Believe it or not, I didn't always know I was an introvert. People weren't talking about introversion much when I was a child.
I just knew that the level of presence and engagement society seemed to require felt like way too much. These days, I'd describe it as exhausting and unsustainable.
So if you'd asked me then whether I'd do all the things I've done that require me to be present and engaged, I'd probably have given you the Mr Spock eyebrow (if I could actually do that.)
But life has a way of giving you what you need, so I've been showing up in different ways for decades: as a journalist, as a lecturer, as a writer, as a speaker, as a podcaster, as a self-published author, as a business leader, as a newsletter creator, as a community founder... you get the idea.
And I've learned how to do it my way, with proxies for presence that play to my strengths and are super effective while allowing me to manage my energy.
It gives me the greatest joy to share the strategies I've learned with my fellow introverts and to help them get unstuck.
A lot of that work is done 1:1 (best for us) and at a cadence that honours our energy.
-- Clarity Boost calls for help on a single issue
-- Self Expression sessions for mindset support that leads to strategic action
-- Clarity Partnership engagements for more depth
If you're an introvert stuck on a project, let's talk.
Sharon Hurley Hall is an anti-racism educator, author of I’m Tired of Racism, and founder of the SHHARE anti-racism community and of Sharon’s Anti-Racism Newsletter, which provides tools and lived experiences to fuel systemic change. A seasoned professional writer and journalist, she leverages over 30 years of experience to mentor introverted leaders, and is co-founder and co-host of the Introvert Sisters Podcast. Her recent work focuses on helping Black and Global Majority women achieve high-impact visibility and professional influence without the exhaustion of performing extroversion.
© Sharon Hurley Hall, 2026. All Rights Reserved. This newsletter is published on beehiiv (affiliate link).