Ep 188 – Embracing Introverted Strengths in Public Relations with Alexson Calahan

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Show Notes

Ever wondered how introverts can thrive in the world of public relations? Join The Quiet and Strong Podcast as host David Hall sits down with Alexson Calahan, founder of Small Adventures Communications, to explore this intriguing dynamic. In this episode, you’ll learn about the unique strengths introverts bring to PR and how these attributes can lead to authentic storytelling and relationship building.

Key takeaways include:
– The power of observation as a key strength for introverts
– Strategies for public speaking and dealing with anxiety
– Comfortably and authentically showing up to share your story

Discover how embracing introverted strengths can lead to success in public relations, whether you’re naturally quiet or prefer deeper, one-on-one connections. This episode provides valuable insights for introverts looking to expand their comfort zones and make their voices heard.

Tune in to understand why both introverts and extroverts can excel in PR, and how you can leverage your unique abilities in the field.

Listen now, and be strong.

Embracing Our Quiet Strengths: A Conversation with Alexson Calahan

Alexson is the founder of Small Adventures Communications, and she joined us to discuss the importance and power of introverts using their voices, especially in fields like public relations (PR). I’m excited to walk you through the enriching insights and practical tips she shared on this episode.

Discovering Introversion: A Personal Journey

Alexson’s path to understanding and embracing her introversion began during her college and grad school years. Personality tests played a crucial role in this self-discovery. Many of us relate to her journey—how we often come across terms like “introvert” and “extrovert” during academic evaluations, and how profoundly they resonate with our lived experiences.

Alexson recounted how embracing her introversion was particularly challenging given her career in public relations, a field typically associated with extroversion. But she also realized that her introverted nature could be her greatest asset.

The Power of Observation: A Quiet Superpower

One of the most compelling points Alexson made was about the power of observation. As introverts, we often have a keen sense of awareness that allows us to pick up on subtleties that others may overlook. Alexson shared how her observational skills enable her to notice emotions, trends, and subtleties, which are extremely valuable in building meaningful and mutually beneficial relationships.

Debunking Myths: The Shy Introvert Fallacy

A resounding theme throughout our conversation was the need to debunk the myth that all introverts are shy or dislike people. Alexson emphasized the introvert’s deep-seated need for meaningful connections. This need is not a deterrent but rather an asset, making us uniquely equipped to excel in fields that require understanding and relationship-building, such as PR.

Authenticity and Personal Branding

We delved into the importance of authenticity in personal branding and visibility. For introverts, authenticity is often our default state, making it a natural strength. Alexson discussed how we could leverage this for business growth and career advancement. She advised focusing on sharing our stories in a manner that’s both genuine and comfortable, and to strategically use social media to connect with our target audience.

Strategic Public Relations: Building Relationships and Sharing Stories

The crux of PR, according to Alexson, is about strategically building mutually beneficial relationships and telling authentic stories. She shared practical advice on how introverts could excel in PR—by focusing on building deep, meaningful relationships rather than engaging in large networking events. She also emphasized the use of storytelling as a powerful tool to illustrate facts and connect with audiences on a deeper level.

Public Speaking: Preparation is Key

Both Alexson and I agree that public speaking tips often need to be tailored for introverts. Alexson’s experience with a speech coach who was also an introvert was particularly enlightening. The key takeaway? Preparation. Introverts benefit from having ample time to process and prepare, making the speaking engagement less draining and more impactful.

Embracing and Leveraging Introverted Strengths

A major part of our conversation centered around leveraging introverted strengths. Understanding our own needs and prioritizing them is crucial, especially in settings like PR where energy management is essential. Alexson shared her tactics for recharging and processing, which are vital for sustaining long-term success.

The Importance of Stories: 22 Times More Memorable

One of the standout points was Alexson’s highlight of how stories are 22 times more memorable than facts. This statistic underscores the power of storytelling in PR and beyond. Alexson introduced a messaging framework called ACT (Action, Content, Thought), which can help us structure our narratives effectively.

Key Takeaways

Here are a few key takeaways from this episode:

• Importance of Introverts Using Their Voice: Introverts bring a unique perspective and quiet strength to their areas of passion.
• Power of Observation: Introverts can excel in public relations by utilizing their observational skills to notice emotions, trends, and build deep connections.
• Debunking Myths: Introverts are not necessarily shy; they seek deeper connections and enjoy meaningful relationships.
• Personal Branding and Visibility: Effective PR involves authentic storytelling, social media usage, and strategic relationship building for career and business growth.
• Preparation for Public Speaking: Introverts benefit from mental preparation, having a presentation outline, and focusing on messaging rather than reading notes.
• Emphasizing Authenticity: Leveraging introverted strengths allows for natural and comfortable ways to share one’s story and messaging.
• Storytelling Impact: Stories are more memorable than facts, and using a messaging framework can enhance PR efforts.
  

