possibility…

Lately I’ve been hearing a lot about marketing for introverts. Maybe it’s because I’m an introvert … or maybe it’s just our turn. Recently I came across an interesting article on the Wall Street Journal website called “Self-Marketing Rules For Successful Introverts” by By Nancy Ancowitz. She writes, “Introverts may excel at marketing other people and products, but compared to many extroverts, marketing ourselves does not always come naturally. In a world that seems to reward glad-handing and horn-tooting, how can we attract the best employers and clients?”

Ancowitz offers nine excellent self-promotion tips for introverts and the first is:”You don’t need to brag to promote yourself. However, by preparing well for encounters in advance, you’ll have ready indisputable facts about your accomplishments and what you excel at and enjoy, plus you’ll feel comfortable stating them.”

Doesn’t that sound like the definition of a story? For those of us who feel uncomfortable conveying our strengths and achievements, there’s nothing like a story to capture the highlights. Stories are a delight for the listener and a painless way for the storyteller to communicate our interests and abilities.

Want a tip from this introvert though? Ancowitz is right. Preparing in advance is key. Don’t rely on your memory and dazzling communication skills to profile your strengths in stressful networking opportunities (which of course include the bus stop, the grocery store, workshops, and more formal networking events). Prepare by creating a “mental portfolio” of stories communicating your strengths and accomplishments that you can draw on when opportunity knocks.