Introversion as a strength: How I learned to be quietly effective

The day I took the plunge: October 28, 2025. Swiss Digital Leadership Forum. The room for my breakout session is filling up – even beyond the available seats. A sign that the topic of AI branding resonates with many.

A personal reflection on quiet superpowers in the noisy world of marketing.

My pulse quickens. I'm standing at the front, about to start my breakout session: "𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥 - 𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐈 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲". A brand case study that I prepared for weeks – but now, at this moment, I feel one thing above all: I am far outside my comfort zone.

As an introvert, such moments are not my natural habitat. No workshop where I listen first and then ask precise questions. No meeting where I can quietly take notes. Here, I'm the one who has to speak. The one who is seen. The one who is the center of attention.

And yet: I consciously chose this opportunity.

The presentation is underway. I notice myself getting into the flow – not despite my nervousness, but because I've prepared so thoroughly. I've thought through every slide, every transition, every key message. Revised it multiple times. Written it down. Internalized it.

The feedback afterwards has overwhelmed me. Two comments in particular touched me:

• "Personal highlight of the day."

• "Number 1 among my key takeaways."

At that moment, I realized: My introverted work style wasn't the obstacle I had to overcome. It was the reason for my success.

This experience has once again shown me what introverted working styles can truly achieve:

1. Thorough preparation beats spontaneous brilliance

My SDLF presentation was successful because I took weeks beforehand to prepare – not just for the slides, but for deeply thinking through the story. What do I really want to say? Which insights are most valuable? How do I build suspense? Where do I deliberately pause?

This time for reflection is not a waste for introverts. It is a prerequisite for precision.

Without firmly scheduled reflection phases, no well-thought-out concepts emerge – only superficial to-do lists and generic presentations. While others might be spontaneously brilliant, my strength lies in meticulous preparation. And that pays off.

2. Written clarity provides security.

In preparation, I wrote down my key messages several times. This not only helped me to organize my thoughts, but also gave me the confidence to stay focused despite my nervousness. Introverts often think better in writing than speaking. In emails, drafts, and notes, we give substance to our thoughts – long before they need to be voiced. This isn't a weakness, but a method. One that is often underestimated in today's fast-paced world.

When I'm about to give an important presentation, I've already run through a hundred versions in my head – because I've written them down. This gives me the confidence to be precise at the crucial moment.

3. Substance attracts – even without volume

The packed room at SDLF wasn't because I had the most charismatic or loudest voice in the program. People came because the topic was relevant. Because the presentation was well thought out. Because the insights were valuable. This is an important lesson in a world that often mistakes presence and volume for competence. But true substance needs no show. It speaks for itself.

Especially in times when speed often seems more important than depth, those who first reflect, then analyze – and finally respond with real added value – gain in importance. It’s not about speaking louder. It's about sharing your message clearly.

Introversion as a performance booster

This experience at the Swiss Digital Leadership Forum has once again confirmed for me: Introverted working methods can become a real performance booster – for brand projects, for content creation, for authentic positioning.

It's not about becoming louder or pretending to be someone you're not. It's about consciously using your own strengths:

• The ability to analyze deeply

• Patience in preparation

• The precision in expression

• The peace that gives others space

• The substance that convinces without volume

Sometimes this leads to a conference room being more crowded than expected. Sometimes it means going on stage despite nervousness. But the impact is real.

And in the end, it's not how loud you were that counts – but what people were able to take away with them.