Make Changes Now

Here are a few actionable steps you can take immediately after listening to this episode of The Quiet And Strong Podcast:

1. Embrace Your Introverted Strengths: Reflect on your introverted qualities, such as observation and deep thinking, and how they can be assets in your professional and personal life. Begin by jotting down instances where these strengths have benefited you.
2. Create a Personal Branding Strategy: Start developing a personal branding strategy that feels authentic to you. Identify key stories from your life or career that illustrate who you are and what you do. Use these stories to craft your messaging framework.
3. Utilize Social Media with Intention: Choose one or two social media platforms where your target audience is most active. Begin sharing professional content that aligns with your brand and the stories you want to tell. Make sure your approach feels comfortable and sustainable for you.
4. Set Boundaries and Prioritize Recharge Time: Acknowledge your need for alone time and integrate breaks into your daily routine. Schedule short recharge periods between tasks or after social interactions to maintain your energy levels.
5. Prepare for Public Speaking: Whether you have an upcoming speech, presentation, or podcast interview, start preparing in advance. Outline your key messages and stories, practice, and consider working with a speech coach if you experience anxiety around public speaking.

These steps are designed to help you embrace your introverted nature while leveraging your unique strengths for success in areas of passion and professional growth.

Embrace Your Quiet Strengths

Understanding and embracing our introverted strengths is a journey worth undertaking. Alexson Calahan’s insights serve as a reminder that our quiet strengths can indeed be powerful tools in fields like public relations, traditionally dominated by extroverts.

Thank you for joining me on this reflective exploration of our latest episode. Until next time, remember to embrace your quiet strengths and continue to succeed on your own terms.

Connect and Grow: Resources and Next Steps

Lastly, we discussed the value of stories in various contexts, from podcast interviews to PR work. Preparation is our ally here—having a library of stories to draw from can make all the difference.

As always, I invite you to connect with me via email or through our website, quietandstrong.com, where you can find blog posts and links to our social media channels. Feel free to suggest new topics or guests for future episodes!
Additionally, for those interested in further understanding their introversion, we offer a free type finder personality assessment on our website, which includes a brief report and a 4-letter Myers Briggs code. A full report can be purchased for more in-depth insights.

Links and Contacts

Alexson Calahan founded Small Adventures Communications, a PR agency that helps nonprofits build smart public relations plans that drive real results. Since 2006, she has provided PR counsel to global organizations, acting as both a trusted advisor and tactician. She has designed and led campaigns ranging from local event promotion to state-wide advocacy to national health-behavior change – all with successful results. In nearly 20 years of working with well-known nonprofits, she has built communications and public relations plans that have changed legislation, raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the mission, driven health behavior change, and brought fresh event participants and donors to the table.

She also uses her 20 years of PR expertise, a lifetime of introversion, and successful business experience to build a systemic approach to move business leaders from complete PR novices to comfortable beginners and beyond in ways that build their businesses and still feel like themselves.

Connect with Alexson:

Website: SmallAdventuresCommunications.com

Socials: LinkedIn

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David Hall

Author, Speaker, Educator, Podcaster

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Timestamped Overview

00:00 Alexon Callahan founded Small Adventures Communications, a PR agency for nonprofits, and hosts the Quiet and Strong podcast.
04:39 Discovered introverted nature in college, embraced in PR career.
09:07 Helping introverted business owners share their stories and expertise through authentic public relations.
11:12 Different approaches between introverted and extroverted colleagues, focusing on individual stories rather than big events.
14:27 The text discusses the need to expand social circles, the importance of messaging, and the challenges faced by introverts in communication.
18:29 Public health professional prioritizes contextualizing statistics with impactful stories to drive collective action.
20:40 Preparing and organizing thoughts important for introverts to come across clearly in meetings and conversations.
25:58 Preparing for speeches or workshops, focusing on memorizing key points instead of reading notes to deliver a natural conversation. Recording and listening to practice speeches to ingrain content in memory. Can’t multitask reading notes and speaking.
28:39 The speaker prioritizes setting boundaries for personal energy at conferences.
32:03 Podcasts and social media are effective for professional positioning and public relations with low risk and high return.
36:10 Encouragement for introverts to use their voices.
38:39 Invitation to connect, website and personality assessment offer.

Podcast Transcript

Alexson Calahan [00:00:00]:
Whatever your passion is, whatever, like, your thing is, I want to give you like a permission slip to use your voice in that area. Because our voices as introverts, like, even though it’s not our natural way to go out there and say stuff, our voices are needed because we bring a different perspective. We bring, you know, this quiet strength that you talk about. Like, we we bring this, and it is a different way of seeing the world. And if we can kind of incorporate that more into, like, our collective dialogue, I think that’s a win win for everybody.

David Hall [00:00:44]:
Hello, and welcome to episode 188 of the Quiet and Strong podcast, especially for introverts. I’m your host, David Hall, and the creator of quietandstrong.com. This is a weekly podcast dedicated to understanding the strengths and needs of introverts along with strategies for success. Introversion is not something to fix, but to be embraced. Normally, we’ll learn each episode on a Monday. Be sure to subscribe on your favorite platform. Leave a review or rating. That would mean a lot to me and also help others find the show.

David Hall [00:01:15]:
Tell a friend about the podcast and help get the word out there that introversion is a beautiful thing. Alexon Callahan founded Small Adventures Communications, a public relations agency that helps nonprofits build smart public relation plans that drive real results. Since 2006, she has provided PR counsel to global organizations acting as both a trusted adviser and a tactician. She has designed and led campaigns ranging from local event promotion to statewide advocacy to national health behavior change, all with successful results. In nearly 20 years of working with well known nonprofits, she has built communications and public relation plans that have changed legislation, raised 100 of 1,000 of dollars for the mission, driven health behavior change, and brought fresh event participants and donors to the table. She also uses her 20 years of PR expertise, a lifetime of introversion and successful business experience to build a systematic approach to move business leaders from complete PR novices to comfortable beginners and beyond in ways that build their businesses and still feel like themselves. Alright. Well, welcome to the Quiet and Strong podcast, Alexon.

