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Show Notes
Have you ever wondered how embracing your introverted qualities can become your secret weapon for career success and fulfillment? In this episode of The Quiet And Strong Podcast, host David Hall sits down with Alison Dixon, Chief Customer Experience Officer at Portnox, to talk about the power of self-acceptance and the unique advantages introverts bring to leadership and the workplace.
You’ll learn how Alison navigated a variety of career roles—from fundraising to tech leadership—by aligning her strengths, embracing authenticity, and creating strategies for managing her energy and focus. Discover why deep thinking, preparation, and meaningful connections are key assets for introverts, and how designing your schedule around your own rhythms can help you thrive. Alison also shares practical advice for advancing into leadership roles by leaning into your natural preferences rather than trying to fit into an extroverted mold.
If you’re looking for inspiration, actionable strategies, and validation that your introverted strengths are exactly what you need to succeed, you won’t want to miss this conversation. Tune in—and be strong.
Radical Self-Acceptance and Introvert Leadership: My Conversation with Alison Dixon
Introduction: Embracing Introversion in Technical Leadership
Welcome back to The Quiet and Strong Podcast! I’m David Hall, your host and the creator of QuietAndStrong.com. In episode 247, I had the pleasure of speaking with Alison Dixon, the Chief Customer Experience Officer at Portnox, a leading zero trust network access control platform. Alison’s journey is a beacon for introverts navigating high-stakes, technical industries—reminding us that embracing our authentic selves is the ultimate path to success.
In this episode, Alison shares her story of radical self-acceptance, the unique strengths introverts bring to leadership, and actionable strategies for thriving both at work and in life. If you’re an introvert, this deep dive is for you.
From Fundraiser to CX Leader: Alison Dixon’s Unconventional Career Path
Alison’s career began in the nonprofit world as a fundraiser, a role dominated by social interactions, events, and constant travel. She described those early years as draining, though she didn’t yet understand why. Like so many introverts, Alison initially tried to “fit the mold,” playing the role expected of her without awareness of her natural wiring.
Her story resonates with many of us—being surrounded by extroverts, feeling exhausted after people-heavy days, and wondering if something is wrong simply because we’re different. For Alison, the turning point came through a combination of self-assessment and pivotal resources like Susan Cain’s Quiet. Those tools helped her reframe her perspective, understanding that her preferences were not flaws but strengths.
Discovering Introversion: Self-Awareness and the Journey Toward Acceptance
A key moment for Alison was participating in a team personality profile at Comcast, where she was the only one with “Blue Energy”—the introverted color favoring data, focus, and strategic thinking. In parallel, Susan Cain’s book helped her see the nuanced nature of introversion. Alison realized that needing downtime after busy social weeks, being drawn to environments like coffee shops for focused work, and craving deep rather than wide relationships were not weaknesses but natural gifts.
“Rather than trying to sort of say, like, why go spend the money on a coffee shop—you’ve got a perfectly fine hotel room right here—I kind of have leaned into some of those things that I thought were weird at the time that she sort of normalized.”
—Alison Dixon
Validation from books, assessments, and lived experience made it possible for Alison—and for many of us—to shift from self-doubt to self-acceptance.
The Power of Deep Thinking and Preparation
One consistent theme with introverts is the need for preparation. Alison and I discussed how our best work happens after thoughtful preparation, strategic quiet time, and focused reflection. Alison schedules her week with themed days—reserving Mondays for office interaction and Thursdays for deep work. She’s learned the necessity of blocking off time for reflection and preparation, enabling her to show up with 100% presence in meetings and conversations.
“For me, my days very much have themes… Wednesday or Thursday I have about four hours of just focused work. Turn off teams, no one on ones, and people kind of get used to your rhythms.”
—Alison Dixon
Understanding—and protecting—our energy is a critical skill for introverts in leadership positions.
Introverted Leadership: Deep Relationships, Listening, and Empathy
Alison shared how her depth of focus and empathy has shaped her approach as a leader. Rather than seeking quantity of relationships, she builds quality connections—with both her team and customers. She flexes her interaction style based on other people’s needs, fostering strong one-on-one relationships and deep, meaningful conversations.
“There’s a depth and empathy and a listening gift that I think an introvert has, which has made me good at scaling a team of different personalities and connecting with our customers.”
—Alison Dixon
This quality-over-quantity mindset shatters the myth that introverts don’t like people; in reality, we thrive in environments that allow us to connect authentically.
Harnessing Introverted Strengths for Success
Preparation, strategic thinking, and radical self-acceptance have been Alison’s keys to success. She acknowledges the anxiety that can come with public speaking or networking, but reframes the physical signs of nervousness as positive energy. Instead of trying to be someone else or “winging it,” she focuses on showing up as her authentic self, building trust through reliability and genuine presence.
“[With] radical self acceptance…you really start to try to improve yourself in a way that’s real versus like putting on a show or pretending I’m an extrovert.”
