work in progress 🙂
You’re an Introvert if you prefer: (you can also do a test)
- Think/write vs act/talk
- Being/working alone vs in groups
- Know a few people well vs wide range of friends
- Dislike noisy/busy environments vs. thrive in busy environments
Preferences and strengths:
– Reserved, enjoys solitude and silence, works well alone and independently
– Slow decisions, think before speaking, one to one relationships
– Observant, good listeners, quality friends
Weaknesses and risks:
Socializing drains energy.
Introverts can appear distant, cold and disengaged.
Become isolated and have difficulty delegating.
They might be working with assumptions that haven’t been tested in the real world
Preference for working alone, may result in reputation for “not being a team player” and the death of any career aspirations. “Working in small teams” might be a decent compromise. If all promotions go to extroverts, adapt or change jobs.
Improving and covering gaps:
Express your needs. Indicate when your boundaries have been overstepped.
Manage your energy. Interact when your higher-extroverted-energy levels are higher.
Recharge. After interacting with others, take some time alone in quiet reflection (e.g. go outside).
Don’t force yourself into small talk, lunch with colleagues, or office parties. You’re not being rude, you’re preserving yourself.
Own your space. Get rid of clutter, choose a light and ambience to make your work space as relaxing as possible.
Prioritize non-real time communication: email and wiki/boards instead of meetings and chat (chat should be non-real time, but most of the times the expectation is different).
If you have to go to meetings, ask for agenda and write down your ideas in advance, or ask for the option to email your preferences post-meeting.
Mentor junior members. Teaching is the best way to learn, and 1-on-1 relationships are rewarding.
Create meaningful 1-on-1 relationships with people in positions of power (e.g. through women’s network, etc).
Work alone or in small groups.
Becoming the expert in a key area is your best bet to become indispensable and trusted
Reframe self-promotion. For a good career, get comfortable with telling stories of your successes, even it it feels awkward.
On confronting extroverted bosses/colleagues: If the interaction is likely to be repeated, the earlier you confront it in your relationship, the less uncomfortable it will be.
Remember: most extroverted people are not consciously trying to take over your space, and behaving as though that’s the case won’t help either of you..
Alternatively, Embrace introversion
Find a job where you can work alone, or a company designed for introverts.
Develop a side hustle in line with your ideal lifestyle. Eventually make it full-time.
Retire early.
Adapting and dealing with Extroverts:
Accept their need to express themselves out loud – reserve time for extroverts to share their ideas and brainstorm.
Take time to give feedback, recognition and attention, extroverts gain their energy from external stimuli.
Set clear goals and expectations – it’s easy for extroverts to get sidetracked or distracted with their many big ideas and affliction for sidebar socializing.
Be sure to highlight important dates or details and set realistic and achievable goals.
Extroverts may become bored, frustrated, and drained if left alone to work on projects.
Delegate efficiently – a project including public speaking and social interaction may energize extroverts but be an introvert’s worst nightmare.
Value their energy and positive momentum by offering them the opportunity to lead certain meetings, team building sessions or gatherings.
Make them aware of their working style.
Be firm with boundaries – make room for everyone to share and contribute, not just extroverts.
Respect your extroverted colleagues’ need for independence and to “jump in”. As painful as it may be for you, allow them to talk things out. Nod your head as they speak to indicate you’re hearing what they’re saying as you use their talking time to process and formulate a response. Don’t be afraid to let them know if you need a few minutes to respond.
Accept discomfort. Communicating your needs to someone might make you uncomfortable, and that’s okay.
Suggest an alternative way for the interaction to go down, and make a decision together. Most people are flexible, and they might actually like your idea better. In fact, that might be why they’re interacting with you in the first place – they like you, and they like how you do things.
If meeting new people makes you feel uncomfortable, start with setting small goals for yourself. Make an effort to introduce yourself. The first few times may require an extra push, but slowly you’ll gain more courage and feel more comfortable striking up conversations.
Practice behaving like an extrovert – strike up conversations even if you don’t have specific reasons to talk, make eye contact and smile, be more present and get out of your head, share information about yourself, etc
Don’t live in your head: tap into the wisdom of the crowds with surveys.
Practice public speaking. Read books on influencing people. They are all worth it.
Extroverts
Preferences and strengths:
- Outgoing, enthusiastic, enjoys working in a team and open work settings
- Quick decisions, thinks out of the box, positive attitude, good at maintaining social networks
Weaknesses and risks:
Lack independence. Value too highly the validation of others. Tendency to get lonely.
Improving and covering gaps:
Don’t always stand in the spotlight, and dial down your intensity
Adapting and dealing with Introverts:
Give them space.
Let them control their work environment, and give flexibility to work from home.
If you like this, you’ll probably like: I/E N/S T/F J/P, INTJ, personality tests, Quiet, books
Leo :) 