Alexson Calahan [00:02:43]:
Thank you. I’m excited to be here.

David Hall [00:02:45]:
So good to have you on today. So we’re gonna talk about the work you do in public relations. But, also, before we do that, let’s just talk about yourself and your journey as an introvert to the work that you’re doing now.

Alexson Calahan [00:02:59]:
Yeah. Absolutely. So I would say that I’ve always, you know, like, tended towards introversion. I am very much the type of person who needs, you know, that alone time to recharge. I remember as a kid, like, you know, big family parties and gatherings, I was definitely the one taking my book to a tree to go, like, have a little bit of alone time amid all that wild celebration. So that’s always been a big piece of my personality. In public relations, one of the biggest skills that we always utilize is writing. So I’ve been a lifelong writer and fan of words.

Alexson Calahan [00:03:37]:
And so just kinda naturally when I went to school, I was in the business school, found my way to PR, and just absolutely love this sector of business. It’s so beautiful to me to kind of have the professional, like, need to pull together relationships, tell stories, just, like, find opportunities. That’s something that as an introvert, you know, I’m good at observing things and seeing things. So that’s the you know, I’m good at observing things and seeing things. So that’s the field I fell into. I spent the bulk of my 20 year career at nonprofit organizations, leading communications and PR. And then about 3 years ago, started my own PR firm, Small Adventures Communications, and it’s been a pretty cool ride. Like, lots of lots of things that I’ve learned about owning a business, about myself, about being an introvert that I’ve been able to leverage in new ways.

David Hall [00:04:30]:
Yeah. So when did you put the term introvert? You know, when did you apply that to yourself? How did you discover it? And, you know, was it something that you had to embrace?

Alexson Calahan [00:04:39]:
Yeah. I mean, I would say I I kind of became aware of it probably in college or grad school, you know, with, like, a Myers Briggs type of test. Like, that idea of being an introvert just gave words to feelings and needs and, you know, like, my nature that I’d always had. So in public relations, a lot of folks you know, there’s, of course, both types of people, but I think people generally associate publicists and people in PR with being a little bit more extroverted. They’re you know, you think of people being a little pushier when they’re pitching. You think of people hosting lots of events and schmoozing, and that’s not my style at all. So in feeling at home professionally, it definitely you know, it took seeing a lot of strong introverted mentors, you know, embracing that side of themselves and knowing that that was a great like, that there are strengths within this nature I have that I can bring to this professional world and and be better for it. So it it definitely took a while to lean into these strengths.

David Hall [00:05:42]:
Yeah. So what is the strength or 2 that you have because you’re an introvert?

Alexson Calahan [00:05:46]:
I think that my favorite introvert strength is that, you know, because we’re not always in the thick of things focused on doing. Right? Like, we sit back, we process, and that power of observation is incredible. I love that, you know, I can kind of see things. I can notice emotions and trends. I can put all these observations of what I’m seeing, like, in the big wide world, in the organization with individuals, put them together, and especially working the way that I do and, like, finding mutually beneficial relationships and strengthening them and telling stories like that power of observation, being able to pull it all together has led to some pretty cool stuff. So that power of observation is absolutely my favorite introvert superpower.

David Hall [00:06:33]:
Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. And of course, on this show, we talk about strengths and you’ll probably hit on some more strengths as we go. We talk about strategies for success, and we’ll talk about how you’ve leaned into your introverted strengths for the work that you do. But also we bust myths. And so is there a myth about introversion you wanna bust today?

Alexson Calahan [00:06:54]:
Yeah. I think my the intro the introverted myth that I’d like to bust is that introverts are all shy. Like, my whole life, I’ve always said, like, oh, I’m shy until you get to know me. And I didn’t realize that that’s because, you know, I’m not really all that shy. With introverts, we know it takes us a while to warm up, you know, it’s about finding interesting things to discuss with folks. It’s about building that one on one, you know, connection, it’s never gonna be I’m never gonna walk into a room full of people and connect with all of them. That’s really overwhelming for us. So it’s about I think that myth that we’re shy.

Alexson Calahan [00:07:32]:
No, we’re not we just have a different energy level and a different need for connection. It’s not like one to many. It’s, it’s one to 1. And once we once we connect, it’s all good, just like anybody else.

David Hall [00:07:45]:
Yeah. And often it’s we want deeper connections. Yeah. And that’s really important to us. And so it’s it’s just funny. And I also regularly bust the myth that, you know, introverts don’t like people. That’s ridiculous.

Alexson Calahan [00:07:56]:
Right.

David Hall [00:07:57]:
It’s just like we might want social activities in different doses and different settings, but everybody likes people.

Alexson Calahan [00:08:06]:
Yeah. In different amounts. Yes. In

David Hall [00:08:09]:
different amounts. Yeah. For sure. So tell us of just tell for those that might not know, give us a a nutshell of what’s all involved in public relations.