—Alison Dixon
Her advice for introverts looking to step into leadership is: accept yourself, protect your energy, and build on your strengths rather than masking them or trying to follow traditional extroverted models.
Practical Strategies: Protecting Your Energy and Planning for Success
Alison has developed strategies for managing energy in high-demand roles. She plans social events and networking well in advance so her mind can prepare. She deflects meetings when she can’t bring her “whole self,” focusing on quality over quantity in interactions. For introverts, this kind of intentional planning and self-regulation can make all the difference in personal and professional fulfillment.
“Planning ahead, having my weeks having almost like the days having themes… being a realist and planning has been very helpful.”
—Alison Dixon
The world may be designed for extroverts, but introverts can thrive when we set boundaries and structure our environments in ways that work for us.
Key Takeaways from This Episode
Here are a few key takeaways from this episode with Alison Dixon:
- Radical Self-Acceptance: Alison emphasizes the importance of being authentically herself and embracing her introverted nature, which leads to true growth.
- Introverted Strengths in Leadership: She shares how qualities like deep thinking, empathy, and authentic listening make introverts strong leaders, especially when building and scaling diverse teams.
- Managing Energy & Productivity: Alison highlights the need for planning, scheduling deep work, and being intentional with energy management to show up at her best.
- Preparation Over “Winging It”: She finds success through thorough preparation for meetings, presentations, and leadership decisions, instead of trying to improvise.
- Not All Roles Are a Fit: Alison encourages finding career paths that align with one’s introverted strengths, and not forcing oneself into roles that are fundamentally draining.
Overall, Alison’s journey demonstrates that leaning into introversion can lead to meaningful success and fulfillment, both personally and professionally.
Make Changes Now
Here are a few actions you can take right away after listening to this episode with Alison Dixon on The Quiet And Strong Podcast:
- Schedule Dedicated Quiet Time for Deep Work:
Take a look at your week and block out specific hours where you can focus, think, and strategize without interruptions. Alison highlighted the importance of having 4-hour windows for deep focus, making this a key strategy for introverts. - Reflect on Your Energy Management Strategies:
Start planning your social and work calendar around your energy needs. For example, if you know you have people-heavy days or networking events coming up, balance those with quieter days or solo work to recharge, just like Alison does. - Embrace and Communicate Your Introverted Strengths:
Acknowledge your strengths, such as deep thinking, empathy, and strong one-on-one relationships. Be open with your colleagues about what environments and preparations help you thrive, as Alison models with her team. - Prepare Thoroughly for Meetings and Presentations:
If you have presentations or important meetings on your calendar, start preparing now. Alison shared that she over-prepares, which gives her confidence and lets her bring her best self to the table. - Practice Self-Acceptance and Authenticity:
Take a moment to reflect on how authentically you’re showing up. As Alison described, radical self-acceptance was life-changing. Consider journaling or simply noting ways you can lean into your natural style instead of trying to be someone else.
If you want a simple next step: pick one action from this list that resonates most, and put it on your calendar or to-do list today!
Final Thoughts: Radical Self-Acceptance Unlocks Success
Alison’s story is one of radical self-acceptance—and a reminder that introverts are not broken, just different. Her proudest accomplishment is what she’s doing right now: building a world-class customer experience at Portnox, using the gifts and skills honed over a lifetime of trial, error, and growth.
If you take anything from this episode, let it be this: Lean into who you are, accept your unique strengths, and don’t change yourself to fit someone else’s idea of success.
Introversion is a beautiful thing. And there’s room at the highest levels of leadership for deep thinkers, strategic planners, and empathetic connectors.
Connect and Continue Your Journey
I hope this episode and recap inspired you to own your introversion and pursue leadership or customer success on your terms. For more resources, visit QuietAndStrong.com and check out our free personality assessment for deeper insights into your strengths. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform, leave a review, and share this episode with fellow introverts—let’s spread the word!
There are so many great things about being an introvert, and the world needs those strengths now more than ever.
Alison Dixon, the Chief Customer Experience Officer at Portnox, a leading zero trust network access control platform. Alison is at the forefront of shaping how technical, high-stakes industries like cybersecurity can deliver world-class customer experiences. With a background that spans HR, Sales Enablement, and IT, she brings a uniquely holistic view to customer success—balancing strategy, empathy, and execution. At Portnox, she’s led the charge in transforming onboarding into a competitive advantage, expanding CX beyond support, and building programs that reduce churn and drive long-term value.
Connect with Alison on LinkedIn
Books referenced in this Episode
- Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain
- Alison mentioned that reading “Quiet” by Susan Cain was pivotal in her journey of self-acceptance and understanding her introversion.
- The Comfort Crisis: Embrace Discomfort to Reclaim Your Wild by Michael Eastern
- While discussing how we avoid discomfort in modern culture, Alison briefly referenced “The Comfort Crisis” and its themes around pushing through pain and discomfort.
