How to Get Noticed as an Introvert

I often hear from introverts that they struggle to make an impact at work without seeming pushy or inauthentic. The good news: you don't need to become an extrovert to earn respect. Did you know that 82% of our workplace impressions are based on warmth and competence? That means, how you present yourself - your body language, tone, and word choice - matters more than how much you talk. After coaching countless introverted professionals, I've identified 3 tactical approaches that transform how they're perceived: 1. Make a good impressions through physical presence Stand or sit with shoulders back and chest slightly open. This "postural expansion" not only signals confidence to others but actually makes you feel more confident internally. Make strong eye contact, smile warmly, and use a firm handshake or clear greeting: "Hi [Name], great to see you!" This combination of warmth and competence creates immediate respect. 2. Contribute early in group settings Aim to say something within the first 5-10 minutes of any meeting. It doesn't need to be groundbreaking—a thoughtful question or brief comment works: "I appreciate [Name]'s point about X. I think it connects to Y." When you do speak, use downward inflection at the end of your sentences. Instead of "I think this approach might work?" say "I think this approach might work." The difference is subtle but powerful. 3. Leverage the spotlight effect Most people are too focused on themselves to scrutinize you (this is the spotlight effect). Use this knowledge to redirect attention by asking about others: "What's been the most exciting part of your project lately?" This takes pressure off you while making colleagues feel valued - building connection and respect simultaneously. ____ The truth is, getting respect doesn’t mean being the loudest in the room. It's about being intentional with your presence and creating moments of genuine interaction. These small adjustments have massive impact. Which one will you try first?

Self-promotion can be a series of uncomfortable steps outside one’s comfort zone, especially for introverts. Initially I struggled with marketing myself and the idea of self-promotion felt unnatural, almost inauthentic. However, reading "Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking" by Susan Cain was a game-changer. It helped me “go inwards” to seek my unique introverted strengths that can be leveraged in marketing. I learned that self-promotion doesn't have to be loud or boastful; it can be authentic and value-driven. Here are a few techniques that helped me embrace marketing: ✅Share My Story: I began sharing my journey, focusing on real experiences and challenges in building team culture. This authenticity resonated more with my audience than any polished pitch could. ✅Value First: I shifted my focus from self-promotion to offering value. By providing actionable insights on purposeful leadership, I established my expertise naturally. ✅Leverage Content: Creating doodles that reflected my values and expertise allowed me to connect with like-minded individuals. Writing on LinkedIn and speaking at webinars became platforms where I could share my knowledge authentically. ✅Networking Authentically: I started engaging in meaningful one-to-one conversations rather than simply attending networking events. Building genuine connections with others in my field opened doors organically. Marketing yourself authentically might feel uncomfortable at first, but it's about finding your unique voice and sharing it with the world. How have you embraced self-promotion? Share your experiences!

“How do I start a conversation on LinkedIn? I hate small talk.” I get this question almost every week. And I get it. You’re not here to chat about the weather. You want career momentum, not some awkward “Hope you’re doing well!” messages that go nowhere. I used to feel the same way. For years, I avoided networking because it felt… fake. Like I had to “perform” to be noticed. So I stayed quiet, came online, liked a couple of posts and "dodged". And missed out on job leads, mentors, and real opportunities. Here’s what I found out ↳You don’t need to be extroverted to be effective. ↳You just need the right words. So I built 5 go-to scripts that helped me (and now hundreds of clients) start real conversations — without small talk, and without sounding desperate. Here’s what actually works: ✅ 1. The “Warm Compliment” “Hi [Name], I really appreciated your recent post on [topic]. It gave me a new perspective. Would love to stay connected.” ↳ Most people aren’t used to being seen. Be specific. Be sincere. Watch the response rate explode. ✅ 2. The “Shared Interest” “Hey [Name], I noticed we both work in [industry] and have similar roles. I’m always looking to connect with others in this space — open to connecting?” ↳ Similar paths = easy conversation starters. It’s not random. It’s relevant. ✅ 3. The “Mutual Contact” “Hi [Name], I saw you’re connected with [person]. I’ve heard great things about your work — would love to connect and learn from your experience.” ↳ This leverages borrowed trust. And trust opens doors faster than any cold pitch. ✅ 4. The “Curious Learner” “Hi [Name], I’m exploring roles in [field] and saw your background — impressive! Would you be open to a quick 10-min coffee chat in the next few weeks?” ↳ Specific ask. Clear intent. Respectful of time. Easy yes. ✅ 5. The “Follow-Up Nudge” “Just following up in case you missed this — still would love to connect whenever timing allows!” ↳ People are busy. Following up isn’t annoying. It’s professional persistence. These aren’t magic words. But they work — because they respect the other person’s attention while giving you a clear, low-anxiety way to reach out. I built these scripts for introverts like me who want to build real relationships without burning out. And now, I use them in my coaching programs to help professionals transition from being stuck to being in demand, without having to guess what to say or how to show up. 👋 Want the full script bundle and a breakdown of how I use them to land job interviews, collabs, and mentor chats? DM me “NETWORK” and I’ll send it your way. And if this post helped you think differently about networking, 👇 Follow me Rudy Malle for more bold, brutally honest career moves you can actually use. #NetworkingTips #CareerStrategy #ClinicalResearchCareers #IntrovertFriendly #JobSearchGameChanger

