MLM for introverts: how to build a team when you aren’t the entertainer

I’m an introvert. I say it openly, because for a long time I said it quietly too, as an excuse.

“I’m just not the type.” “I’m too reserved for this.” “This is for people who can entertain a whole room.”

I understand. I really do. I told myself the same.

But MLM for introverts exists and it works. Just differently from how loud presentations show it. I’ll show you how I see it after my beginnings.

Can an introvert succeed in network marketing?

An introvert can succeed in network marketing, because business in MLM stands on trust, listening and long-term relationships, not on loudness. It depends on your own work, and that can be done in a quiet, thoughtful way too.

An introvert is not a shy person or someone who is afraid of people. They are someone who recharges from people more slowly and who prefers a conversation for two to a big room.

And a conversation for two is exactly what a team is really built on.

What did my introversion cost me?

My introversion held me back mainly because I used it as an excuse. I told myself “I don’t have the character for this” and did nothing. It wasn’t a problem of character, it was a problem of the excuse.

It is my mistake number two out of the five I write about in the article 5 beginner mistakes in MLM that I came unstuck on myself. Here I’ll look at it more closely.

I was right that I’m not the one who rings a hundred people and entertains a whole room. But I drew the wrong conclusion from it. The right one was: “I’ll do it my own way.”

What strengths does an introvert have in network marketing?

An introvert has three strengths in network marketing: they know how to listen, they prepare thoroughly and they can build deeper relationships with fewer people. All of these are things that trust in a team stands on.

• Listening. People most need to be heard. An introvert does it naturally.
• Preparation. They think ahead about what they want to say and don’t talk into thin air.
• Depth. They would rather have three real conversations than thirty superficial ones.
• Calm. They don’t press, so the other person doesn’t feel pushed.

Watch out for one thing. A strength can turn into a trap. Preparation will help you, but it can turn into hiding. If you prepare for a month and talk to nobody, it is no longer preparation.

How does the approach of an extrovert and an introvert differ?

An extrovert builds a team with energy and a number of contacts, an introvert with depth and trust. Neither approach is better. What matters is to choose the one that suits you and not to compare yourself with someone who is different.

Extrovert and introvert when building a team

Area	Extrovert	Introvert
Approaching people	Spontaneously, many people.	Thoughtfully, a smaller number of people.
Form of contact	Meetings in person, events, phone.	A written message, a conversation for two, a call by arrangement.
Strength	Energy and a fast start.	Listening and depth of relationships.
Risk	Superficiality and not hearing the other person.	Putting things off and hiding behind preparation.
Recharging	Among people.	In peace and alone.

You can see from the table that the difference is in style, not in value. Both types need a system and both can end up with an excuse. Just each with a different one.

How do you do MLM as an introvert in practice?

You build a team as an introvert too by choosing a small number of people, talking to them personally, listening a lot and doing it regularly in small doses. You don’t need to entertain a room, it is enough to be honest and reliable.

1. Choose a form that suits you. A written message, a call for two or a coffee. Not what others do.
2. Set a small weekly goal. For example two real conversations. Not twenty messages.
3. Listen first. Ask and let the other person talk. After the conversation write down what they told you.
4. Plan time to recharge. After conversations give yourself a moment of peace so that you don’t wear yourself out.
5. Get in touch again after a while. A simple message “how did it turn out?” takes a minute and strengthens the relationship.

And don’t forget that a leader doesn’t have to be the loudest person in the room. I write about what kind of leader makes sense in the article A leader in network marketing doesn’t have to fit into the tables.

What if conversations with people drain me?

If conversations drain you, spread them into smaller doses and leave yourself time for quiet between them. An introvert doesn’t need less work, they need a different rhythm. It is important not to give up entirely and not to expect it to pass by itself.

• Don’t plan more than one important conversation a day.
• After a conversation give yourself ten minutes alone.
• Use writing when you don’t feel like phoning, but don’t let it become a hiding place.
• Tell yourself in advance what you want to find out. You don’t have to improvise.

Frequently asked questions

Is MLM suitable for introverts?

MLM can be suitable for introverts too, because network marketing stands on trust, listening and personal relationships. An introvert must find a style that suits them, for example written messages and conversations for two. But results always depend on your own work and nobody can guarantee them.

What are the advantages of an introvert in network marketing?

An introvert listens well, prepares thoroughly and builds deeper relationships with fewer people. People around such a person feel heard and aren’t under pressure. Those are qualities that help build trust in a team. Just beware of hiding behind preparation.

Do I have to go to big events as an introvert?

You don’t have to go to big events if they plainly don’t suit you. You can build relationships in smaller groups or one to one. But it is worth trying a smaller meeting now and then, because that is where you meet people you can learn a lot from. Decide by what moves you forward.

How do I cope with approaching people when I’m an introvert?

You cope with approaching people by starting with people you know a little and using a form that suits you. Write a short message, ask about something the other person cares about and listen. You will find the method in the article How to approach people in MLM, and the key things are a small goal and regularity.

Is an introvert at a disadvantage in business?

An introvert is not at a disadvantage in business, they just have a different style and different needs. Depth, calm and thoughtfulness suit them, which are valued in many fields. The weakness can be putting things off or avoiding contact. If you watch for that and have a system, introversion is no obstacle.

How did it end up with my excuse?

The excuse “I’m an introvert after all” lasted me surprisingly long. It was comfortable, because it sounded like a fact.

But being an introvert is a fact. Doing nothing because of it is a decision.

Today I’m building a new team and looking for leaders who will go with me.

You don’t have to be loud. It is enough that you care about people.

If that sounds familiar, arrange a private presentation. Calmly, for two and without pressure. And if you don’t yet know what exactly network marketing is, start with the article What is MLM.

Tom