There are activities that extroverts consider easy and fun in the workplace, that many introverts hate or at the very least, dislike doing. As with everything, this is not meant to be a blanket statement for all introverts; in fact, as an introvert, I actually enjoy one of these activities, given certain circumstances which I will explain. Since these activities are required in many workplaces, the point of this article is not to exclude the introvert; rather better understand that their silence or reserved nature does not mean they are disengaged.
1. Brainstorming: Years ago I was puzzled when I saw my colleagues enthusiastically contributing ideas in brainstorming sessions. I remember being told, “no idea is off limits. Blurt out your wild or crazy idea.” Wild or crazy idea? I had nothing to contribute. This felt unnatural and uncomfortable to me, and still does. Now, I realize it is because as an introvert, I like to think through ideas before verbalizing them. And even then, I overthink how my idea will be received by others, so it is unlikely that I will contribute much during these highly vocal brainstorming sessions. On the other hand, understand that the introvert is most likely the one who will engage once it is time to put meat and bones around the ideas that were thought of by extroverts.
2. Working On A Team: Like many introverts, I prefer to complete tasks alone. Introverts are likely to be reserved in the team environment; however, it does not mean that they are not successful contributors to a team; nor does it mean they are not team players. They can be great team players who successfully complete their assigned tasks independently. Steve Jobs, a proponent of collaboration said, “teamwork is dependent on trusting the other folks to come through with their part without watching them the whole time.”
3. Presenting: Most introverts hate being forced to present because the attention is directed towards them. Most prefer to be behind the scenes rather than the center of attention. Introverts tend to have high standards for themselves, therefore, any public mistake or mishap feels horrifying, We admire extroverts’ ability to shake off their mistakes, while we overthink them and make them out to be worse than they actually are. Here is a video about why introverts overthink: https://youtu.be/shcEMIPQlYM. As an introvert, I am a speaker and I love to present; however, only when I have the ability and the time to prepare so that I am not caught off guard and more likely to make mistakes. Therefore, be sure and give introverts as much time as possible so that they will feel prepared.
4. Forced Socializing: One of my extroverted coaching clients was trying to better understand his introverted staff. He could not understand why rewarding his team with a weekend social was not appealing to some of them. Introverts are all over the map when it comes to how much they enjoy socializing; however, one thing they have in common is they want to socialize on their own terms.They want to socialize with the people and the length of time that they choose rather than it being forced upon them. What can seem like an activity that is a reward for extroverts may be seen as punishment for many introverts. When planning a social, introverts will be more likely to attend if they are given as many details about it as possible, and if they know they have full permission to leave whenever they want to leave.
5. Traveling With Colleagues: When I worked in the corporate environment, I sometimes traveled to conferences or to a client’s office which I enjoyed the traveling part; but only when I was traveling alone. The idea of being forced to drive or fly somewhere with a colleague, even if it was someone I liked, felt exhausting. It all goes back to the dreaded activity of forced socialization. If the introvert is required to travel with others, understand their need for breaks from the group is their way of replenishing their energy. And if you are extroverted, initiate breaks with the introverts you travel with, as they may feel uncomfortable initiating them on their own.
Do you know of someone who needs to better understand introverts on their team? If so, please share the video above with them!
