I have written many times during the past 18 months about how it was my loyal participation in #Blogchat on Twitter, and the encouragement of the #Blogchat Community, that gave me the knowledge and confidence needed to launch my own blog. So when I say that co-hosting #Blogchat this past Sunday night with Mack Collier was a sincere honor and tremendous pleasure, you should know how deeply I mean this!
Mack was kind enough to invite me to co-host with him and officially launch my new eBook with a Community that feels like it’s made of real friends. We chose the topic, “How Introverts Can Use Blogging to Boost Their Career” because of it’s interest to the #Blogchat community and because I have a full section on this in my eBook, “The Introvert’s Guide to Success in Business and Leadership.”
The speed of the chat was simply surreal (it flew by faster than LeadershipChat ever has!) and the conversation far-ranging. We went from a general overview of what it means to be an introvert (and how we’re different from our extroverted colleagues) to how to get a job, how to get promoted once you have a job, and how to use blogging as a leader and when you’ve reached the C-Suite.
Given the speed and breadth of the chat I wanted to share with you the tweets that I sent out Sunday night. They will serve as a bit of a primer on blogging for introverts!
A General Overview of Introversion:
It’s critically import that people understand key dif b/t being introverted & extroverted is where you get ur energy
Introverts get their energy frm “inner world” of ideas & images/extroverts frm “outer world” of ppl & activities
This is why –generally speaking- extroverts are more comfortable in the “outer world” of biz & leadership
Being introverted is NOT the same thing as being shy! However, introverts do prefer 2B alone or in small grps
It’s also extremely important for introverts to have time alone to recharge & bring best self to roles
Some of introverts’ inner strengths: Ideas, images, vision, listening, building close & trusting relationships
On Blogging for Introverts
Introverts also like to reflect on ideas, which is 1 key reason writing/blogging is ideal for introverts.
Think of all the ways you can capitalize on your inner strength – your brilliant ideas- to boost career!
Think of blog as gr8 way to put spotlight on ur brilliant ideas frm the comfort of home/office
This spotlight is critical b/c getting visibility for ur ideas w/in company is key 4 introverts who want 2B promoted
Getting spotlight on ur ideas also critical 4 introverts who are looking for a job. U get competitive edge w/recruiters
When you write about ideas that are important in your business/industry, you boost your credibility as well
For introverts key is to ensure that each post truly represents your ideas to best of your ability
How to Use Your Blog to Get a Job
When looking 4 a job, having a blog helps recruiter get better understanding of ur depth of expertise & experience
The more recruiter knows about you compared to other candidates, better your chance 2B brought in 4 interview
I have section on my resume called “My Executive Insights” w/links to leadership & mktg posts I highlight
Once I added blog links to resume, when talked w/potential clients they had already read my blog!
I discovered that once my clients were on my blog, they browsed categories and loved the personal posts
I think clients love personal posts because they get a feel for who you are as a person before deciding to meet
Once you get that interview, make sure you do awesome job of communicating brilliant ideas, introverts!
Remember when looking 4 job networking is vital! Having blog helps u meet ppl online, makes IRL meetings easier
How to Use Your Blog to Get Promoted
For introverts who want 2B promoted, it’s critical 2B visible in org, make ur ideas visible, & ask 4 job you want
Blog helps you make your ideas visible and can also demonstrate your readiness for gr8er responsibility.
Caveat: every org is different! I would have open discussion w/boss about blog & agree on level of openness they R comfort with.
Use blog 2 demonstrate knowledge of industry trends & analyze implications. Adds 2 credibility & promotability
IDEA: See if you can interview company execs 4 your blog. Gr8 for you, gr8 for company & gr8 1-on-1 networking!
IDEA: Ask execs/colleagues for topic requests. Then write about them & send links. Builds relationships->trust.
Offer to blog about company events as appropriate. This can be gr8 for the company and your visibility
Visibility for you/your ideas will build over time & you’ll find yourself on top mgt’s radar screen
Think of blogging as a great way to “stand out in a crowd” – but *comfortably* for introverts!
Leveraging Your Blog When You’re in Top Management
When you’re in top mgt, if you blog about leadership principles & values you’ll see them play out in ur team
The more ur team can connect w/who you are as a leader via blog, the more effective you’ll be over time
IMPORTANT: Remember, your team will watch to see that what you write about is what they see in action!
CEOs and Blogging
I work with a few CEOs who are starting to blog, but just internally at this point.
CEOs who are blogging say their employees absolutely love it and have told them look fwd to posts
For a CEO, blog gives employees a bit of a window into their everyday life & where they’re spending time
Blog also allows CEOs to communicate vision, mission, strategies to employees consistently over time
CEOs can use blog 2 help employees see how what they’re doing translates 2 lgr picture by spotlighting teams, etc…
Hat Tip to @SarahMae for Inspiring Me
A sincere thank you to @sarahmae who inspired me 2 write an eBook when she co-hosted #blogchat last spring! HER eBook: http://amzn.to/w1omcp
If you want to learn how to market and sell an eBook, I highly recommend you buy @sarahmae ‘s eBook on this very topic!
Thank you for the opportunity to Co-Host with you, Mack. It meant the world to me!
“The Introvert’s Guide to Success in Business and Leadership” eBook is NOW Available!
BUY NOW on Amazon for Kindle or click here to DOWNLOAD NOW in PDF format! Thank you!
Photo is typing by breahn.
11 Response Comments
Lisa you did a fan-damn-tastic job co-hosting #Blogchat! I loved the discussion and I was really struck by how many ‘new faces’ I noticed. I think it was partly due to the topic, and partly due to your fans showing up 😉
I would love to have you come back at some point in the future to chat again with us about how introverts can benefit from blogging, and I think the #Blogchat community would love it as well!
Mack, that truly means the world to me. I would be honored and look forward to it! Thank you again for the opportunity, it was an experience very close to my heart!
I loved your insight at #blogchat. It has given me a lot of thought of what I could blog about “career wise”
Thank you, Beth Anne and I’m so glad to know that! Wishing you all the best!
I started blogging again and I must say that it impresses people. I try to include a link to my latest post below my signature on e-mails and cover letters. It’s just another great tool for a job hunter.
One of the things I try to do is include a personal story in my blog. It seems to help the article flow and makes it more interesting.
Very true! My biggest problem is as a college grad the jobs I look for are like administrative assistant and entry level jobs so it’s like what do you blog about? Because blogging about organization…and filing will get boring.
Actually, Beth Anne, I disagree. I am looking for a job too and even though I have lots of experience, I am selling myself on organization skills. You’d be amazed on how many people lack organization skills. In fact, businesses fail becaue of it. So don’t sell yourself short. Organizational skills are very important.
oh okay thanks! I’ve put some google alerts up on things that I might be able to get ideas to blog about. I have some things in the works!
Beth Anne,
Blog about your view on life, the world, leadership, the industry you’re most interested in, etc…to allow people to see the real you. Remember, no one else sees the world from your eyes…let others in and watch what opens up for you!
Excellent, and great ideas for the readers as well. Thank you for sharing, Henry!