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Timestamped Overview
00:00 Podcast episode 247 explores introvert strengths and strategies with guest Allison Dixon, focusing on cybersecurity customer experiences.
04:06 Learning and development aligns better with my values, focusing on growth and relationships rather than organizational interests.
07:32 Some people work better in coffee shops with ambient noise rather than in quiet spaces, which was reassuringly normalized.
12:56 Strategic thinking and clear planning, rooted in introversion, has been crucial to achieving goals and scaling effectively.
16:34 Prioritize quality interactions by engaging only when you can give 100%, avoiding conversations when overwhelmed.
19:48 Great leadership is embracing authenticity, self-awareness, self-regulation, and adapting to meet your team’s needs.
22:29 Be yourself, understand your needs, and prioritize self-care for success.
24:48 Nervousness before public speaking has worsened with age, despite previous extroverted experiences like being a spin instructor.
27:46 Life challenges everyone differently; introverts struggle publicly while extroverts face private challenges, but growth requires discomfort, self-reflection, and trust in preparation.
32:45 Explore other episodes, connect via quietandstrong.com, take the free personality assessment, and share topics or guest ideas.
Podcast Transcript
Alison Dixon [00:00:00]:
I just am authentically myself all the time. And when you can accept yourself and you’re not acting, you really start to try to improve yourself in a way that’s real versus like putting on a show or pretending I’m an extrovert or pretending this or that. Like for me it’s just been this radical self acceptance foreign.
David Hall [00:00:35]:
Welcome to episode 247 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 will air 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, tell a friend about the podcast and help get the word out there that introversion is a beautiful thing. Allison Dixon, the Chief Customer Experience Officer at Portnox, a leading zero trust network access control platform. Allison is at the forefront of shaping how technical high stakes industries like cybersecurity companies can deliver world class customer experiences. With a background that spans hr, sales enablement and it, she brings a unique holistic view to customer success, balancing strategy, empathy and execution.
David Hall [00:01:38]:
At Portnox, she’s led the change in transforming onboarding into a competitive advantage, expanding CX beyond support and building programs that reduce, churn and drive long term value. All right, well, welcome to the Quiet and Strong podcast. Allison. Allison, so good to have you on today.
Alison Dixon [00:01:55]:
Awesome man, glad to be here.
David Hall [00:01:57]:
Yeah, we’re going to get into the work that you’re doing and how you’ve learned to lean into your introverted gifts. So tell us about yourself and the work that you do and your journey to get there.
Alison Dixon [00:02:09]:
Yeah, I’m currently chief Customer officer at Portnox, which is a network access control cybersecurity company. And so I had a, kind of have a pretty untraditional career path. I started off as a fundraiser actually and moved into learning and development, hr, then it, then sales enablement. So I’ve done a bunch of different things and this is kind of the, the newest thing that I, I’m taking on and started in January, so it’s been almost a year building out the customer experience function at Portnox.
David Hall [00:02:43]:
So tell us a little bit more. What is the chief customer officer do?
Alison Dixon [00:02:47]:
Yeah, so we, you know, have just invested in making sure our customers are happy and growing and reaching their time to value and deploying Portnox and getting their networks secured. So I have a team of technical account managers and customer experience managers who are working with our customers. And so past year it’s just been building and scaling that team.
David Hall [00:03:09]:
Yeah. So like you said, you had a lot of different roles and career. What were some key things that led to your being at your position now?
Alison Dixon [00:03:23]:
Yeah, I, I think. And you know, again, since this podcast is about introversion, sort of. Of course, my, my first roles where I was a fundraiser, it was very interaction with people, heavy. I traveled a lot, I was meeting people constantly. I was running big events. And while I. And I think at that time I didn’t really understand myself enough to understand why that, like, I liked it, but at the same time it was. I found it exhausting and draining in a way that like, you know, it’s not like I was working in the mines.
Alison Dixon [00:04:06]:
Like, I was like, really, you know, it just was a tough role, tough roles for me to have and I didn’t really understand why complement who I am. So learning and development was a great field for me. It was more building things, focusing, focusing on. On people growing and advancing. And even now it’s more deep relationships with our customers and getting them to where they want to be versus and this sounds bad, and I’m not trying to say that fundraising is. Is this, but sometimes it’s pursuing your own interests or your own organization’s interests, ver your client’s interests. So this just far better aligns with who I am and I think the strengths of being an introvert, if that makes sense.
David Hall [00:04:48]:
Oh, absolutely. And that’s what’s key. Too much, too often people are thinking they should do something and it doesn’t align with who they are. It’s when you align with who you are and your strengths and you know, what light you up. That’s what where you really thrive.
Alison Dixon [00:05:05]:
Absolutely. Yeah. So this, this is a far better fit for me. So I think I’ve kind of have finally gotten to where I need to be and that kind of comes with age and time and more self awareness. Self regulation, I would say.
