A visibility strategy for introverts

Science communication and storytelling are popular topics these days and quite rightly so. We seem to be coming full circle, back to recognising the value of sharing information through stories. It’s how humans have always made sense of the world. Thousands of years ago, storytelling was the primary way to share essential knowledge. It helped entire communities understand and act, because when everyone could grasp the message, they could absorb the meaning and heed the advice

Storytelling isn’t just entertainment. Told well, stories captivate us, move us, and drive action. Who hasn’t been utterly enthralled by a children’s story at some point in their adult life? But storytelling isn’t magic. It’s a skill... one that can be learned and applied to daily professional life, especially when you need to get your message across clearly.

We’ve of course moved on from the days when important news was spread by word of mouth, and the language was simple enough for everyone to follow. Today, in the world of STEM, innovation moves so quickly and is often so specialised, that even scientists from neighbouring disciplines can struggle to understand each other. So how could storytelling possibly play a role in science communication without dumbing things down?

It’s a fair question. Many scientists worry that using stories might weaken the perception of rigour. But storytelling isn’t about replacing data with fluff. It’s about building a structure around your findings so that they land. In fact, the research by Paul J Zak, 2014 -Why Inspiring Stories Make Us React: The Neuroscience of Narrative- shows that the human brain processes stories differently to raw data. Stories engage multiple brain regions at once, including those responsible for emotion, memory and sensory experience.

The result? Your message sticks.

I’m not suggesting we start our presentations with “Once upon a time…” But the truth is, pure data presentations often don’t hold the audience’s attention — in fact, they can have the opposite effect and put people to sleep, especially when you're speaking to people outside your immediate team. These are busy people who, in today’s fast-paced world, may give you seconds of their attention, not minutes.

And storytelling isn’t just about presenting data, either. It’s also about how we present ourselves in our teams, at networking events, and especially in interviews. The STAR method, for example used to answer behavioural interview questions is built entirely around storytelling. You describe the Situation (setting the scene), the Task (your role and goal), the Actions you took, and the Results you achieved. It's a classic story arc, and it works because it helps others see what you did and feel the impact of it.

This same structure applies to many situations. You can use it to represent yourself or your team. The Tasks might be project goals, the Actions could be your colleagues’ contributions. If you’re introverted and self-promotion feels uncomfortable, speaking up about team achievements can be a gentler way in. It’s still visibility... just shared. And it’s a step towards being seen without having to force extroversion.

This kind of visibility matters. It builds confidence, trust in yourself, and respect from peers. It shows people your personality, values and leadership potential. Whether you realise it or not, you’re shaping how people see you every time you speak up. Promotions aren’t handed out based on one standout moment, they’re based on how you consistently show up over time. Especially on the bad days, when things aren’t smooth. That’s when people really notice your presence and character.

Storytelling helps you show up. It lets people know not just what you’ve done, but who you are becoming. If that feels uncomfortable, good... growth often does. But becoming visible in this way doesn’t require you to be flashy or loud. It just requires you to share more of the truth, in a way others can connect with.

And if you’re thinking, “But I’m not a storyteller. I’m a scientist”  let me stop you there. You already are a storyteller. Every time you write an experiment log, explain a protocol to a colleague, or troubleshoot a result, you’re narrating a sequence of cause and effect. The skill is already there, the shift is just learning to apply it more deliberately, with purpose and clarity.

Want to find comfortable ways for you to share your work without dumbing it down or feeling like you’re showing off? DM me to find out what working with me would look like.