Workplaces may often seem like they are designed for only the loudest voices. As a mid-career accountant and finance professional who is introverted, you may have found yourself in meetings with clients or your team, cross-functional, etc, where it has felt harder than you can imagine to make your voice heard.
Being in situations like this may give you the feeling that you are slow or even lack ideas. But that’s far from who you are. You are the professional who prefers to form your ideas totally before spelling them out, although this may sometimes mean that you may never get to communicate your thoughts. To defeat this challenge, we have put together this article to help you develop strategies that are practical for introverted professionals in finance roles.
Why Traditional Communication Fails Introverts at Work
Finance roles are often fast-paced, and this is also true when it comes to communication in such roles; it’s all speed and volume, and this may put introverted professionals at a disadvantage. Because introverts naturally listen, digest information, and create a complete concept before speaking, they miss the limited window of opportunity when meetings rely on impromptu speaking or when the loudest voices make decisions. The discussion may have already moved on before they are ready to add something. This is a style mismatch rather than a lack of skill. At work, quality communication is more important to introverts than quantity.
Tips To Improve Communication at Work as an Introvert
Being deliberate, organised, and self-assured is more important for being heard than being the loudest. The following approaches are especially effective in finance roles:
1. Prepare Points Ahead of Time
Numbers may be your strength, but preparation is your ally.
- Before a meeting, jot down 2–3 key points you want to contribute.
- Frame them in terms of business impact: “This change will save £X over Y months” or “Here’s the risk exposure if we delay.”
- Having the facts clear reduces nerves and ensures you speak with authority.
- Always have post-it notes handy to prompt you to listen out for salient parts of the conversation, ready to raise a point or ask a question when you get a chance.
2. Use “Entry Lines” to Break In
Many introverts hesitate because they don’t know how to interject. Keep a few ready-made phrases:
- “To build on what was just said…”
- “From a finance perspective, here’s what I see…”
- “I’d like to add another angle…”
- “Sally just raised a great point. We have data that supports this”
These openers can help you step in naturally without feeling abrupt.
3. Leverage 1:1 Discussions
Not everything has to happen in the big meeting. Often, accountants influence best in smaller settings:
- Share your insights with key decision-makers in advance.
- Follow up afterwards with a concise email summary.
This way, your perspective still shapes decisions even if you didn’t speak much in the moment.
4. Master the Power of Questions
You don’t need to deliver long speeches. A well-timed question can shift the whole conversation:
- “What assumptions are we making about cash flow here?”
- “Have we considered the compliance implications?”
- Ask “open questions” starting with what, how, which, when, who, or where, rather than closed questions leading to a “yes/no” response.
Questions can demonstrate expertise, spark discussion, and often carry more weight than statements.
5. Signal Confidence with Body Language
You don’t have to be extroverted, but you do need to look engaged:
- Be present in the meeting and actually listen
- Sit upright and lean slightly forward.
- Make eye contact when you’re speaking.
- Avoid shrinking back or crossing arms defensively.
These small adjustments mean others are more likely to listen when you contribute.
6. Practise Micro-Moments of Visibility
Instead of aiming to transform into the most vocal person in the room, focus on consistent, small contributions:
- Summarise data clearly.
- Volunteer to explain one part of a report.
- Offer to take colleagues through the financial implications.
Over time, these micro-moments build your reputation as someone worth listening to.
7. Reframe Introversion as a Strength
Introverts can bring a lot to the party and often:
- Listen deeply,
- Notice risks and nuances others miss,
- Bring thoughtful, well-considered points.
In finance, these are invaluable skills. The key is making sure they’re seen as well as heard.
You do not need to change your personality for you to be heard at work; what you need is to be strategic, and you can start with the steps we already listed in this article. But if you would appreciate a further nudge in the right direction, then sign up for our Assertiveness Skills online course today.