David Hall [00:05:17]:
Yeah, yeah, definitely self awareness. We’ll get into a little bit more about that. And yeah, some of it comes with time and age. That’s. I’ve learned that too. How did you figure out you were an introvert and did you have to embrace it?
Alison Dixon [00:05:31]:
I would say it was sort of. I’m trying to think when exactly it was. I think it was maybe around the time Quiet by Susan Cain came out. And I remember a couple other Things happened. I worked at Comcast and I was on a team with a lot of extroverts. And I remember we did a profile, it was sort of a personality assessment called Insights. And I was the only one who led with Blue Energy, which was sort of the introverted color, which meant liking data and focus and all of those things. So just some of these things kind of aligned where I was sort of surrounded by extroverts.
Alison Dixon [00:06:12]:
That book had come out and I can’t remember exactly the timeline here. And then I had taken that personality profile. So I started to understand, oh, this is probably why fundraising wasn’t a good match for me. This is why I. If I have a very socially heavy week, I don’t want to do anything on the weekend that involves other people. So sort of understanding what was driving that versus there’s something wrong with me. Yeah, it’s helpful to realize that, you know, this is a strength, I think.
David Hall [00:06:42]:
Yeah. So many people like yourself, like me, you know, I thought something was wrong with me. And really it’s like, no, you have some great strengths here. You just have to learn how to harness them and do the things that are authentic to you.
Alison Dixon [00:06:55]:
That’s right.
David Hall [00:06:56]:
So what caused you to pick up Susan Cain’s book? We owe a lot to Susan Cain because she really did help people to say, there is nothing wrong with you. You know, just you’re a deep thinker.
Alison Dixon [00:07:05]:
You know, I don’t remember exactly what caused me to pick it up. I think I had suspicions I was an introvert and I think that probably I’m also just a. I read a lot and I think it was a bestseller at the time. So I probably picked it up. Reason. And I remember there’s just some things that really stood out to me and I. I think it was where she talked about it’s not just this clear cut. Introversion means XYZ it.
Alison Dixon [00:07:32]:
And one of the things is like sometimes I function the best in a coffee shop or there’s like other people. Noise, ambient. And then why. I never understand why, like I would be in a hotel room sometimes. Cause I traveled a lot for work and I was like, I just wanted to get out of the quiet and be in a coffee shop with other people and I could get so much more work done. And she sort of normalized some of those weird things that I thought were just unique to me. And rather than trying to sort of say, like, why go spend the money on a copy. You’ve got a perfectly fine hotel room right here.
Alison Dixon [00:08:06]:
Just stay here. I Kind of have leaned into some of those things that I thought were weird at the time that she sort of normalized.
David Hall [00:08:13]:
Yeah, that’s such a good point. Because there’s so many other aspects to our personalities. I just focus on introversion, extroversion, because I think there’s so much misunderstanding and it is a 50, 50 split and. But there’s so many other factors that, you know, you may need that noisy environment, you may not be chatting with everybody, but you dislike the environment and you just gotta figure out what’s good and what works for you and it’s gonna be different for everybody. You know, we probably have a lot of things in common as introverts, but we probably have a lot of differences as well.
Alison Dixon [00:08:49]:
Sure.
David Hall [00:08:51]:
And I’ve taken lots of assessments and there’s lots of ones with colors, so. Yeah, yeah, I’m. There’s blue and other colors. Some of the ones I’ve taken have been like green, where it’s very analytical and that’s definitely me. So all of that can be very helpful because we’re not all the same. And as you know, our teams consist of many different personalities and it’s a good thing. But too often in my life, people try to take a one size fits all approach, like, hey, this is how everybody should do it. And that’s not where you’re going to get your best out of people.
Alison Dixon [00:09:27]:
I think that’s right. I think introversion is particularly well suited for this because my relationships tend to be deeper and. But less quantity. Right. It’s quantity. Quality over quantity. I’ve found that I kind of am more attuned to how other people want to interact versus forcing them into how I want to interact. I think that’s made me a better leader.
Alison Dixon [00:09:53]:
Like, there’s just a depth and a empathy and a listening gift that I think an introvert has, which I think has made me good at scaling a team of different personalities and different preferences and also connecting with our customers in a way that. And I’m not. Again, I’m not saying extroverts are any kind of. It’s not like comparison. But I think a gift of an introvert is that ability to listen and build relationships in a really meaningful, deep way.
David Hall [00:10:26]:
Yeah, yeah. We’re never bashing extroverts on this show, but at the same time, we need to acknowledge differences. And I love how you said that you try to figure out how people want to interact and not just always do it in your way. And it’s so key to understand what those differences are. You know, if you’re leading a team, you need to understand this person is going to want to think first by better an agenda before the meeting, or this person is going to want to think all their ideas out. And as we have teams, we just need to understand those dynamics. And when we don’t, things aren’t going to go as well.