Introvert-friendly networking tip: Start your event connections before the event begins. If walking into a room full of strangers makes your stomach flip, here’s a quiet strategy that can make in-person events feel less intimidating, and more intentional: 💡 Connect on LinkedIn before the event. Look up the event page, RSVP list, or hashtag. Identify a few people, maybe a speaker, a fellow guest, or someone you admire. Then send a short, friendly note like: 👉 “Hi [Name], I saw you’re also attending [Event Name] this week. I’d love to connect here and hopefully say hello in person!” I’ve used this approach myself, attending events alone and still managing to create real conversations, on my terms. Why it works: - You walk in with familiar faces instead of total strangers. - You have a built-in conversation starter (no forced small talk). - You control the pace of connection—before, during, and after the event. 💜 And here’s a bonus: If you don’t get to meet them in person, you still have the connection to follow up later with a kind note or reflection on the event. You don’t have to “work the room” to network well. You just have to be intentional. And that’s where introverts shine. Have we met? 👋 Hi, I’m Ana, a career coach and strategist for introverts. If you are a professional who wants to improve your LinkedIn presence and become visible to recruiters without spending hours job searching, then follow along! #NetworkingTips #introverts

Introvert to introvert: If you want to survive and thrive in today's job market, you have to learn how to get the attention you deserve. Have you seen a presentation that had valuable content but it was so boring, you questioned why they wanted you to fall asleep? Right now, I'm at a networking conference watching brilliant AI engineers struggle to explain (in a memorable way) what they do. Meanwhile, less qualified people are landing partnerships and opportunities left and right. In my last job, I got 3 promotions in less than a year. Was I the most qualified person? NO. But I learned one skill most data pros ignore. Sharing my stories. It's true: always the best storytellers who get promoted, not the most qualified. You know them, the manager's "right-hand person" who somehow climbs faster than everyone else. Meanwhile, you're crushing complex ML pipelines and optimizing cloud architectures... in silence. 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀: The ones who make their wins visible get recognized. The ones who speak up in meetings get remembered. The ones who advocate for themselves get promoted. Even if they can't code their way out of a paper bag. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗲𝘁 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗶𝘂𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺: You think your work speaks for itself. SPOILER: It doesn't. Managers are busy. They promote those they remember. If people don't know what you're doing, they assume you're not doing much. What I learned getting promoted 3x in one year: 𝟭. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸. Send weekly updates. Drop wins in Slack. Not to brag, to keep people informed. 𝟮. 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿'𝘀 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗲𝗿. Give them ammo to advocate for you. Connect your technical wins to business impact. 𝟯. 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝘂𝗽 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘂𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲. You don't need perfect answers. You need engagement. 𝟰. 𝗔𝘀𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁. Most promotions happen because someone asked. 𝟱. 𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮. At this conference, the people getting deals aren't showing the best code. They're telling compelling stories about business problems they solved. You don't need to become someone you're not. But your voice needs to grow with your skills. Your technical solutions are brilliant.  Don't let your silence make it invisible. Follow me, Jaret André for real, uncomfortable, and practical career advice that helps you land your next $100K data job. Repost if you want to help your quiet genius friends. PS. Break the ice RIGHT NOW by leaving a comment and sharing your story about (not) getting the attention your work deserves.

As an introvert, I spent years of my life envying my more extroverted co-workers. It just seemed they had an easier time thinking quickly in meetings and speaking up, engaging in a lively debate or always being able to sustain their energy through a long meeting or group event. While I could have spent my time in compare and despair, I realized that wishing I was more extroverted wasn't all that helpful. What I actually had to own was this: I didn't need to be more extroverted to be successful, I needed to be more of my best, authentic self to be successful. Here are three other strategies you can use to contribute intentionally so you can make an impact: 1️⃣ Own your strengths by reflecting on your unique talents. What is the unique skill or point of view that only YOU can bring to the meeting? How will you share it at the right time? 2️⃣ Focus on connection, not perfection. So, instead of worrying about what to say, when to say it and how to say it perfectly, which can lead to silence by analysis paralysis, focus instead on the people in front of you and how you want them to feel. How can you be present with them? 3️⃣ Speak up when it matters by speaking up in alignment with your values. Here is your permission to drop the pressure to speak up on every topic. Focus instead on issues, perspectives and strategies that are truly important to you. TRY THIS NEXT: Challenge yourself to ask a question or offer your unique point of view at the beginning of your next meeting. How could your unique insights set the tone and impact the conversation to follow? What other tips have worked for you? #womenleaders #confidence #leadershipdevelopment #careers