Keeping it quiet

ProvidingĀ the best scenarioĀ for introverts helps both employers and employees

 

Introverts come in many guises.Ā Actor Emma Watson says she is one. Microsoft founder Bill Gates and former US president Barack Obama have also both been described that way. But they are all so high profile and seemingly so far removed from the archetypal introvert we all think of ā€“ someone who hates the limelight.

Of course, being an introvert is not the same as being shy and is not about being antisocial. It is a personality type that has become somewhat misunderstood. Broadly speaking, itā€™s about needing time alone to have moments of quiet thought. Introverts can find energy in themselves rather than other people, and often, they have quiet confidence rather than the need for constant plaudits and cheerleaders.

Executive leadership coach John Burt believes that introverts have the potential to be great leaders and colleagues because of these qualities. In a LinkedIn essay, he writes, ā€œThey dare to be themselves while recognising the value of others and their contributions. People pick up on that, appreciate it and are naturally attracted to the charisma of a self-assured leader.ā€

Indeed, something is reassuring about people who pause to think before expressing an opinion. Introverts are often more self-aware and observant than their outgoing counterparts. Unfortunately, though, many modern offices are not set up for them. Background noise, large numbers of people, and having to make phone calls while feeling like youā€™re being overheard can be exhausting and inhibiting.

Find the best fit

However, plenty can be done to help introverts reach their full potential at work, and often, it comes down to enabling the proper set-up. Career coach Patricia Ezechie suggests that people should understand their individual working styles to succeed. ā€œOur working style is how we like to work best,ā€ she says. ā€œIt is how we approach our day-to-day tasks and projects, work with others and solve problems to do our best work.ā€

That could mean that an introvert might need time away from the company headquarters in favour of some concentrated work hours at a workspace closer to home. It could also mean they want to book a quiet workplace or find a desk in a corner where they feel they are unnoticed. As Ezechie adds, ā€œI always suggest one of the first things to do when you join a new organisation, especially as an introvert, is to identify the quiet thinking spaces in the buildingā€¦ Find them and use them.ā€

We all need some quiet time at some point, though, whatever personality type we think we have. As Dr. Lauren Theresa, a psychology professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology, says, ā€œItā€™s typical for a vast percentage of us to experience both introverted and extroverted qualities.ā€

Running structured meetings is one of the best ways to empower an introvert. Writing in Psychology Today, Allison Abrams notes that our ā€œculture disproportionately values loudness, often mistaking it for intelligence.ā€ Structure means everyone gets to speak up without shouting the loudest. Whether you are meeting in person or remotely, understanding that people have different communication styles is essential.

Text |Ā Supplied

Photography |Ā pathdoc

For more information, go toĀ iwgplc.com.

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