the same. If you do try and be like that, not only will it feel uncomfortable, it will also come across as inauthentic.

Be yourself, play to your natural strengths and whatever situation you find yourself in where you need to promote yourself, do it in a way that is authentic to you.

If you want to get ahead in your field, if you want to get the recognition you deserve, if people don’t know you or what it is that you are achieving, you will have to make yourself visible to them. Self promotion doesn’t have to feel uncomfortable, or as if you are bragging and boasting, if it is done in a way that works for you.

Love it or hate it, what are your views on self promotion? I would love to know so please share your comments below.

#introvertandproud

ABOUT ME:

I am The Coach for High Achieving Introverted Women, an Executive, Career, Business Coach, Writer, Speaker, UK top 50 Business Adviser and the founder of Abounding Solutions . With over 25 years coaching and leadership experience, I help women (with a particular emphasis on introverted women) to be authentic, bold, confident leaders and excel in their careers and businesses.

I also help organisations develop the talent pipeline of female employees so that more women make it to senior management roles.

I write here on LinkedIn, on my website and on Huffington Post on subjects to help women achieve optimal potential in their careers and businesses.

Are you a high achieving introverted senior woman? If so, join my new LinkedIn community for high achieving introverted senior women, who are members of senior management teams or executive teams. It is a place to discuss issues relating to your career and how to thrive in environments that don't view introversion as a strength. Come and join the conversation here.

All high achieving women who want to be authentic, bold, confident leaders and excel in their careers and businesses are welcome to join my other, more general community of High Achieving Women here