Alexson Calahan [00:08:20]:
Yeah. So I think when we think about public relations and the folks that we see doing that, like, in shows and movies, you know, we get it’s really easy to associate it with a lot of tactical stuff. So it you know, we think that it’s putting on events. It’s spinning the news. It’s like, you know, putting out press releases and managing crises, and it is all of that. But the way that I approach PR is really foundational. So what public relations is at the, you know, at its core is is strategically building mutually beneficial relationships between yourself or your business and the people who can help you achieve your goals. And when you think about it like that, like, it is such an introvert sweet spot because we, you know, are great at building relationships.

Alexson Calahan [00:09:07]:
We’re great at, like, you know, kind of finding those deeper connections, those deeper benefits that we can have or our organizations can have with each other. And so it’s about just kinda taking that introvert strength that we have as individuals and doing it at a larger scale. So it is telling stories in the new business. It is positioning, you know, organizations and individuals as experts at what they do. But, you know, it’s it’s doing it in a really authentic way and a big piece of what I do because I work specifically with introverted business owners to feel more comfortable talking about their business and positioning themselves. It’s really important that when, you know, we’ve got introverted business owners who are experts of what they do, and have been doing it for years, like I work with them to use public relations to be a tool. Right? Like, that’s all it really is. It’s just a set of tools to be able to comfortably share your story, whether it’s through social media or through earned media or speaking opportunities.

Alexson Calahan [00:10:09]:
Like, these things don’t need to be big and scary. And so it’s all about finding ways to build it into your boundaries, build it into your nature. So it feels comfortable. It’s not draining. It doesn’t feel icky or, like, you’re having to wear an extroverted mask when you’re talking about your business or the things that you can do or your expertise in a field. It should feel natural. It should feel like you, and it should be all aimed towards building those mutually beneficial relationships. So that’s Yeah.

Alexson Calahan [00:10:39]:
Kind of what I do.

David Hall [00:10:41]:
Absolutely. And you talked about something a bit ago. Absolutely. There’s gonna be extroverts and introverts doing PR. And that’s another myth that we bust on this show. It’s you know, a lot of times there isn’t a job that’s for introverts or extroverts. I think most jobs can be done by an introvert or extrovert. Just they might go about it a little bit differently.

David Hall [00:11:05]:
And what have you seen that’s really different from how an extrovert might do PR versus an introvert?

Alexson Calahan [00:11:12]:
Oh, that’s a good question. I think, you know, there’s there’s so many different differences between the way we approach things. I see it tactically. I see, like, my extroverted colleagues are the first to say, well, let’s do a big launch event. Let’s throw a party. Let’s make a big thing. And whereas my tactical approach can sometimes be more, let’s find that individual story. Let’s position this feature story, and it doesn’t necessarily have to be an event, but let’s find that perfect story, that human story within this.

Alexson Calahan [00:11:44]:
So just like that different, you know, approach to things. Not that either one is right or wrong. Like, there’s a place for all of these things, but I that is probably one of the biggest differences that I see. But I totally agree with you. I I hate it when people say, oh, yeah. All the accountants are introverts. Yeah. You know, like, all the all the actors are extroverts.

Alexson Calahan [00:12:06]:
Like, it’s no. We all can do different things. It just looks a little different.

David Hall [00:12:11]:
Yeah. It’s funny. The the acting comes up a lot on this show, and 50% of the population are introverts. Mhmm. And at least, if not more, 50% of actors are introverts. And it’s just it it’s just it’s just like what we’re talking about. You’re gonna do PR a little differently than an extroverted colleague. The introverted actor is gonna approach things differently, but, you know, they have a performance they wanna do.

David Hall [00:12:40]:
It’s just they might just do it a little bit differently. You know, it’s it it’s you could say, oh, this actor is an introvert. And people, oh, no. They can’t be, but it it’s it’s very interesting.

Alexson Calahan [00:12:50]:
Yeah. It is. And it I think it’s important too that people realize that it’s not it’s not always you might not be able to tell the difference, right, between an introvert and an extrovert just by interacting with them. You think that you can. You think the shy, quiet like, the quiet one is gonna be the introvert. But introverts can also, like, be verbose and share things and be out there. It’s just that comfort level. And what are you doing before and after, you know, to recharge?

David Hall [00:13:18]:
Yeah. And you it’s you can’t see what’s going on in their head.

Alexson Calahan [00:13:23]:
Yeah. You

David Hall [00:13:23]:
know? And I know some very loud and outspoken introverts, but they’re introverts because they’re deep thinkers. They process thing internally. They need time to think often. So yeah. Very good points. So, you know, your story, you’ve been doing PR for other people for the last 20 years, and recently you started with your own business. Tell us about that switch.

Alexson Calahan [00:13:47]:
Yeah. It’s been really fascinating because for, you know, for 20 years, it was my goal. I worked for large public health organizations, so I was positioning some of the smartest people, like, in health fields, you know, people with doctors and loads of acronyms behind their names as experts. You know, these were the folks you would see on the Today Show or in USA Today or Wall Street Journal. Like, these were these are true top tier experts. And I was very comfortable with that. I love, you know, helping other people shine. And so 3 years ago when I started my business, I found that to keep growing at the pace that I was at the start, like, I needed to get out there.

