3 ways Introverts can stand out more in an Extrovert’s world

It’s not easy being an Introvert in this world. After all, the tenets of modern society requires one to not be constantly alone and inward but to reach out and connect. It has become accepted by introverts the world over that if they want to excel in the working world, they would need to stretch out their more extroverted attributes. The common misconceptions remain, that introverts are not as sociable as extroverts or not as expressive. This definition is not accurate if we are using MBTI as a measuring stick. The only difference between an introvert and extrovert is what activity energises or drains them. An introvert can be as sociable or even more socially apt than an extrovert – it just takes more energy out of them. 

I am a very clear introvert. I often find myself aggressively retreating inwards during times of great stress (which is on most work days). To thrive in the workplace, I’ve had to stretch myself out of my natural comfort zones, even painfully at times. This is mostly a survival instinct to stand out in the corporate world, where its metrics are still very much wired to reward the extroverted more than the introverted. I've long accepted this fact. It's just the way of the working world. But that doesn't mean I have to allow myself to remain at this disposition. The consolidation between some of my more severely natural introverted inclinations and the expectations of my work environment that I display the more extroverted ends of my personality is the sweet spot for me. It's generally not an easy line to toe, but I've managed to achieve it by doing the three things below diligently. I hope they help you as well.

Express what you’ve processed

One of the biggest misconceptions about introverts is that they don’t have opinions about matters because they hardly ever express any. But the truth is they often can have just as passionate an opinion as extroverts, they just need a little more time to think things through before expressing it. It’s not uncommon for the topic to have moved to other matters by the time I am ready to express my thoughts on a matter. Often, I would choose to not bother expressing my thoughts when that happens. Everyone’s moved on to the next item on the agenda, right? Wrong. The truth is, if introverts constantly do this they will end up looking unpassionate and unknowledgeable to the people working with them. Take the effort to express your thoughts, even if the meeting has moved on to the next agenda or if the conversation has switched to another topic. It’s really a case of better late than never.  

Write down what you’ve achieved

Expressing a thought or making a point is not something that comes naturally to all introverts. It’s not a zippy process for a lot of us and for some of us, it can be quite a pain. It’s not that we have nothing to express. It’s that we need time to form it in our heads before we are ready to express it. Having to manage say a performance review or quick update with your manager while attempting to form your thoughts can be quite a herculean task for an introvert. It would be a lot easier if you’ve already documented your achievements and completed tasks down on paper. Expressing something you’ve already processed through is going to be a lot easier than having to recall things while finding the resolute to manage the comfort of expressing them to someone.    

Plan your calendar strategically

Chairing meetings and facilitating discussions can take a lot of energy out of an introvert. To ensure you are always at the right energy level for most of your face-to-face interactions and social engagements, try to not organise back-to-back meetings. For me, I am fine managing a robust work discussion, but I am usually exhausted mentally after one. If I had to go immediately into another discussion, my energy levels are not going to be at their optimum. To ensure that I am able to be productive constantly at work, I try to not line my meetings up if I can help it. I try to break my meetings engagements up with work I can complete alone. This helps me energise before my next meeting. It’s all work that needs to be completed anyway, so if you can, why not organise them in a way where you can be at your most productive when completing them?

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