4 tips to beat social media anxiety as an introvert
If the idea posting to social media gives you that “icky” feeling, you’re not alone. Nearly every technical founder/exec I talk to suffers from this problem. I call it the “social media doom loop.” It goes something like this:
I want my company to survive, but I don’t want to brag
I have to post on social media, but I don’t want attention
If I brag and get a lot of attention, my company will survive
I have good news and better news. The good news: this is totally normal. The better news: you can absolutely get over it. And I’m going to tech you how.
Tip #1: Tell stories
One of the biggest stumbling blocks for self-described “introverts” is “I don’t like social media because I don’t like bragging.” When scrolling LinkedIn, it can feel like an endless stream of gratuitous, self-congratulatory bloviating. I’ll admit, I’ve done my share of bloviating on LinkedIn, but I’m also a technical introvert trying to fight beyond my international rise to obscurity!
Fear not, dear reader: You don’t have to brag to get noticed. People don’t connect with bragging—they connect with stories.
Instead of saying, “We built an incredible feature that’s 10x faster than the competition,” try something like:
“We thought we’d solve this problem in a week. It took three months, three pivots, and a lot of swearing. But we finally cracked it! Here’s what we learned…”
“We launched a feature last month and we just found out users were using it in a way we never expected. Here’s what we’re doing about it…”
Stories like these make people care. More importantly, they spark conversations, which is what social media is all about.
Tip #2: Share your opinions
Most technical founders I’ve met have strong opinions, and they back them up with research, logic, and experience. But many hesitate to share them publicly.
Here’s the thing: You don’t have to be an expert to have a valuable opinion. In fact, opinions are one of the best ways to start meaningful conversations.
Instead of thinking of it as, “I need to prove I’m right,” think of it as, “I’m testing an idea in public.” For example:
“I think most AI-generated content is garbage. But I’ve found a way to make it actually useful. Here’s my approach.”
“Everyone says X is the best way to do Y. I disagree. Here’s why.”
You don’t need to have all the answers. You just need to have something worth discussing.
Tip #3: Don’t post to be famous
If the thought of “building a personal brand” makes you cringe, stop thinking about it that way. Instead, think of social media as a place to learn.
Post because you want to test an idea, see how others think, or get feedback on something you’re working on. Approach it like you would a technical forum or a brainstorming session.
Instead of “I need to be seen as an expert,” try: “I want to hear what smart people think about this.”
Instead of “I need to impress people,” try: “I want to spark a conversation with my peers.”
When you shift your mindset from performance to participation, posting becomes a lot easier.
Tip #4: Record a one-sided conversation
The hardest part of posting isn’t writing—it’s getting out of your own head. One of the best ways to fix this is to record yourself talking.
Imagine you’re on a podcast, except you’re the host and the guest. You’re not asking any questions, either. You’re just talking to an interested audience. If that doesn’t help, try these:
Find a friend, colleague, or ghostwriter (like me!) and hop on a Zoom call.
Have them ask you a few questions about a topic you care about.
Talk through your thoughts like you would in a normal conversation.
Transcribe what you said. That’s your post.
If you don’t have someone to talk to, just hit record and talk as if you’re explaining something to a friend. You’d be surprised how much more natural your ideas sound when spoken aloud instead of typed from scratch.
Final Thought: Stop overthinking and just start
The social media doom loop is just that—a loop. The best way to break it is to just start posting.
Don’t overthink it. Don’t aim for perfection. Just put something out there, see how people respond, and adjust as you go.
And if all else fails, remember this: you’re not bragging—you’re sharing. And the right people will appreciate it.
Here’s a book recommendation that really helped me and maybe will help you, too: Brag! The art of tooting your own horn without blowing it by Peggy Klaus
