Picture, for a second, a man. He is not very outgoing. Pretty reserved, actually; he spends a lot of time alone. When in crowds his mind gets jumbled, and his heart starts beating just a little faster. The man knows of his true potential, but can’t even begin to think about carrying out the steps needed to get there.
If this sounds like you, chances are you’re an introvert.
But introverted people have personal brands just like the rest of the world, and denying that will most likely lead to a mediocre career path. The truth is, introverts have the potential to command just as big, if not bigger, personal brands than even the most extroverted people.
Here are some ways you can build your personal brand without giving up too much of your personal space:
1. Public speaking
Every introvert’s worst nightmare is, unfortunately, a very important part of building a personal brand — but much of the time your fear is simply a result of your mind playing tricks on you.
One of introverts’ biggest stigmas of public speaking is thinking the audience will judge them poorly during their speech, no matter how well-rehearsed it is. This can seriously affect how the speaking engagement goes. A method that works for many introverts is to repeat something such as, “The audience will not judge me poorly.” The more you repeat it, eventually you believe it (at least temporarily) and perform better than if you hadn’t.
People come to your speaking events because they want to learn more about you and what you’re talking about. There is also no problem in extending your Q&A session in order to take a little pressure off of yourself.
Use your network to score speaking opportunities on live podcasts or webinars. While they may not be as effective as non-digital public speaking, these opportunities allow introverts to grow their reach and credibility in a way that makes them most comfortable.
2. Digital presence
The Internet provides the benefits of interacting with people all without ever having to leave your room. Through social media, you can network with people around the world, all from the comfort of your own personal space.
You can also publish quality content and share it with your followers in order to maximize reach and establish further credibility as an influencer. Writing your fantastic ideas and thoughts for the whole world to read can do amazingly good things for your personal brand.
3. Traditional networking
Social media still doesn’t substitute for traditional networking. Meeting people in-person is the most ancient method of networking for a reason — it works.
But who’s to say you only have to meet people at trade shows and networking events? Instead, simply research people you’d like to speak with and create a list. Then, find out where they’ll be speaking or which events they’re attending and go there yourself.
Once you get there, you’ll already have a person in mind to speak with, so the thought overload of who to talk to first or where to start won’t be as overwhelming. It may take a couple times to get used to it, and it may not always go as planned, but having that short-term goal can help you forget your anxiety so you can make the most from your conversations.
