For me, the transition from a degree in the Humanities to a certificate program in public relations was unexpectedly difficult. Accustomed to solitary work and quiet contemplation, I suddenly found myself blundering in impromptu skits and silent during group brainstorming sessions, my mind blanking at the overflow of ideas offered by my more charismatic, outspoken peers.

Exhausted and doubting myself, I did a quick Google search: “Can introverts work in PR?”

The articles I found were immensely comforting. Most began with an explanation of what introversion is and is not. As I suspected, introverts don’t dislike social interaction; they are simply drained by it and recharge by being alone. Going from university’s 12 to college’s 25 hours of class a week was going to take my brain some getting used to.

At work, an introverted personality is often viewed as a liability. Challenging this misconception, Susan Cain and other professionals are advocating for the unique contributions of introverts in the workplace. Specifically:

Listening thoughtfully and communicating strategically

Introverts are natural listeners, carefully considering all ideas before responding with succinct, meticulous answers. This careful attention is appreciated by clients, assuring them of an organization’s sensitivity to and understanding of their needs. These skills also apply in times of crisis and when pitching to busy journalists. As Parmida Schahhosseini explains, “In public relations, it’s important to take the time to craft the perfect message…with all the noise, it’s not about speaking louder; it’s about bringing value every time you speak.”

Building one-on-one relationships

Group settings tend to silence introverts, their personalities shining through in individual interaction. The skills introverts use to establish meaningful connections in conversation apply to PR when building mutually beneficial partnerships with clients and the public.

While I still deeply envy the ease of communicating before crowds and boundless energy of my extroverted friends, introverts like myself are realizing that they don’t have to fake extroversion to succeed in PR. As Catherine Fisher puts it, “It’s my job to tell stories, deliver the message and help connect the dots for people… not be the life of the party.”