How introverted experts can accelerate career growth through subtle personal branding

How introverted experts can accelerate career growth through subtle personal branding

And why it matters …

This article was co-created with Damjan Blagojevic, whose grounded experience in tech leadership and quiet influence brings depth to every insight shared below.

Intro: The visibility paradox in tech

I spent a large part of my own career in tech, often surrounded by brilliant, quiet minds. People who built systems, solved hard problems, and carried teams through complexity. I deeply admired them.

What struck me, though, was how many of them went unnoticed. Not for lack of talent, but simply because they didn’t raise their hand. They didn’t speak up, or share, or show their thinking. And that was a loss, not just for them, but for everyone around them

In the tech world, it’s still common to believe that exceptional work will naturally speak for itself. But this assumption often fails introverted professionals.

You can be deeply skilled, deliver flawlessly, and still remain invisible — especially in environments where louder voices dominate attention.

Career growth isn’t purely meritocratic. It’s relational. It’s about who sees your thinking, who feels your influence, and who believes in your trajectory. And that visibility — when done with integrity — isn’t about ego. It’s about strategic clarity.

Subtle personal branding offers a path for those who don’t want to shout, but still want to be seen. This piece is for those people.

Luckly, Recep Taylanhan has accepted my invite to share his invaluable expertize with us.

Recep Taylanhan is a Software Engineer with deep experience in building scalable, high-performance web APPs, especially in cloud-based environments. He specializes in frontend development, advocates for engineering best practices. Having worked across cultures and continents, he’s now shaping solutions at JPMorgan Chase while helping others grow their tech careers through personal branding, smarter job search strategies, and confident negotiation. He is also the Founder of the Newsletter: The Soft Stack : Engineering Beyond The Code

Recep, over to you …

The underestimated value of soft skills in tech

By Recep Taylanhan

First of all thank you so much for giving me this opportunity to share my experience within The Silent Influencer.

I would like to start with a simple example. Think about a teammate who has strong technical and analytical skills and delivers their work successfully and on time. Do you think that’s enough?

I’d say definitely not.

In the tech industry, people are constantly interacting in a dynamic team environment. When someone needs help, more clarification, or gets stuck, getting support quickly is crucial — especially with deadlines during each Sprint.

Nobody achieves team goals alone. That’s where soft skills become critical.

Effective communication, collaboration, mentoring, commitment, and encouragement are essential. I’ve seen many professionals with strong hard skills but without soft skills — those people may become tech leads, but they rarely grow into real leaders.

Meanwhile, someone with only moderate technical skills but strong soft skills can become an excellent manager or team leader.

That’s why I believe soft skills always matter — and often more than hard skills.

What subtle personal branding looks like (and why it works)

Like they say, “Lightning reaches its target faster than thunder.”

Sometimes, being calm, timely, and doing what’s necessary without noise is enough.

In my experience, those who constantly say “I know everything” or try to control everything without being asked often come across as unpleasant.

On the other hand, being quiet yet effective is far more meaningful and valuable. Silence doesn’t mean being dull or passive.

If you can solve problems, intervene when needed, and the people you work with naturally feel the need to ask for your insight or guidance, then I believe that’s the power of subtle presence. That’s the success of quiet confidence.

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Why visibility matters for technical profiles

I believe visibility is important for everyone — regardless of their personality or role.

But for me, visibility doesn’t mean bragging or self-promotion. It means being humble while still communicating what you’ve done in a clear, meaningful way.

Yes, perhaps it’s a neurological reality — our brain hemispheres serve different functions. You may have a highly developed left brain: strong in logic, math, and technical skills. But without pairing that with soft skills like communication and self-expression, your potential might remain hidden. That brilliance might go unnoticed. And sometimes, that star might fade before it’s ever fully seen.

Presenting yourself well is not vanity — it’s a way to help others discover your true potential.

Practical steps for introverted professionals

As human beings, we naturally take pride in what we do. It’s normal to want to be recognized. But I once heard a writer say: “You can’t fight your nature.” That stayed with me.

For me, being natural, staying simple, and staying true — these are forms of quiet success. And no one can truly compete with that. It’s sustainable. It’s sincere.

Small actions matter.

• A kind smile
• Calling someone by their name
• Saying thank you at the right time
• Giving a small, unexpected gift

These things spark lasting relationships.

They’re quiet signals, but incredibly powerful.

You don’t have to be loud to be seen. You just need to be intentional and real.

Quiet branding in action: frameworks that help you stay consistent

Thank you, Recep. From here on, I’ll take over to show how this quiet presence can be turned into a repeatable, content-driven strategy — and close with some finishing thoughts.

Subtle personal branding is not about posting daily. It’s about showing up with precision — making your thinking visible, without depleting its depth.

Introverts don’t need to change their nature to build visibility. They need systems that preserve their focus while signalling value to others.

Quiet branding works because it respects your nature while amplifying your strengths.

Here are three practical methods I use and recommend:

🟡 Document instead of create. Instead of reinventing the wheel, share what you’re already doing. Frame your learnings, obstacles, or reflections as content. Clarity beats novelty.

🟡 Teach without performing. Don’t try to impress — instead, try to serve. Break down a recent bug fix. Explain a decision tradeoff. Summarize a principle you’ve learned. Helpfulness builds quiet credibility.

🟡 Show up in relevant spaces. If LinkedIn feels noisy, write a monthly post. If public posting feels like too much, start with internal knowledge shares. Influence doesn’t require algorithms, it requires relevance.

📌 Bonus insight : As Recep often emphasizes — being kind and treating others with respect isn’t just decent human behaviour. It also has the highest long-term ROI.

Closing thoughts: Real influence is quiet, consistent, and real

Influence isn’t earned by volume. It’s built through trust, built through presence, and built over time.

Subtle personal branding allows introverted professionals to lead without theatrics. To shape culture without spotlight-chasing. To grow without compromising character. If you’re someone who’s always let your work speak for itself, maybe it’s time to let your voice accompany it. Not louder — just clearer.

Start small. One learning. One post. One insight shared with someone who needs it.

That’s how quiet influence begins. And it lasts.

A big thank-you to Recep for bringing his experience and grounded wisdom to this article. I hope it sparks new ways of thinking and acting, for every quiet expert ready to be seen.

Make sure you follow him:

→ on his Substack and here on LinkedIn.

→ Also make sure to subscribe to his value-packed Substack newsletter:

https://humanface.substack.com/

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