Alison Dixon [00:11:05]:
Yeah. And, you know, I think that introverts have a lot of gifts and I think that they are well suited to very much succeed in the world that we have today, for sure. But I think that there is, at least with some of my extroverted friends, it feels it’s a little harder for them to flex their personality or their preferences to how other people want to interact. I think that’s just a harder move, by and large, that I’ve seen in terms of extroverts. So to me, that has just been a big strength of mine as an introvert.
David Hall [00:11:37]:
Yeah. And I love how you said that you’re good at one on one relationships and you have fewer. And that is the case. So, you know, a myth that we bust on this show all the time is that we introverts don’t like people because we absolutely do just want deeper relationships, probably fewer of them. You know, we love our families and friends and we want to collaborate at work. It’s just a different approach. It’s a deeper approach. We don’t want to stay in the surface level talk for far too long.
David Hall [00:12:08]:
You know, we want to get to those deeper conversations and we’re good at it.
Alison Dixon [00:12:13]:
I think that’s right. Yeah.
David Hall [00:12:16]:
So, Allison, what’s a strength you have because you’re an introvert?
Alison Dixon [00:12:20]:
I think it’s. And you sort of mentioned it with the. The color energy again, the analytical thinking, strategically, I think thinking a few steps ahead. I think in this world in particular, we’re in a constant sort of hive mind of reactivity. You know, there’s like the teams and the Slack channel. You know, it’s just like a. Which again, I think is a little bit more of a extroverted way to operate. And I think it’s harder to sort of be introverted in a lot of the contexts of that we work today.
Alison Dixon [00:12:56]:
But I think it’s a real strength if you can. If you can think deeply about where you’re trying to go, what your team needs, how you’re going to scale versus kind of winging it. I think that’s been a strength that I’ve had because I have a really clear picture of like the roadmap of the customer experience at Portnox. And I think that we started out and I knew what. Where I wanted to get to, and we’re starting to get to that place, and I’ve got a clear roadmap of where I’m going next. And I think I’ve internalized it and I believe in it and sort of that ability to think in that way is just something I think that’s unique to being an introvert.
David Hall [00:13:39]:
Yeah. And we’re not the best at winging it. Sometimes we’re going to come up with quick ideas and know what to say in the moment, but we do better with preparation.
Alison Dixon [00:13:50]:
That’s right.
David Hall [00:13:51]:
So how do you get to that place where you, you know, you just described having real clarity on what you want to accomplish. How do you get to that place where you have clarity and you understand your strategy and all of that?
Alison Dixon [00:14:04]:
Yeah, it’s like I’m not afraid to think in the quiet, to be by myself, but to literally be journal and think and read and, you know, it’s a lot of that kind of work. And, you know, I love that you said about preparation because. Yeah, I do not wing it. And, you know, there’s. I had to go to, you know, a board meeting or whatever, and it’s like, you’re never going to find anybody who prepares more than me for things like that. Like, you will not catch me out with a question that I don’t know an answer to. So I think that I. I cannot wing it.
Alison Dixon [00:14:38]:
And I actually think that that’s a strength. I don’t like the feeling of being caught out in any way. So I think that I’m able to prepare and think really deeply and I don’t mind the quiet and being alone for hours and creating something that I really believe in.
David Hall [00:14:52]:
Yeah. Do you schedule time for that deep thinking and strategizing?
Alison Dixon [00:14:57]:
Oh, yeah. You have to. Yeah. And I, over time, too, I kept trying and this, this is like, goes back to just the trial and error and, you know, you read all these productivity books and the scheduling and how it all, like, I have found for me the best way. My days very much have themes like Monday I go to the office. I know no deep work’s happening. Don’t try. There’s putting little blocks on my calendar to do stuff or to think.
Alison Dixon [00:15:26]:
Not the day, but I have a day. It’s like Wednesday or Thursday switching. But I have about four hours of just focused work. Turn off teams, no one on ones, and people kind of get used to even your rhythms. So that’s Been very helpful. And I also think the predict, having a, the predictability for me is helpful mentally. So if I know Monday is very people interaction heavy, I can structure Tuesday to be like, okay, it’s going to be light in the morning on people, I’m going to do one on ones in the afternoon. I can kind of gear myself up for my more extroverted days.
Alison Dixon [00:16:05]:
And I know, okay, in two days you’re going to have that introverted time, you’re going to have that focused time. And so that’s been very helpful, that predictability for me.
David Hall [00:16:13]:
Oh yeah. And that’s this key strategy for introverts is. And I learned this because, you know, earlier in my career I thought, oh, I have to be available to all, to all people at all times. And that really didn’t work. Cause I didn’t have that time to think deeply, to focus, get some work done. And you know, just blocking off time on the calendar for things like this was, was life changing for me.
