Introverts, due to their reserved nature, step out of the shadows less often than the more outgoing. But thanks to a new book by Susan Cain titled Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking, the quieter folks among us are having something of a moment in the sun. From a Time cover story to a New York Times Sunday Review piece by Cain, the topic of how our society undervalues introverts and the needs of those with a quieter disposition has been making frequent appearances in the media lately.
But while Cain does a great job of advocating for introverts and shining a spotlight on their strengths and preferences, for entrepreneurs in the world as it exists now, extroversion still has plenty of obvious benefits. The ease of networking and comfort with self-promotion that come with that 'E' on the Myers Briggs assessment, make it simpler to publicize and fund your venture, But that doesn't mean introverts are shut out of the start-up game. Far from it, as the head-down, detail-oriented nature of introverts gives them a leg up when it comes to withdrawing from the world to cook up new ideas.
Once you have that amazing innovation though, you need to get it out there, which is where Nancy Ancowitz comes in. The author and business communication coach was recently interviewed by Tahl Raz on the myGreenlight Blog, offering tips on how introverts can lose the cloak of invisibility that often prevents the gregarious from noticing their accomplishments. Ancowitz explains:
The way that [introversion] would hurt you the most is in the invisibility department. So if you tend to believe that you're accomplishments should speak for themselves that can hurt. Don't expect that other people are going to promote you and your work, just because you're sitting there working really hard and creating great things all day.
Instead of crossing your fingers and hoping your industriousness and innovation speak for themselves, in the 30-minute audio interview Ancowitz gives business owners a bevy of practical bits of advice on how they can use their shy nature to their advantage (and fight back against a business world that's often biased towards extraverts). These include:
Ancowitz's chat with Raz is wide-ranging and lasts just longer than a half an hour, so there are far more tips and tricks available for those looking for a deep dive into the subject. Download the complete audio file here.