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Hey Reader,

Each week in this newsletter I answer a question from a reader, someone like you who works in internal comms and could use some fresh perspective or outside advice. I’ve been called the Agony Aunt of internal comms for the last 3 years (which I quite like tbh).

Today’s question is from an Internal Communications Manager based in the US:

Well jeepers did you send this to the right person. Because I’m a deeply introverted person and I like to think I’ve had (and still have) a pretty stellar career in internal comms. Let’s talk about it.

I think the first thing I’d say is that you’ve hit on something really important in your last sentence – there absolutely is an assumption that you need to be very extroverted to be a great comms professional. And that being an introvert is somehow a disadvantage in our field. This assumption is absolutely not true. I am evidence of that!

My take is very clear: you do not need to be an extrovert to succeed in internal communication.

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Introvert ≠ shy

Let’s go back a bit and talk about what introversion actually is, because often it gets muddled in with other words which doesn’t help us to understand it. People often think that introverts are shy.

Absolutely not.

If you ever see me at an event or talking with people you’d know immediately that I’m not shy. Introversion and shyness are not the same thing.

• Shyness is feeling nervous or timid around other people. If you’re shy, you might blush when speaking to a group or feel uncomfortable in the spotlight.
• Introversion is different. An introvert gains energy through quiet and solitude and constant social interaction drains our batteries. We tend to be introspective and deeply reflective, we live in our own heads a lot. We don’t dislike people and we’re not necessarily shy around them, we just don’t need to be surrounded by them all the time. We enjoy being alone and like our own company.

(Sometimes I say to myself "Ahhh, it's too peopley out there!" when I know I have to go somewhere busy hahaha)

Here are some hallmarks of my own introversion:

• I feel tired after being in a crowd
• I prefer to communicate in writing rather than talk on the phone
• I find small talk boring
• Working in a noisy open plan office is my nightmare

If this is you, then there’s nothing wrong with you at all, you might just be an introvert like me.

Your introversion is actually a strength

And here’s where we get to the really important bit, and the bit that took me years to realise: introversion isn’t something to overcome in internal comms. It’s an asset to leverage. It’s actually a strength, a superpower, you should be delighted if you’re an introvert working in the field because you can do wonderful things by leaning into your personality.

For example, introverts typically excel at observing and absorbing information before responding. We listen well and are adept at deeply understanding stakeholder needs before jumping straight to tactics. We thrive in meaningful one-on-one conversations, exactly the kind needed for effective stakeholder management and building trusting relationships. And we tend to prepare thoroughly, which leads to more structured, productive meetings with positive outcomes.

Many introverts express themselves brilliantly in writing. And in a world of information overload, goodness knows we need thoughtful, clear and compelling writing more than ever. Our preference for reflection means we create messages with care and nuance, thinking through our audience needs and wants before writing a single word.

A story from my own career

Let me give you a real example from my own career. Some years ago I was working with a particularly difficult executive who was known for dismissing communication professionals. In our first meeting, rather than trying to “sell” my ideas or tell him about what I was working on, I simply spent most of the time quietly observing his communication style, asking thoughtful questions about his priorities and just… listening to him. I noticed he kept referring to “measurable outcomes” and “data-driven decisions.”

After the meeting, I took time to reflect and came back with ideas centred around metrics with a clear objective and plan. It was clear from our conversation that data and evidence and an outcome-focused approach was very important to him.

He later told me it was the first time he felt a comms professional truly understood his perspective and we worked really well together for the whole time I was in that organisation.

My introvert tendency to listen, observe, ask questions and process internally before pitching an idea created the breakthrough that others had missed.

And guess what; unless it’s a time-critical emergency, stakeholders rarely object if you say “I’ll mull this over for 24 hours and come back to you with some ideas tomorrow”. I do this with clients all the time and that’s how I can actually solve their problems. I don’t do well with on-the-spot brainstorming (does anyone else just go totally blank in this kind of environment??) but with time to think and reflect, I’ll come up with gold.

Practical tips for thriving as an introvert

If you’re nodding along and suspect you are also an introvert in this field, embrace it. You’ve tons to give and your company is lucky to have you.

Here’s some practical tips that work for me and might work for you too.

• Prep time. Block time before meetings to prepare. What’s on the agenda? What do you know about this stakeholder and their priorities? Write down some talking points and questions. Simply taking 15 minutes to prep will help you feel far more relaxed and confident and having questions on hand will help you guide the conversation.
• Lead with curiosity. Rather than feeling pressure to drive the entire conversation or have all the answers, position yourself as an information-gatherer. Try questions like: “What’s your biggest challenge right now?” or “What’s your top priority this quarter?” Then sit back and listen. People love feeling heard and you can reflect back what they’ve said to demonstrate understanding.
• Observe the room. Introverts are often very observant. Use this in meetings by watching for signs of engagement or discomfort. Validate your observations with follow-up questions: “You seemed to react strongly when I mentioned the newsletter, could you share your thoughts on that?” This shows you’re attentive and demonstrates tactical empathy.
• Manage your energy. If you have a big presentation or social event coming up, block off recovery time afterwards. A meetings-free morning, a quiet lunch alone, whatever works for you. It took me years to learn this but it’s magical now that I know about it. Last year I also invested in noise-cancelling headphones for the first time, wowza this has been wonderful and I can go into my own little world and just focus on my work.

The bottom line

I hope this helps you realise that you don’t need to be an extrovert to succeed in internal comms. Being an introvert isn’t something to be embarrassed about or ashamed about, it’s actually a strength. Your natural tendencies toward deep listening, thoughtful preparation and meaningful connections are exactly what internal comms requires.

You can absolutely thrive as an introvert in internal communications. I have, and so can you.

Thanks for reading and stay curious,

Joanna

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Find me on YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn and check out my book​

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Want to work together?

• Join The Curious Tribe. This is my membership community for ambitious, curious communicators who want to achieve more in their roles and have fun at the same time. Membership allows you to work directly with me for 12 months, make deep connections with other communication pros who 'get it' and improve your skills through training and learning. More info here.
• Ready to review your channels and content but don't know where to start? Download my practical Internal Comms Audit Playbook to guide you through a DIY audit - no expensive consultant needed.​ This has ready-to-use templates and checklists to give you a systematic way to do your own audit which you can repeat every single year. Get it here.
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