Alison Dixon [00:16:34]:
Yeah. I have found too that giving 60 to 50 to 60% to someone because, you know, you just said the being available all the time. Well, as an introvert, it’s very hard for me to be giving a hundred percent to a conversation if I’ve got too many, if I feel really overwhelmed, if I haven’t had the time to focus. And so I’ve really tried to sort of like if I try to put myself in a position that I can give a one 100% in a conversation and if I can’t give 100%, I shouldn’t have it. And so then I can deflect that meeting till later. So it’s more about like how I want to show up, how I want to lead. And I want to be giving 100% versus giving 60% because I’m exhausted.
David Hall [00:17:19]:
Yeah, yeah. There’s too many. And you mentioned slack or teams or there’s other IM kinds of things that people are. Get these conversations going and we just might not be available for that, you know, and it can be very distracting if you’re trying to have a conversation or you’re in a meeting or you know, you’re in a meeting and you’re trying to catch up on your email, it doesn’t work very well. You’re not, you’re not present for that, whatever it is you’re supposed to be doing.
Alison Dixon [00:17:47]:
Yeah.
David Hall [00:17:50]:
So how else have you learned to manage your energy?
Alison Dixon [00:17:54]:
That’s been a key way lately. I think as I, as I’m advancing my career, I’m on a Board of an angel investing group. I feel like I do have more sort of social things I need to go to. And like last night I was at something with a ton of people networking events. And so I have, I really tried to plan out the month. And for me again it’s that psychological. If I know something’s coming I can kind of start to you sort of subconsciously prepare for things. And that has been key.
Alison Dixon [00:18:26]:
If I if my similar to having to prepare for everything and over prepare I have found that preparing ahead for the month of like okay, I know in week two I’m going to have two happy hours. I’m gonna have this and that or whatever the things are. My, my brain will start psychologically preparing for those and I will start to make little concessions here and there to gear up for that week. So I think the like planning it sounds sort of simple but again the planning ahead, the having the my weeks having almost like the days having themes and not expecting a day where I’ve. I’m gonna be interacting with a lot of people like it up. You’re not doing any deep work that day, you know, so just the being a realist and planning has been very helpful.
David Hall [00:19:15]:
Yeah. And you know there Susan Kane talks about this in her book. But there’s a biological basis for all this. You know, we are deep thinkers and we need to give ourselves time for that. And so much as if I am prepared, you know, maybe even for this conversation or for other conversations or meetings, I get ideas ahead of time like oh be sure to bring this up or be. You need to look into that a little bit more. And that’s, that’s where we do our best and we can’t compare ourselves to others because your extroverted colleague might not need the same kind of preparation that you do.
Alison Dixon [00:19:48]:
What makes a great leader? You know, I think it’s different for everybody. And I think that if you try to model yourself after this is the way somebody else leads. I’m going to try to be like that. And because a lot of the models are going to be more extroverted leaders, that’s just the, you know, for better or for worse, that’s what I think this culture can really value. And I think for me it’s been trying to self regulate and manage myself first and that being 100% in every conversation that I’m in being truly authentically myself understanding who my team is and what they need from me. So I really think there’s not a one size fits all. I think the modeling yourself after somebody you’re destined to fail, it’s really kind of embracing who you are, your own self awareness, self regulation, and. And again, flexing your style for the people that you’re trying to grow and build.
Alison Dixon [00:20:48]:
And that’s kind of what’s been working for me.
David Hall [00:20:51]:
Yeah. And that’s definitely a myth that we regularly bust. Introverts can be amazing leaders. Just the strategy might look different.
Alison Dixon [00:20:59]:
That’s right.
David Hall [00:20:59]:
What’s a key thing that has led to your success as an introverted leader?
Alison Dixon [00:21:05]:
It’s a great question. Again, I think this comes with age. Like, if I had gotten this role 10 years ago, I probably would have been trying to be somebody else. Yeah, I’ve gotten older. It really is. I just am authentically myself all the time. And when you can accept yourself and you’re not acting, you really start to try to improve yourself in a way that’s real versus like putting on a show or pretending I’m an extrovert or pretending this or that. Like, for me it’s just been this radical self acceptance.
Alison Dixon [00:21:43]:
And that’s kind of. I feel like. I don’t know if that’s a complete enough answer, but that’s what’s.
David Hall [00:21:49]:
Yeah, it is. It is. And then do you have any other advice for the introvert that wants to move into leadership?
Alison Dixon [00:21:56]:
I think it depends on where somebody is in their journey as an introvert and where they are on the self regulation, self management. Have you found ways to operate that protect your energy? You know, again, if I had gotten a role like this when I was a fundraiser, wouldn’t have been any good. I wasn’t. I don’t think I was aware enough I was an introvert. I think I. My coping mechanisms weren’t. I was exhausted. It just wasn’t the right role.
