“Is personal branding only for extroverts?” “I’m kind of introverted; can I grow my personal brand?” We often get asked these questions in one way or another by prospective or new clients. The answers are both simple and complex.
First, of course introverts can build personal brands. With the correct approach, personal branding is for everyone. Building your brand might take you out of your comfort zone, but when you approach it carefully, it’s an opportunity to show the real you—your passions, your professional expertise, your outside interests. It’s not only extroverts who have something to give to the world.
You can build a network based on who you are even if you’re an introvert. Being honest about what is hard for you can help you build a following and promote trust both on and off social media.
The best part? Putting yourself out there is also likely to help you make more connections, introvert or not.
Which begs the question: How do you know whether you’re an introvert or not? Is it black and white? In my experience working with hundreds of clients over the years in both sales and personal branding, it isn’t.
Introvert Or Extrovert? It’s Never That Simple
Overall, personality types are far more complex than just being introverted or extroverted. I specialize in emotional intelligence, and I’ve noticed that many people I work with are introverted in some ways and extroverted in others. It’s far more complex than Carl Jung’s claim that introverts get their energy from alone time as opposed to socializing.
Introversion to extroversion can be thought of as a spectrum. Identifying where you are on that spectrum could be helpful for your personal development, especially as introversion is often seen as a negative in business. According to best-selling author and TED speaker Susan Cain, introverts are often seen as not being leadership material, and they’ve often been passed over for leadership roles.
Building a personal brand as an open introvert could help change these backward ideas about how a leader should be. You could break the stigma of being an introvert in business.
A Few Introverts With Impressive Personal Brands
At Jago, we have helped several self-described introverts build strong personal brands that have won them dream contracts and propelled their professional and personal goals. But there are plenty of other examples of brilliant personal brands from introverts out there. “Many of the most visible, successful CEOs have labeled themselves as introverts, and this group has included the likes of Bill Gates, Larry Page, Steve Wozniak and Warren Buffett,” wrote Entrepreneur contributor Raj De Matta.
A couple of the most surprising celebrity introverts are superstar Oprah Winfrey and comedian Amy Schumer. The two even talked about it when Winfrey interviewed Schumer. This is proof that introverts find plenty of ways to cope.
The Practicalities Of Building A Personal Brand As An Introvert
If you’re reading this as an introvert in a leadership position or an introvert considering building a personal brand, it probably sounds a lot easier said than done.
But I can give practical advice, too.
As an introvert, creating a strong personal brand is all about building the confidence to activate, engage and become genuinely involved with others on social media and in real-life situations. You don’t have to change who you are to do this; you simply have to bring out your best self.
In the modern world, a lot of personal branding takes place on social media. A plus side of this is that you can draft, redraft and practice. For many introverted people, practicing talking points, running ideas past a professional branding team or just discussing how to present with friends is an invaluable part of marketing and personal branding. Your personal brand includes your community; there’s no shame in bringing them in.
Here are some additional tips:
Know Your Story
Make sure you know the “why” behind what you do. People won’t remember you just for what you do, but for the story of what got you there. Maybe getting over being really introverted is even a part of that.
Practice
If you’re working with a personal branding team, you can practice honing the personal stories that make up your brand with them. If not, practice with friends and family. Practice on your dog. Social media is a conversation—it’s about posting and commenting. So, have conversations. Admittedly, your dog might not answer you, but you can hold up both sides.
Don’t Be Scared Of Your Safe Topics
Love The Simpsons? Comics? Craft beer? Space exploration? Coding and the possibilities of what it could do? Cool. You can use your hobbies to build your personal brand. Tell stories about them: How did you get into your hobbies? Did you learn something really interesting about the future of Mars recently? Your personal brand doesn’t have to be all business.
Take Small Steps If You Need To
Although you will largely be building your brand on social media at first, you can still metaphorically hang out by the snacks table at the (digital) networking event. Start with posts that aren’t that personal, championing others, and eventually move on to sharing your own passions. There are steps to coming out of your shell. Take them one at a time.
Don’t Let Introversion Hold You Back
So you’re an introvert. So what? Use your powers for good. You may be able to dive deep into subjects others would skim over, make stronger connections when you really vibe with someone or bring a new point of view to the table.
Yes, it’s scary. But becoming a fuller version of yourself online might mean becoming a fuller version of yourself in general. What do you have to lose?
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