It’s no secret a brand ambassador role requires a high level of human interaction with the general public. As a brand ambassador, you’re often placed in unfamiliar environments surrounded by strangers. Often times, introverts won’t consider a brand ambassador job because of their intense aversion to the fundamental requirements.
It’s frustrating (and common) to feel limited in professional opportunities due to a lack of confidence in your personal characteristics. However, the many benefits of brand ambassador work might make it worthwhile to step outside your comfort zone and embrace new experiences, even as an introvert.
There are common misconceptions around what it means to be an introvert. Gaining a more nuanced understanding of introversion can help address many of the concerns taking a job that requires a high volume of human interaction in busy, public settings.
What is an Introvert?
The term introversion was popularized by Carl Jung and suggests an inwards orientation to one’s own mental life rather than the outward orientation of extroverts to social life. Introverts gain energy from reflection and lose energy in social gatherings. Most people are neither purely introverted nor purely extroverted but display features of both—they are so-called ambiverts. Almost all people, for example, need occasional solitude to replenish their energy. (source: Psychology Today)
Strategies for Introverts to Become a Brand Ambassadors
Start Small
- Begin by working smaller events with shorter shifts. Events with less participants means one-on-one interactions along with a short shift will be less of a drain on your energy. Once comfortable with smaller events you can then take on jobs at larger, more public events to challenge your natural introvert tendencies.
Utilize Your Top Skills
- If you have a special skill, focus on jobs that allow you to use it. This will help you get into the zone immediately without becoming overwhelmed. For example: Are you good with a camera? Take a gig that includes a photo booth element.
Be Curious
- Introverts tend to overthink things which can be a beneficial trait when leveraged appropriately. Allow your thought process to focus on the brand you are representing and how it will appeal to people. Your natural creativity and curiousity will be a distraction from the overwhelm and fear of dealing with the public. Additionally, having a deeper understanding and authentic connection to a brand are highly valued attributes in a brand ambassador.
The Art of Small Talk
- Having a logical understanding of “small talk” can be a valuable tool to utilize at an event. Chatting with others can ease your overwhelm in a lively setting and allows for a way to connect with attendees of an event. A quick search on Google and you’ll find endless resources on the topic of small talk in a professional setting.
Break Time
- If there are scheduled work breaks, plan ahead of time to find a quiet space away from a hectic event site. Your car, an unoccupied room or a secluded outdoor area can offer a space to take a breath and recharge your social battery.
Be a Detective
- Look for the evidence of success. Did you have a bad encounter with a consumer onsite? Did you feel embarrassed, overwhelmed, and wanted to run away screaming and never return? All brand ambassadors feel this way at times. Reflecting on successes such as positive interactions with consumers, friendly people, camaraderie with your team, challenges you met are just a few examples of evidence you can find. Nothing in life is perfect; focusing on the not so terrible stuff will help you keep your head in the game.
Do it Scared
- Embracing the professional strengths of introversion rather than trying to be something you aren’t is an excellent way to try jobs outside your comfort zone. Just because you don’t always feel like a great brand ambassador doesn’t mean you aren’t one. Smiling and presenting yourself as an outgoing, warm, and confident person can help quiet your inner thoughts and land you more work than you ever thought possible. Being a brand ambassador is a challenging job for introverts but is one that offers personal and professional growth.
The Takeaway
Introverts can make excellent brand ambassadors. Leveraging the specific personal traits of introversion within in a professional setting is entirely possible and offers strengths in areas others lack. As an introvert, successfully meeting the challenges of a brand ambassador role can be incredibly rewarding professionally AND personally!
For more brand ambassador tips and tricks, check out the ATN Talent Blog.
Article originally published in January 2018 and updated in December 2024.