Alexson Calahan [00:14:27]:
I needed to know more people than, you know, are in my core group, more people than, like, colleagues and current clients and needed to expand. And so that required me to kind of apply everything I’ve learned in over 20 years to myself. And it would you know, I had the tools. I had, like, the framework to do all this, but that didn’t necessarily make it the easiest thing. So, like, I always, you know, whether I’m working with clients or myself, I begin with messaging, like, who are you? What are you doing? What is the point? And really, like, build that message, build that story first, and then we’re able to take it outside once you’re comfortable with it. Because I think as introverts, like, one thing that I really rely on is having, like, this library of stories and library of anecdotes and, like, you know, messaging in my head because when I can just tap into it, like, in a flow state, instead of having to think about every word that I’m saying, I do a lot better. So it’s building all of that all of that framework for myself, figuring out what those words are that I feel comfortable with. And then how do I take it? I take that story beyond my current audience and build in boundaries and time for me to, like, have that processing time, have that recharge time.

Alexson Calahan [00:15:50]:
You know, like, when I’m coming on to podcast like this, like, one thing I love about coming on podcasts is that often, like, you get the questions in advance, which for an introvert is amazing because it gives me that processing time. Like you said, you know, I can sit the night before and, like, jot down my notes. What do I wanna mention here and there? And it just makes the whole thing feel a lot more comfortable and so much less draining than an interview where you don’t have any chance to prepare. So those are some some good lessons, some good boundaries I’ve learned for myself about what works for me, and I it’s it’s been really fun to kinda then take that to other folks. Because, you know, if I, as an introverted business owner with a background in PR, struggled with this, then definitely introverted business owners and other spaces are gonna need these tools too. So that’s that’s what I’m focusing on right now. It’s been really fun.

David Hall [00:16:43]:
Yeah. So this is really these two topics go together, but they’re separate. So you mentioned storytelling and preparation, and we definitely need to do preparation to have our stories ready because as introverts, often our skill isn’t thinking on our feet. We we’re we are great thinkers. We have great imaginations. It just we process things in a longer amount of time. So I have 2 questions, really. It’s tell us about the value of stories in all this work, like being on a podcast, you know, promoting yourself on a podcast or giving a presentation or in other areas where you know, in PR work.

David Hall [00:17:28]:
What’s the value of stories? And then let’s talk a little bit more about preparation both with stories and and other aspects. So what Yeah. Why why are stories so important?

Alexson Calahan [00:17:39]:
So I always lean on this statistic that stories are 22 times more memorable than facts. So I could go up and I could, you know, tell people like, oh, I’ve secured, you know, like, more than a 1000 media stories over my career. I’ve secured more than a 1000000000 media impressions over my career. I’m like, cool. But what does that mean? You know, that doesn’t that doesn’t mean a whole lot to most people. It doesn’t even mean a whole lot in PR circles, honestly. But what what do you do? How have you helped people? You know? Like, so being able and when you can illustrate that with a story and you can talk about how, you know, you help business owners feel more comfortable and authentic getting out there, sharing their story, positioning themselves as the experts that they are, then that’s something that people remember that they can identify with. So I love to use stories.

Alexson Calahan [00:18:29]:
Like, I don’t shy away from facts with that background in public health, and a lot of my clients these days are still health organizations. So, like, we love our statistics. You know, 1 in 10 and 20%, like, all these things to give the global picture, like, risk or impact, but that cannot stand alone. So we have to identify those stories, identify those instances where we’re really illustrating that statistic in action, and then talk about, you know, how we can collectively, like, kinda change the change the future, change the narrative and the way that things move forward. Like I said, a lot of the work I do in addition to working with entrepreneurs is in public health, so it’s around things like, you know, reducing incidence of heart disease and cancer and stuff. So we’re talking a lot about how so many people are impacted. We tell an individual story, and then we move on to how can we how is the organization taking action? How can you as an individual take action too? So I’m stories can be a nice way to remember those statistics, really, like, internalizing even if you don’t remember the numbers because the numbers aren’t what’s important. It’s how it’s impacting people.

David Hall [00:19:41]:
Yeah.

Alexson Calahan [00:19:41]:
I was gonna say the second question, remind me of what it was because I got so into that one.

David Hall [00:19:45]:
I just I just so I know, like, for myself and others, I have some beautiful stories in my head. But as you were saying, you need to gather them ahead of time Mhmm. And have them ready for that interview or or that speech or presentation. And so you need and and and preparation is the key to our success as introverts because Mhmm. Again, you know, we’re not always good at thinking on the spot. Although, you know, I will say, like, for you, talking about public relations or introversion, you don’t have a problem thinking on the spot because you’re you’ve already done the thinking. Right? And, you know, I joke that I could talk about introversion all day. But there’s other things where you you need need need to prepare and get your stories together and get the things that you wanna talk about together ahead of time for for many things.

David Hall [00:20:36]:
So talk about the the preparation that’s needed.

Alexson Calahan [00:20:40]:
Yeah. I think that’s super important for us as introverts. I know I use it as a business owner. Like, I prepare how I present myself when I’m out and about. But even when I was an employee, like, preparing for, you know, small meetings, big meetings, like, what is what are we what am I trying to say? Because when I have to think on my feet, it never comes out as clearly as I want it to. Like, I’ve got it all up here, you know, but taking those couple extra minutes to sit down before you talk to somebody or before you go into a meeting and really, like, identifying what it is you’re trying to do, like, the observations you’ve made that, like, you know, kinda strengthen your point. When you are able to do that, it really can be so much more powerful because I think people can see the difference too when we’re introverts thinking on our feet versus when we’re introverts who are reaching into our depths and knowing, like, this is truly what I think. You know? It it can appear a little disjointed if you’re not prepared.

