This is the ‘Win with Stories’ newsletter. It’s focused on helping founders and executives navigate leadership, sales, PR and fund-raising. Every week I send an email with a career or communication message wrapped in a short story. I also share one or a few actionable tips to help you achieve your career and business goals.
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Introvert in an extroverted workplace?
I believe that all of us have both sides within us. The extroverted and the introverted ones. What we get known as to others and ourselves depends on which part of our personality takes over most of the times.
In the modern workplace, where collaboration and communication are imperative, being an introvert might look like a disadvantage. But I feel it does not have to be that way.
You can be an introvert, and you can win at work and business.
I remember one of my early bosses during my PR life, Aman Hashmat. He was not the most extroverted of people, but I learnt quite a bit from him.
One afternoon, we were fighting a crisis situation for a client. Most extroverted superstar bosses would have given some gyaan to a junior like me, and would have left me alone to deal with the situation. Or worse, would have taken charge of the situation and started leading from front, diminishing my value as a partner in front of the client.
But Aman’s approach was different. He neither left me nor took the spotlight. As I was making one call after another, he stood next to me smoking his cigarette and giving me words of advice on how to manage the situation.
A few times, I asked him to take over the calls. He refused.
Some other times, I asked him to leave as he was done with his work. He refused to that too.
As I look back, that chilly afternoon in Delhi was a leadership lesson for me.
Rather than forcing themselves to be extroverts, I believe introverts can harness their strengths to lead teams and businesses.
But how? That’s the question.
Here are some tips from my experience as a business storytelling and communications coach:
- Ask the right questions:
It is a myth that communication is about speaking(a lot). In fact, some of the best insights and ideas appear when you are asked the right questions. Since most introverts prefer listening to talking, if you develop the ability to ask your colleagues or teams or bosses the right questions; they’d value your presence even more.
These questions could be designed to spot any bias in the presenter, a counter-view and whether the suggestion made is linked to the company or team objective. It could be also delivered to help a colleague come up with the best recommendation or suggestion.
Rather than delivering the message, you can then become the person who helps people discover the message.
That’s exactly what good coaches and leaders do. Also, no one ever complained saying – ‘That guy listens a lot.’
So make questions and listening your twin superpowers.
- Seek or create one to one opportunities:
Most introverts have valuable things to share, just that the one to many speaker setting doesn’t suit them best. I remember a colleague who used to navigate this by making time to speak one to one with key stakeholders. Yes, this approach needs more time to be invested, but the outcome could also be exponential. I know of executives who bet on introverted colleagues because they share the right insight or suggestion in their one to one chats.
If you have good tips, suggestion or strategy; it is quite possible that your senior will look forward to spending time with you. Try this out by letting people know that you prefer this approach as public speaking is not your strength.
- Build your writing muscle:
Good writing is an equally powerful way to communicate, which is ignored by most people. If you choose shooting an email or writing a document over facing people, then invest in your business writing skills. Communicate your ideas powerfully on email, through reports and presentations.
Just FYI, I can help you with this 🙂
- Team up with an extrovert:
When it comes to presentation or public speaking, teaming up with a colleague or partner who is a better public speaker is a good idea. That will relieve you of performance pressure as your partner can do most of the heavy lifting.
However, I have also noticed that introverts tend to be more sharp in their statements and have the ability to articulate thoughts in shorter sentences. In a pair with an extroverted colleague, introverts can bring their positive skills to play.
Remember that as an introvert you prefer going deep as opposed to going wide. And that is your strength, so try to harness it and watch the magic happen.
A quick reminder on how I can help you:
- If you are a business leader or founder of a mature startup wanting to sharpen your story, storytelling or leadership skills, I can help you with my coaching programs like ‘Story-flection’, ‘Ace Linkedin with Stories’ and ‘Inspiring Leader’. The first 30-minute call is free, write to me if you’d like to book my time
- If you are a corporate, MSME or late-stage startup looking to enhance leadership, communication, marketing and sales skills in your organisation, then I can help. My programs like ‘Lead with Stories’, ‘Movie-like Data Presentations’ and ‘Story punch for marketing and sales’ are some of my signature and successful programs
- I am also available for keynotes, webinars and team-building sessions that incorporate storytelling.
That’s it from me today. Hope you found this newsletter useful 🙂
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