The Introvert’s Guide to success
- An Amazon Best Selling eBook and “Hot New Release.”
- Featured On Huffington Post and Harvard Business Review
“I was at the airport, waiting for my flight to Amsterdam, when I read an article in Harvard Business Review by Lisa Petrilli titled “An Introvert’s Guide to Networking”. It immediately struck a chord with me because I had been anxious for days in advance how I would be able to blend in at this conference where I didn’t know most of the people yet. It took me a few minutes to read the article and then a few more seconds to buy and download her ebook “The Introvert’s Guide to Success in Business and Leadership” to my Kindle. I read it on the flight and with every page I learned more on how to make my trip to Amsterdam a worthwhile business expense.
Her explanation of why introverts feel uncomfortable in crowds made immediate sense to me. Lisa has got a great tip on how this can be mitigated. With this tactic in mind, I was able to take many opportunities during the meetup to get in touch with other participants and always had great conversations. She also urges her fellow introverts to overcome the fear of introducing themselves to others, especially to people to which they feel somehow inferior. This encouraged me tremendously to approach even the executives of million-dollar companies that were at the meetup. It was one of those CEOs that was the first to connect to me via LinkedIn shortly after we talked.
After a great conference experience without feeling uncomfortable once, I now happily look forward to the next one in two weeks! The trip already paid for itself – and so did Lisa Petrilli’s ebook.” ~Jochen Lillich
About “The Introverts Guide to Success in Business and Leadership” eBook: After discovering how to use her introversion to her advantage, the author went from new college graduate to holding responsibility for a $750 million business in just 10 short years.
This eBook tells you how she did it and reveals very specific, actionable steps introverts can take to be abundantly successful in business, leadership and life.
Importantly, the steps recommended are designed to be fully comfortable for introverts who get their energy from their “inner world” of ideas and images, and who may be uncomfortable with aspects of the “outer world” of business and leadership.
You see, introverts have unique strengths and can literally change the world through the power of their ideas. Yet so many introverts fail to recognize and leverage the real power that comes with their introversion, which holds them back from experiencing all the achievement, advancement, and abundance that life has to offer. In this eBook, introverts are encouraged to be more of who they are meant to be…never less!
This eBook is for introverts who want to use their introversion to their advantage in business and leadership, and for extroverts who lead introverts and wish to be more effective leaders.
Give yourself permission to be more successful than you ever thought possible!
Click HERE to purchase on Amazon.
Lisa Petrilli is one of twenty-one members of the Lead Change Group who set out to define a concept they have been writing about on their blogs and discussing in conference calls since 2009. They define character-based leadership as "leading from who you are, not your position or power."
Each character-based leader is unique, bringing their best "self" to make a positive difference. This unique work aligns 21 different author's perspectives on aspects of character-based leadership in a manner designed to inspire you to be the leader you can be.
"The Character-Based Leader is a must-read for anyone who realizes that leading from who you are (rather than your title) is the key to longevity and satisfaction in any leadership role. This well-written, easy read will leave you feeling inspired and ready to take ACTION!" - Marshall Goldsmith, New York Times Bestselling Author
From Harvard Business Review
An Introvert’s Guide to Networking by
January 25, 2012
- Harvard Business Review's Career Management Collection
- I learned the critical importance of networking, and discovered my natural aversion to it, early in my career. I was a new college graduate working in the strategic planning division of a $10 billion company, and our business unit had been invited to a retirement party for one of the top executives. The gentleman retiring was someone I’d looked up to during my brief tenure, and I wanted him to know he’d made an impact on me.
That evening I learned the importance of networking and realized I had to figure out how to engage in business events in ways that were comfortable for me. I went on to discover an array of strategies introverts can use, ultimately writing “The Introvert’s Guide to Success in Business and Leadership”. Because I figured out how to embrace networking I found myself in the plum role of leading one of the highest visibility company teams as a new marketing manager at the age of 26, and representing the company at a United Nations conference in Geneva. I went on to run a $750 million business and negotiate pharmaceutical contracts with top global companies, all in a way that worked effectively with my introverted preferences.
Here’s what worked for me:
I learned to appreciate my introversion rather than repudiate it.
I have met so many introverts in business who talk about introversion as if it’s a malady that one must get over in order to be successful. This is wrong. Introversion is simply a preference for the inner world of ideas because this is where we get our energy. By understanding and accepting this preference, introverts can optimize time spent with their ideas to refine them and recharge. This allows them to be as powerful and persuasive as possible when networking situations arise.
I recognized that one-on-one conversations would be my lifeline during networking. Generally speaking, business events — and particularly networking events that require engaging with groups — are demanding for introverts. An antidote to this, I learned, is to seek out conversations with one individual at a time. When I approach events this way I have more productive conversations and form better business relationships — and I’m less drained by the experience.
I stopped being afraid to be the one to reach out.
My inner introvert used to think that making the effort to introduce myself was risky. I worried that my target would not be interested in talking with me or that I would make them uncomfortable. I learned over time that when I extended my hand with a smile and an introduction my effort would be reciprocated, even when I approached executives above my rank.
Social media makes this is easier than ever. Reach out via LinkedIn, Twitter and even Facebook to people who will be attending conferences or networking events you’re going to and let them know you’re looking forward to meeting them. This pre-introduction leads to a more relaxed and productive in-person connection. By reaching out, you open the door to potentially rewarding business collaborations, and you do so on your own terms.
I learned to prioritize time to re-energize.
While it can be tempting to go from a networking lunch right back to work, or from a networking cocktail event right to a dinner, if you’re an introvert and you do that you won’t be able to bring your best self to your next commitment. Take the time to recharge, whether by walking from the lunch back to work, or by finding 30 minutes alone between cocktails and dinner.
Introverts who avoid networking are making a critical career mistake. Being an adroit networker is non-negotiable — and not as hard as it might seem.
If you’re an introvert, what networking strategies have you found that work?
Photo of the book at the top of the page by Jonas Jacobsson on Unsplash