Alexson Calahan [00:21:44]:
So I love to focus on those messages in advance. I’ve got, like, you know, my little library in my brain of business stories and and, you know, other things that I’m able to pull from, and I find that that is so, so helpful. It’s something I’ve focused on a lot more in the past year, and I have seen business growth because of it because I’m just able to present myself more in line with what my expertise is versus appearing a little flaky, a little, you know, all over the place. It’s just that that difference is preparation.

David Hall [00:22:20]:
Yeah. Do you have something you do to gather your stories and have them ready?

Alexson Calahan [00:22:25]:
Yeah. I use I so I have a messaging framework. Like I said, a lot of the public relations work that I do, it’s, you know, just to kinda back up a bit. I I like to say that public relations warms the room. Like, it’s not sales, but it’s kind of making things easier for sales or in the nonprofit space, like donations or advocacy work or whatever. So all of it is designed to get people to act at the end of the day. So I use a messaging framework that uses the acronym ACT, and that a is for awareness. So that’s where we really focus on, like, the current situation, like I said, or that statistic.

Alexson Calahan [00:23:05]:
The c is where we build credibility by sharing a story. And then that t is for together. So that’s, like, the next step forward. It’s really having a clear call to action to make sure that people know how they can be a part of the solution or be a part of what you’re offering next. I find that that framework works in so many different situations, and I I really love it. It’s all about having that common thread. You know? So you’re showing the global picture, an individual instance, and then how you can be a part of this. It it really is helpful.

David Hall [00:23:37]:
Yeah. So what do you say to the client that maybe be that would be nervous about coming on a podcast or or doing a speech? And I do wanna say that that’s not all introverts because some introverts are wildly confident, and some that aren’t can absolutely gain that confidence. And that’s what this show is all about because I definitely was shy earlier in my life. I am not anymore. And for me, it was just understanding my introversion that gave me confidence. So for those that aren’t confident, what what do you say to them about going on a podcast or giving a speech?

Alexson Calahan [00:24:13]:
Yeah. I think for me, one of the things that made a huge difference was especially when it came to public speaking, I did a speech about almost a year ago. And when I was asked to do it, like, my stomach froze. I was terrified, but I said yes anyway because it was a great opportunity. And to prepare for that, I found a speech coach who’s also an introvert, which was really, really helpful because there was an understanding of, like, you know, how important preparation is, how important taking some alone time before the speech, after the speech was. That was really, really helpful. So finding somebody who, you know, can help you through the process of putting yourself out there, whether it’s in a speech or an earned media who’s also an introvert, can be really helpful because they’re gonna understand your, you know, natural, like, resistance to some things.

David Hall [00:25:06]:
I think oh,

Alexson Calahan [00:25:08]:
I’m sorry.

David Hall [00:25:09]:
Yeah. That’s key because the advice is different. So I’ve I learned and I don’t get nervous when I when I speak. I could speak in front of a large crowd. I used to. Oh, absolutely. And I don’t get nervous doing this podcast. But what I learned was if I looked at my extroverted colleague, my preparation was so much different than theirs.

David Hall [00:25:31]:
And and extroverted advice often doesn’t work for us introverts. You know? It’s just it might just be, well, just get out there. Whereas it’s like, oh, you need to do your preparation. And often, we learn best from fellow introverts. Now we can learn from an extrovert if they understand introversion and many do, you know, but that that’s key is is they need to understand how we work and how we work best.

Alexson Calahan [00:25:58]:
Mhmm. Yeah. One of the things I found in preparing for speeches or, like, you know, workshops or anything like that where there’s a lot going on, but you are the the main, like, deliverer of a message. I found I and I don’t know if it’s an introvert thing or or what, but, like, I can’t read my notes and have a natural sounding conversation at the same time. So that’s where that, like, preparation piece comes in and, like, having that messaging ready. I’m not memorizing a script, but I am memorizing the key points of my story so that I can hit it in a flow state instead and, like, not really be having to think about it because I’ve got the muscle memory. I’ve told the story a couple of times. Like, I record myself practicing speeches a lot and listen back to them just to ingrain my brain with it because looking at notes and bullet points, no matter how simple they are, I can’t multitask.

Alexson Calahan [00:26:51]:
There’s just too many things coming in because I’ve got a room full of people watching me, a PowerPoint up, notes, and my own, like, you know, low level anxiety bubbling. It’s it’s too much. So relying on that messaging is key, key and having a coach that understood that was really nice.

David Hall [00:27:07]:
Yeah. And it’s it’s often, it’s for me, I’m not I’m not gonna memorize, but I am gonna think about and go through mentally, like, all the points I wanna make. You know. And having a presentation helps keep on track most of the time. But it’s it’s it’s really having getting in your head. What points am I gonna make? What stories am I gonna tell? And doing that ahead of time is very valuable. So, like, I usually, hopefully, have have plenty of time to do it in advance. You know, let’s say, you know, I’m all done in a couple weeks ahead of time.

David Hall [00:27:42]:
But then during that couple weeks, things are still coming to me. I’m still my mind is still working on the presentation and and refining it and and, you know, noting those things that, oh, yeah. I should also talk about this, that kind of thing.

