As an introvert heading to the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) conference, I imagine I will be in the minority, but I don’t think I’ll be alone (pardon the irony). It is my first time attending NSPRA, but I’ve already learned the unofficial motto of the event: work hard, play hard, sleep when you get home. I’ll admit, it’s a daunting call to action for me. While I wait here at the airport to depart for Nashville, I wonder if other School PR introverts feel the same way.
I’ve been reading Susan Cain’s book, “Quiet: the Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking.” Her 2012 TED talk with over 11 million views led me to her book. The book has helped me frame for friends and colleagues what it means to me to be an introvert. For me it is less about the stereotypical shrinking violet personality, distaste for crowds, and avoiding group social interactions and more about what fills and drains my personal battery. On background, my personal strengths are analyzing, love of learning, and naps, not necessarily in that order. Those closest to me have grown to understand my need for time to process, reflect, and recharge. But professional reality doesn’t always bend to my will. It rarely does, in fact.
Don’t misunderstand: I’m not shy. I dance at weddings...sometimes. I’ve given speeches. Like many other PR types, I’ve moderated press conferences and done interviews for TV. Heck, I even have group dinner plans for the first three nights of the conference. My NSPRA travel partner, a friend and School PR colleague from a nearby district, disagreed with the premise that I’m introverted at all. So how could I consider myself an introvert?
My answer lies somewhere between self-awareness and a need for balance. I know that large groups (bearing in mind, for me large = more than four people), myriad workshops/session topics, and nightly social events deplete my energy reserves at a high rate. I redline easily in those settings. Time to reflect, write, and focus deeply on one train of thought charge me back up. So do reading, gaming, listening to music and napping (Have I mentioned the napping?). I have a pretty good sense when my introverted self needs to plug in and recharge, and I know there are times in my personal and professional life when doing as the extroverts do is required.
A later chapter in Cain’s book is titled, “When should you act more extroverted?” I appreciate the notion that this is acceptable and advantageous. It seems to me this NSPRA conference is one of those times. Sometimes we introverts need to lead the big meeting, dance at a wedding, and stay out with the conference group a bit longer than usual. In her introvert manifesto (quite a concept in-and-of itself) Cain writes, “sometimes it helps to be a pretend-extrovert. There’s always time to be quiet later.”
So with a tip of the cap to the work-hard, play-hard, sleep-when-you-get-home crowd, I’m coming to Nashville energized to learn and reflect on my new profession: whether that’s in a seminar session, at a night out to the music of a local band, or on my own assimilating my notes. For others like me, I offer an alternate NSPRA mantra for introverts: listen well, take a reflective perspective, recharge when needed. I am excited for all this conference will offer. Truly, I am an introvert, but this week you can call me an NSPRAvert.