Alison Dixon [00:22:29]:
And even if. And again, I think I was trying to be somebody I wasn’t. So I think if I was trying to give somebody advice, it really again, goes back to yourself, accepting yourself and understanding the things that you need to be successful and to have the energy to be able to give the 100% in your conversations, in your life. Like, it’s taken me an embarrassingly long amount of time to get where I am today, honestly. But it is like the. You’re not weird. If you feel like you need to go to a coffee shop and you can’t really explain why that’s okay. If you go to a happy hour and you need to not talk to anybody the next day, like, you gotta sort of do what you need and set Yourself up for success versus trying to be an extrovert and think, like, I should be able to do the happy hour and then have 951 on ones the next day.
Alison Dixon [00:23:20]:
Like, that is not you. You have to accept it. And understanding the world is designed for extroversion. It just is. So you’re gonna feel a little different and that’s okay. And it’s actually, it’s a strength. I think being different is a strength. Generally it makes you stand out and it’s.
David Hall [00:23:39]:
It’s a good thing. But just so, so often. And I think I took longer than you to get to this place where, you know, it’s like, you know what? I have great strengths. I am a deep thinker. I come up with some great ideas and that’s a good thing. But I also need to have some time to do that. Whereas my friend over here might not need the same preparation time or need that same time to set aside for deep thinking and that kind of thing.
Alison Dixon [00:24:04]:
Yeah, that goes back to like the winging it. I think there’s been moments where people will say, can you just wing it? It’s like, no can. It would be nice, I guess, if you didn’t have to prepare. But like, no, I’m not that person. And it might feel like over preparation to you, but it’s right for me and, you know, just I don’t have to. Again, it goes back to that self acceptance.
David Hall [00:24:25]:
Yeah. So. And we, we chatted before and you, you actually mentioned this, that somebody was giving you that advice to wing it to, you know, and it’s like, what have you learned about speaking or giving presentations? I’m sure you give a lot of presentations. What have you learned about that? How do you need to prepare? What are some other keys for you to be successful in presenting?
Alison Dixon [00:24:48]:
Again, preparation, the winging it. Because for me, I am. I have accepted the fact that I’m always going to be nervous. And even in context, it’s actually gotten worse versus better as I’ve gotten older. I was sort of hoping for the opposite. Weirdly, I used to be a spin instructor. And so that’s like one of the most extroverted things you can possibly do. And maybe I was a little bit more immune at that point, but as time had gone on, my nervousness before I speak in a public setting and even in a not so public setting, to be honest, is I’m gonna get the heart pounding.
Alison Dixon [00:25:22]:
I’m gonna get. It just happened. It’s like. And I was trying for a long time of like, how can I make this stop, and I find that I just sort of thank myself that I’m like, oh, you’re gearing me up for. For. You know, it’s the adrenaline. I’m going to have an awesome presentation because my body’s, like, getting me ready to fire on all cylinders. So I started to sort of reframe that nervousness and know that no matter how nervous I am, the preparation will come through.
Alison Dixon [00:25:52]:
And even if you sound nervous initially, 90% of people cannot hear it other than you. And usually for me, first 20 seconds, it settles down anyway. So it’s sort of understanding that process and, like, knowing that you’ve done this before, you will get through it. It’s 20 seconds, you’ll be fine. Has been helpful.
David Hall [00:26:17]:
Yeah, absolutely. And just the fact, you know, you’ve done your preparation, you know, you’ve done your best work, You’re. You’re ready. And then I always tell myself, you’re not perfect, but nobody listening to you is either.
Alison Dixon [00:26:30]:
And people are in their own heads thinking about themselves, like, that’s it. That has been the best gift that I realized. I’m like, no one cares generally. Like, they’re mostly thinking about themselves and what they’re about to say. And so that could have been a freeing thought of, like, people are not thinking about you mostly at all.
David Hall [00:26:46]:
Right. And that’s. That. That is been very helpful for me too. And also, I think, you know, we have many different gifts as introverts, but I think the power of reflection is a gift that we all share. After you present, you could think, I know. Then I always start with, what did I do good? But what would maybe I do different in the future? And you could just work through that, knowing I did my best preparation. You can’t prepare for everything, but, you know, you can think about it after and, like, hey, how’d that go?
Alison Dixon [00:27:14]:
Yeah. And I think that there’s. And especially in the culture today, we sort of all avoid hard things, Right. Like, we’re. I don’t know if you’ve read, like, the comfort crisis or anything like that. There’s a lot of avoidance of pain and discomfort. And I think that sometimes for an introvert, it does feel like our pain and discomfort is just worse or more obvious because, you know, if you’re an extrovert and you have to make a presentation and you’re like, this is amazing. I’m not nervous at all, and I can wing it, and that’s awesome.