Alexson Calahan [00:27:56]:
Yeah. Absolutely. The more time we have, the more good ideas we can have. I like that. The other the other thing that I 2 other pieces of advice for people who get nervous putting themselves out there, whether with speeches or earned media or, you know, whatever it is, I think it’s really important to try things so that you understand what your boundaries are. Like, I did a workshop earlier in the summer, and I it was part of a bigger conference. It was, like, a lot of peopling all morning, and then my workshop was after lunch. And I knew that I needed to spend lunchtime not peopling so that I could, like, recharge from the morning and come into that workshop feeling really good.

Alexson Calahan [00:28:39]:
So, like, I like to joke that I did not just go out to my car in the parking lot. I had to drive my car to an empty, like, no no empty cars even around my car. Like, I needed all the space to just sit and really get where I needed to be at, you know, energy wise to be able to go and give that work. And then, you know, of course, I went, and it was awesome. And the rest of the day was super cool, but I wouldn’t have known that if I was not really tuned into my own, like, need for these boundaries because especially at a conference, it’s really easy to feel like you need to push through and you’re there to network and you paid so much money for this ticket and, like, you know what I mean? We kind of shame ourselves into needing to extrovert all the time when that’s just not what’s actually best for our energy levels. So definitely recommend that.

David Hall [00:29:31]:
Yeah. That needs to be okay. You know, it and I’ve been through that to where you feel like, okay, well, I have to I’m going to this event. I have to just be active social the whole time. And that’s not how we work. You know? And I definitely learned that it’s it’s normal to maybe take a walk by yourself where and people do feel shamed by that and they shouldn’t. I I did, but now it’s just like, you know what? This is what I need. You know? I need just a little bit break just like you described.

David Hall [00:30:06]:
I just need a little bit of break, and then I’ll be I’ll be good. But you have to figure out what you need and plan for it. You know? And and maybe you are giving a speech, and it’s like, you know what? After I I need a little break before I engage with with other people, but it just it and it it should be normal. And, you know, it’s like we’re deep thinkers. And if we haven’t been able to to do that thinking that we want, it can be very draining. You know? Yeah. And and we gotta learn how to recharge and what recharges what recharges us and how often we gotta do that. Yeah.

Alexson Calahan [00:30:45]:
I think that’s one of the hardest lessons that I’ve learned in adulthood. It’s like, as a kid, you know, you’re all like, you’re pushed towards, like, being out there and making friends, and don’t be shy. Like, you’re fine. You got this. And so owning that, like, no. I will be better if I just take a 5 minute walk by myself or go read a book in a tree or go sit in an empty car. Like, I just need

David Hall [00:31:06]:
Yeah.

Alexson Calahan [00:31:07]:
Quiet for my own brain. Yeah.

David Hall [00:31:09]:
Yeah. And sometimes you’re gonna wanna spend that time talking with people and sometimes you’re gonna need a break and it’s all good. You just gotta figure out what you need, not what somebody else needs.

Alexson Calahan [00:31:21]:
Yeah. Absolutely.

David Hall [00:31:22]:
So what what other advice do you have for introverts when it comes to PR?

Alexson Calahan [00:31:26]:
I think, you know, we’ve covered a lot of it. Like, I really think that it’s so important to spend that time just like figuring out who you are and what your business is like. We all know that we need to be visible to grow our businesses, if that’s if that’s your world, you know, like owning a business or being an employee who wants to advance your career. Either way, you’ve got to be visible. You’ve got to be out there. So finding ways to comfortably and authentically show up and share that story is really important. And I think that starts with the messaging. Like, we talked about, like, planning your story.

Alexson Calahan [00:32:03]:
What are you gonna say? What points are you gonna hit? And then making sure that you’ve got those recharge points and finding ways to share your story that aren’t super draining. Like I said, I love podcasts for this because it’s like building on that strength. Right? Like, it feels like a 1 on 1 conversation, but there are people listening. So that’s cool. I think that’s like, podcasts on social media are such a natural place to start for people who are looking to professionally position themselves, use public relations to kind of advance their career or grow their business. You know, those are those are some really nice, easy places to start that feel pretty low risk, but are still gonna be high return.

David Hall [00:32:41]:
Yeah. So let’s talk a little bit about social media. So what what introvert advice do you have there?

Alexson Calahan [00:32:48]:
I think it’s important to be authentic to yourself, especially now, like, there’s so much junk out there. I’m not I’ll the first to admit, I’m not a super active social media user. The primary thing that I do is professional stuff on LinkedIn. And there’s so much junk out there, like, so much AI written stuff or, like, you know, like, oh, here’s how we do sales, dude. Like, no. You know, there’s I don’t I don’t have an appetite for that. I’m sure there it’s right for some people, but it’s not right for me that, like, in your face stuff. So just sharing bits.

Alexson Calahan [00:33:24]:
Like, I started really sharing, like, case studies and stories and opinions on strictly professional stuff to start to showcase what I know. Because a lot of times, I think as an introvert, like, we’re quietly working, we’re quietly achieving in the corner, and people might not always see how much work goes into it. So next, they might not even see the results of all that hard work because we’re not showcasing them. So taking social media as an opportunity to really showcase those wins is a great place to start. That’s that’s what I like to do with it because it’s hard to toot your own horn, but if you don’t do it, nobody else is going to.

