5 tips for the introverted entrepreneur

It may come as a surprise, but a large number of entrepreneurs are natural introverts, myself included. Introversion is a difficult obstacle to overcome, especially as you are trying to grow your team, network with peers, find mentors, raise money, speak in public or develop yourself professionally. Some might call it an affliction.

But breathe easy. I’ve discovered a few helpful practices that all of us introverted entrepreneurs can use to turn this social anxiety into a secret asset.

1. Commit in advance, not in the moment

Networking is probably the single most important thing you can do for your business, for your team, and for yourself. It can also be the most stressful.

For many of us, there is nothing worse than standing in a room full of strangers and trying to jump into a conversation midstream. Fortunately, there is a more effective way to network: the one-on-one coffee.

While this may seem like a nightmare for a true introvert, it’s important to remember that the most uncomfortable part for introverts is typically the build-up. But technology can help make this part a breeze. Simply identify who you want to network with, look them up on LinkedIn, Twitter or a company website, and send them an email asking for some time to buy them coffee.

The trick is to do it far enough in advance that the ask is easy and there is no calendar pressure. By the time the coffee date comes around, you’re committed and it’s too late to rationalize a reason to cancel. The build-up for a one-on-one may still be uncomfortable, but it’s far less than the alternative. And it only gets easier with practice.