From the moment I started a business I knew it was for me. Leaving behind the exhausting open plan offices and hectic schedules of employment allowed me to find the peace and quiet I’d been looking for throughout my entire career. It meant I could work from home, find blissful solitude when I needed it, and create my own rules to live and work by. I could not have been happier.
However, early on in my startup experience I soon learned that launching a business is no easy ride and as a highly introverted individual there are plenty of challenges to overcome.
For starters, business is about people. I found that networking with others (not something that comes naturally to me) was essential in order to build an enthusiastic community of individuals who loved, shared and bought my work.
Not just that, but running a business is an ongoing education where you must often learn all the ropes. In the early days of starting a business I found myself dealing with everything from marketing to accounts and customer service.
This combination of building contacts while trying to wear all the hats can leave many introvert entrepreneurs feeling tired and overwhelmed. However, as I went on to learn, there are ways and means to overcome these challenges. Here are three actions that can help introverts in business:
Focus on what you do best
The more you can work with your natural strengths rather than against them, the better that will be for both you and your business. For me, this was particularly true when it came to marketing. When I first launched I found myself attending lots of networking events, which only served to drain my energy and knock my confidence. After a while I realised I would gain far better results by focusing on the marketing strategies that really worked for me as an individual. I began to spend more time on blogging and social media that allowed me to take advantage of the internet and spend more time in quieter environments. The upshot was that I felt less overwhelmed and more energised, which resulted in a more proactive and enjoyable working week.
Set boundaries for yourself
When running a business it can be very easy to find yourself working to a jam-packed schedule with little breathing space. However as an introvert it is really important to have regular quiet time to reflect, get inspired and recharge your batteries. During the course of starting a business, I have learned the importance of setting boundaries and looking after myself. One of the beauties of being your own boss is that you get to make the rules and so I have taken this to heart and shaped my business and working schedule to suit how I work best. I limit the amount of face-to face meetings I have each week, use email and social media for the vast majority of my communications, and I ensure that I get out and go for a walk at least once a day (which is normally when I have all my best ideas). Of course there will always be times in the life of a business when it’s not possible to take these breaks, however the more aware you are of which activities drain your energy, the more you can shape your business to work well for you.
Find people who understand
Just because you are an introvert doesn’t mean you don’t need people, and connecting with others who understand what you are experiencing will help to build your confidence and maintain a positive mindset when things don’t go to plan. As an introvert, I found that becoming a member of supportive online communities helped enormously when my motivation took a nose-dive or I needed a second opinion. There is something very special about being able to share a similar way of thinking with other people, and building connections with others (even if it is just online) can really give you a boost on those days when you need it. A lot of my first clients also came from these types of group, which goes to show that building connections can work well not only for your mental wellbeing but also for your bank balance.
There are lots of challenges to overcome as an introverted entrepreneur, but I believe that running a business can be a hugely satisfying career for the gentle leaders of this world. It just takes a bit of self-awareness, quiet determination and, of course, that all-important time alone.
Kathryn Hall is the founder of The Business of Introverts.
This content has been sponsored by Powwownow, whose brand it displays. All content is editorially independent.
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