David Hall [00:34:05]:
Yeah. Yeah. That’s that’s for sure. We probably are not tooting our own horn as often as extroverts. So who would you say, you know, find a a platform or 2 that work for you and and not try to do everything?

Alexson Calahan [00:34:24]:
Oh my gosh. Definitely don’t try to do everything. Like, in all areas of life, don’t try to do everything. But, you know, when like I mentioned, so public relations is all about building those strategic relationships with the folks who can help you achieve your goals. It’s not just building relationships with any random person. Right? So you wanna if you’re a business owner, you’re looking to advance your career, you want to think about what is my goal? Who can help me get there? And what do I need to do to stay top of mind with those people? So, you know, kind of thinking through that, and figuring out who are those people who can help you achieve your goal? And where are they? You know, if they’re on LinkedIn, great, go there. If they’re on TikTok, amazing, go there. Like, you know, you just gotta figure out where your where your people are.

Alexson Calahan [00:35:09]:
Because you do not need to connect with everybody. You do not need to connect with people with the biggest accounts or, you know, be in, like, you don’t need to be in the New York Times, if that doesn’t align with your goals. So it’s about thinking about, you know, not just building relationships willy nilly, but doing it strategically with the people who can help you. So figure out who those folks are and then go where they are. Hang out. Be yourself.

David Hall [00:35:36]:
Yeah. I think a word you said there that’s really important is what are your goals? Yeah. You know, how am I gonna achieve my goals? And a lot of times we think, oh yeah, we need to be everywhere and and be seen everywhere. And it’s just not the case. Like, how are you gonna accomplish whatever that thing is that you want to do? You know? Yeah. And be strategic about it.

Alexson Calahan [00:35:57]:
Absolutely.

David Hall [00:35:58]:
Alright. Alexlyn, we’ve had a lot of good conversation here about public relations, especially for introverts. Let’s call it that. What other advice do you have for introverts?

Alexson Calahan [00:36:10]:
I just wanna say to all of your listeners that whatever your passion is, whatever, like, your thing is, I I wanna give you, like, a permission slip to use your voice in that area. Because our voices of introverts, like, even though it’s not our natural way to go out there and say stuff, our voices are needed, because we bring a different perspective we bring, you know, this quiet strength that you talk about. Like, we we bring this, and it is a different way of seeing the world. And if we can kind of incorporate that more into, like, our collective dialogue, I think that’s a win win for everybody. So it’s uncomfortable, and I would never tell anybody to, like, push your comfort zones, but it’s okay to, like, nudge it a little bit and just and then you find it’s not that uncomfortable there, and you can nudge it a little bit more. It’s it’s just kinda slowly expanding who you already are.

David Hall [00:37:08]:
Yeah. Well said. That’s beautiful. It’s we have a lot of great ideas and sometimes and that’s why I do this show. It’s a matter of understanding how your brains work that we think before we speak. We need some time to think. We need some time to prepare, all of that. And, you know, I say what you just said.

David Hall [00:37:30]:
It’s not just getting out of your comfort zone. It’s expanding it. Because, especially, I think as introverts, it’s like we if you’re getting out of your comfort zone, but you’re not changing anything, you’re not changing your thinking, Then you’re getting out of your comfort zone over and over and over again. Whereas you do something and you change your thinking around it, then you can expand your comfort zone, and that that’s so key. But like you said, introverts, we’re we’re deep thinkers. We have ideas. We have new fresh ideas, and they need to be heard. But a lot of times, it’s getting to know your introvert’s introverted strengths and gifts and learning how to leverage those like we’ve been talking about today.

Alexson Calahan [00:38:15]:
Yeah. Absolutely. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it.

David Hall [00:38:18]:
Yeah. For sure. So, Alex, and where can people find out more about the great work you’re doing?

Alexson Calahan [00:38:25]:
So like I said, I’m pretty active on LinkedIn. So you can find me there or also at my business site, which is small adventures communications.com.

David Hall [00:38:34]:
Awesome. Thanks again. This has been a wonderful conversation.

Alexson Calahan [00:38:37]:
Yeah. Thank you.

David Hall [00:38:39]:
Thank you so much for joining me today. I look forward to further connecting with you. Reach out at [email protected] or check out the quietandstrong.com website, which includes blog posts and links to social media channels. Send me topics or guests you would like to see on the show. If you’re interested in getting to know yourself better, there’s now a free type finder personality assessment on the Quiet and Strong website. This free assessment will give you a brief report, including the 4 letter Myers Briggs code, and you can also have the option of purchasing the full report if you’d like to learn more. I’ll add a link to the show notes. So many great things about being an introvert, and we need those to be understood.

David Hall [00:39:19]:
Get to know your introverted strengths and needs, and be strong.

David Hall

David Hall, M.Ed. is a speaker, author, and host of the Quiet and Strong Podcast, where he interviews thought leaders, creatives, and professionals who help introverts thrive. With over 25 years in higher education, David has led workshops, trainings, and presentations on productivity, personality, and introversion. His mission is to help introverts honor their needs, understand their strengths, and succeed on their own terms. He is the author of Minding Your Time: Time Management, Productivity, and Success, Especially for Introverts and a passionate advocate for creating work environments where introverts can do their best work.