How to Run a Business as an Introvert

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Don’t let your introverted personality keep you from becoming a successful entrepreneur. Use this to your advantage, here are ways how!

When we think about an entrepreneur, most of us have visions of a sharply dressed sales rep with a generous smile on his face – ready to talk his way into sealing one deal after another. 

But the reality is that not all of us are comfortable talking to people. Not all entrepreneurs are social butterflies; there are some who’d rather work in the background because they're shy, they're not used to social interactions, or they drain easily whenever they talk to other people. 

Some of the most successful entrepreneurs are introverts – Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, J.K Rowling, Warren Buffett, and even Elon Musk. The idea that only extroverts make the best leaders is a myth. You can be an introvert and still make confident decisions, solve problems, and build a successful business. 

Being an introvert shouldn’t stop you from becoming a successful entrepreneur. Here are ways to thrive in business if you are an introvert:

How to Run a Business as an Introvert

Build Meaningful Connections

If social interactions make you uncomfortable, focus your networking efforts on making deeper, more meaningful connections with people who can relate to you. If talking on the phone, attending conferences, or business meetups aren’t your thing, look for different ways to interact with prospective clients in a setup that you’re comfortable with. For example, you can record a webinar or podcast, go on zoom client meetings, or join online business groups to find business opportunities. 

Listen More, Talk Less

Yes, it’s possible to listen more, talk less, and still manage a successful business. Most introverts are great listeners because they’re more comfortable listening rather than talking to people. They also process conversations better this way. So go with what you’re most comfortable with. Use this skill to build a better business, one that listens to customer problems and solves issues right away. 

Select only a few people at a time for business connections; choose those who could relate to your situation too. Keep every convo short and sweet but make it meaningful to form a long-lasting business relationship. 

Choose Your Tribe

Find people who understand and relate to introverts. We’re talking about business partners, associates, employees, and professionals who support and understand your personality. 

Choose people who will complement your introverted personality, extroverts who could do the talking for you. You can outsource some of your business processes to save yourself from any uncomfortable situation. But if outsourcing is not your thing, try to get out of your comfort zone one baby step at a time. You can thrive in any business as long as you put your mind to it.  

Set Your Own Standards

It will be hard to measure up if you keep trying to be someone you’re not. Extroverted personalities have their way of promoting their businesses, and you should have your own unique personality. Instead of matching up to the ideal standards set by extroverted entrepreneurs, set your own standards.

Unleash your creativity, find unique ways of making an impression on people to score more deals. Devise strategies that suit your unique brand instead of playing the same old, tired game everyone plays. 

Keep Your Peace

Introverts hate crowds, they hate talking in public most of the time, and they’d rather be an observer than a talker. If you feel the same way, you need to find ways to make any social interaction suit the kind of environment you are comfortable with. Introverts work best when they’re comfortable. 

Choose quality over quantity, arrange intimate gatherings instead of meeting everyone in a large room. An intimate gathering lets you focus on the agenda instead of sweating buckets from anxiety. The meeting doesn’t have to be a long one. Thank everyone for their time to show how much you value their presence but let them know that you’ll keep it short because you respect their time and are probably busy. That’s a great excuse to keep the event short and sweet. 

While the idea of managing a business as an introvert seems almost impossible, it’s really not. Especially now when everyone has a home office and businesses work remotely. It is possible to manage a successful business, become a better boss/be your OWN boss, and still enjoy amazing results even if you’re an introvert by using what people perceive as a “weakness” into a strength.

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