Alison Dixon [00:27:46]:
And that’s like a very public setting, and it just feels. It’s like God, it’s worse to be an introvert, right? Like that’s what it feels like. Because yeah, it sucks to be nervous and it’s harder and all those things. But I always think to myself like, okay, it’s for an extrovert, it’s not as public but it’s probably very hard for them to be by themselves, to have to do the strategic, deep thinking, listening, like the some stuff that I feel like is a gift to me and maybe their lives are actually just as hard but in a different way and it’s just not as public way. Nobody’s having gets an easy ride in this life and it is like pushing through your own discomfort and to your point, the self reflection. I’ve done enough public speaking now where I have reflected enough, where I know exactly how this is gonna go and it’s just trusting myself that the preparation is gonna carry me through.
David Hall [00:28:38]:
Yeah, I had a question. So if you were to go back and have the same fundraising job, but now you’re self, aware, you know, you’re at this self awareness level that you are now, you think you would have handled that job a little differently?
Alison Dixon [00:28:55]:
It’s a great question. I think so. I still think that role itself was going to be very hard for me to be successful at, given who I am. And I think, you know, there’s lots of things like, right, I, I don’t like blood, couldn’t be a nurse, right. There’s just, I don’t think it’s a weakness that I wouldn’t be great that I, you know, I don’t think that job was for me and actually was good at it, but it was really draining. I think it would have been hard for me to be as good as at it as I was at the time without being completely drained. I think if I had to go do that today, I don’t think I would have been as successful, as self aware as I am. So I just think certain roles are just not for you and not for who you are.
Alison Dixon [00:29:46]:
And there’s this role today, there’s a lot of people who wouldn’t be right for this. So I’m. I probably would have approached it differently. But again, I still think at the end of the day wasn’t for me.
David Hall [00:29:56]:
Yeah, I love that because what kind of point I’m making is there would be different strategies, strategies for an introvert, but you have to also. So an introvert can be successful at that job, but you may just realize there’s a lot of other jobs that are so much Better suited for me.
Alison Dixon [00:30:17]:
Yeah. I think there was so much one on one. Like, not one on one, but there was a lot of travel. And traveling for me is very hard. I like the airports, the plane. Like that is a kind of a nightmare. So that by itself was hard for me. And then conversation after conversation after conversation where I’m trying to get somebody to do something on behalf of the organization I work for.
Alison Dixon [00:30:45]:
It was going to be very hard for me to find a right balance where that was going to work for me in the long term. So I think that it’s one of those things. I definitely would have different strategies. I just think that the amount of, I don’t know, changing of myself or sort of strategizing I have to do to be successful would just be something I’m not willing to do today because I’ve radically accepted who I am.
David Hall [00:31:07]:
Yeah, that’s such a good point. Because there’s so many opportunities, and we just need to find what really works for us, where we can use our gifts and use our gifts most of the time.
Alison Dixon [00:31:20]:
Agree.
David Hall [00:31:21]:
So, also, what’s your proudest accomplishment to date?
Alison Dixon [00:31:26]:
I honestly think, and maybe it’s. I’m sure it’s recency bias.
David Hall [00:31:31]:
Yeah, yeah, of course.
Alison Dixon [00:31:33]:
I really think what I’m doing now, I am very. I think I’m very proud of what we’re building at Portnox and customer experience. I can’t believe how far it’s come since I took on the role in January. It’s like a night and day difference. And I think everything just kind of came together. All my past experiences, who I am, what we’re trying to do as a business, and, you know, I’ve. I feel like we’ve seen really meaningful results in the business. I’m very proud of the team that I’m leading.
Alison Dixon [00:32:07]:
So everything has lined up that I really feel like what I’m doing now and what I’ve built is making me the proudest I’ve ever been in my career.
David Hall [00:32:15]:
That’s amazing. And that’s cool that it’s right now. Yeah. That’s awesome. Allison, this has been a great conversation. Is there anything else you want to add today?
Alison Dixon [00:32:25]:
I don’t think so, no. I guess just for introverts out there, lean into who you are and, you know, you don’t have to change yourself to be successful.
David Hall [00:32:36]:
Well said. And that’s what I was going to say. You’ve really learned to lean into your introverted gifts and have found great success with it. So thank you.
Alison Dixon [00:32:44]:
Thank you.
David Hall [00:32:45]:
Thank you so much for joining me. I appreciate you. I hope you take the time to explore other episodes and learn from other amazing guests. Remember, if you’re interested in getting to know yourself better, there is now a free type Finder personality Assessment on the Quiet and Strong website. This free assessment will give you a brief report including the four letter Myers Briggs Code. I’ll add a link in the show notes and I’d love to connect with you. Reach out to davidandstrong.com or check out the quietandstrong.com website which includes blog posts and links to social media for Quiet and Strong and much more. Send me topics or guests you would like to see on the show.
David Hall [00:33:25]:
So many great things about being an introvert and so we need those to be understood. Get to know your introverted strengths and needs and be strong.
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.
