4 Strategies for Introverts to Succeed in Business Without Getting Energy-Drained

A practical guide to leveraging the strengths of introverts to build strong relationships and thrive in business & beyond

Quiet people have superpowers many overlook. But they face invisible challenges. People deplete their energy.

In business, they say that extroverts have an advantage. But my experience shows otherwise. Why?

If we leverage our strengths we can go to enormous lengths. There’s no need to fake another personality.

I’m introverted by nature. When my parents wanted me to play with others as a child, my heart would pound heavily.

Today, I attend networking events, approach others, and lead people at my job. I moderate and speak up in large meetings.

What’s changed? Did I become an extrovert? Or am I living a lie?

No. My palms still get sweaty in big meetings. People deplete me. I crave solitude and stillness to recharge.

Yet, I learned to harness the power of an introvert. I built meaningful relationships and navigated large events in business and beyond.

So, how can introverts protect their energy and still succeed in business?

Here are my 4 proven strategies.

You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you. — Dale Carnegie

Introverts, Extroverts, and Ambiverts

Let’s first define some terms. If you’re already familiar with these you can fast-forward to the strategies.

Introverts

They feel more comfortable in solitary, low-stimulus environments. They drain their energy in social situations. They scrutinize their thoughts before speaking.

Typical strengths: Deep thinking, one-on-one conversations, observation skills.

Extroverts

They gain energy from social interactions. They are comfortable in groups or at events. They spend less energy processing their thoughts before speaking.

Typical strengths: Social skills, enthusiasm and energy, quick decision-making.

Ambiverts

They enjoy social interaction but need alone time. They can be very outgoing in the right context. They are good on teams but they need space to self-direct.

Their strength is their adaptability to different circumstances and their balanced perspective.

Strategy 1: Quality Over Quantity

I focus on depth rather than breadth. Instead of trying to know everyone, I use my energy to understand and connect with a select few.

Everyone you will ever meet knows something you don’t. — Bill Nye

I make each interaction meaningful. I cultivate a child-like curiosity for the other person. Each human being is a unique collection of experiences and stories. There is a lot to learn from what they say and how they say it.

This mindset fosters trust and collaboration that a surface-level connection could never achieve.

When it comes down to tough situations, these are the relationships that hold up.

This helps me in large meetings, too. Knowing a few people well gives me a sense of security.

What you can do this week

• Choose 2–3 people with whom you would like to build a deeper relationship
• Set up and prepare these meetings What do you like about them? What do you want to know about them? How did they manage to do X?
• Go into the next meeting with the intention of truly understanding the other person
• Show them your appreciation. Say things like: Thank you for what you did last week or I listened to your presentation — it was very inspiring
• Offer your undivided attention which is our highest good in today’s world
• Nod and comment things like yeah and interesting
• Ask follow-up questions
• Use pauses: Becoming comfortable in silence with another person is powerful. Many extroverts never achieve this.
• Notice how the other person reacts to your undivided attention

Strategy 2: Leveraging Written Communication

In business meetings, it’s about who talks more and louder. Often, when time is up people leave without a tangible result.

Writing avoids this. It teaches me to think and confront my inconsistencies. It allows me to articulate thoughts cohesively.

Writing also saves my energy rather than expanding to the other person. I don’t feel drained.

I use mail, messaging systems, memos, and reports as much as possible to convey my ideas.

What you can do this week

• Write every day for at least 30 minutes structuring your thoughts
• Check your meetings: Which one can you resolve with a few emails?
• Shorten other meetings whenever possible by preparing better
• Become the matchwinner after a meeting. Send a follow-up email structuring the outcomes and defining what’s next. It shows who knows what’s going on.

Make yourself and others a little present of self-care by freeing up calendars.

Strategy 3: One-on-One Meetings

To save my energy I swap large gatherings for individual meetings as much as I can. This allows me to dive deeper into topics and build relationships.

I always check the agenda of large meetings: Can we address this in smaller sessions? If not, can we break the topic down to work on it?

Then, I propose alternatives. I clarify questions by mail or suggest one-on-one discussions before a bigger meeting.

I use collaborative tools to share ideas such as Miro, Mural, Confluence, and Slack.

Most of the time we can resolve things and make everybody’s life easier.

For every meeting that I set, I ensure that there is a clear goal.

What you can do this week

• Check your group meetings: Which ones can you change to one-on-ones? If you’re not sure, ask the organizer to clarify the purpose of the meeting
• Team up with other introverts and suggest alternatives
• Do you have an idea that’s interesting for many? Choose who would be most interested. Consult those people to get their feedback and support

Strategy 4: Systems to Get Through Challenging Events

As introverts, we find large events with lots of energy around difficult to manage.

But, if we want to advance and build relationships attending events is a necessary evil.

Why is it that large meetings are so uncomfortable and energy-draining for some of us?

The main reason is energy: People have emotions that we sense. Emotions are energy. E-Motion translates to Energy in Motion.

When we’re surrounded by people we pick up lots of energy. It becomes difficult to differentiate what’s our own and what’s from others.

It leaves us drained.

Luckily, there are systems to get the most benefit out of these gatherings without depleting ourselves.

What you can do this week

• Choose an event on Meetup.com, on LinkedIn, on your company intranet, or through Google.
• Set goals by answering questions such as: Who do I want to talk to? How many people do I want to connect with? How do I want to connect with them? Which questions do I have that I want to discuss?
• Write those goals down like a checklist
• Practice energic boundaries in smaller meetings before the event
• Apply your boundaries during the event as you follow your goals

Here is how you can create energetic boundaries to protect yourself:

1. Find a private spot, sit or stand, and close your eyes. Say your name to yourself, and notice the feeling of being you.
2. Visualize a circle of light around you. It should stretch about 2–3 feet in every direction.
3. Assert that this enclosed space is yours only. Anything that doesn’t resonate with you must stay outside this boundary.
4. Try to maintain this image and feeling as long as possible as you talk to others. In the beginning, you may lose it quite quickly. But with practice, you can maintain it.

Even if you don’t understand it, keep an open mind and give it a try. It’s a powerful tool.

Takeaways

Being an introvert is a strength. But like a raw diamond, we have to do a little work to start shining among others. Unfortunately, it’s not the typical stuff we learn in school.

Use these 4 strategies to build relationships and thrive in business and beyond.

1. Quality over quantity: Focus on depth in relationships over breadth. Use active listening, appreciation, and silence in meetings.
2. Written communication: Use writing to structure and articulate thoughts. Opt for written forms of communication when possible, like emails and memos.
3. One-on-one meetings: Choose individual meetings over large gatherings for deeper discussions. Use collaborative tools for preliminary idea sharing.
4. Overcoming challenging events with systems: Attend necessary large gatherings with preparation and clear goals. Create energetic boundaries to conserve energy and stay focused.

Everybody has strengths. Unearthing and applying those is one of our purposes in life.

To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.— Ralph Waldo Emerson

What will you do this week to advance in business?

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