Do 'Introverts' really contribute @Workplace?

An introvert is defined as a person who feels more comfortable focusing on his/her inner thoughts and ideas, rather than what's happening externally. S/he enjoys spending time with him/herself or just one or two people, rather than large groups or crowds. It can be a disadvantage in the workplace because people who are introverted often get overlooked, even when they deliver 100% of the assignments given to them. The extrovert or most talkative employees often steal the show, and the quiet ones who are a crucial part of the success aren’t recognised as much as they would expect.

Does this scenario sounds familiar? This means that you likely work with an introvert or are probably an introvert yourself and are undergoing this issue. There’s good news at the end of that dark tunnel, However, we need to understand that just because someone is  introverted doesn’t mean s/he shouldn’t get recognition for his/her hard work. It’s all just a matter of strategy. In this article, we are going to discuss about how to make an impact in your organization and get noticed and get the deserved recognition for for the great work.

1. Take a Job that you Love

Let’s keep the above heading ahead of us while choosing a career. There’s no job or role suited only for introverts because sooner or later, they’ll have to interact with all sorts of people in the organization. With that in mind, consider working in an environment where one can employ all his/her skills and experience to work to the fullest. 

For instance, if an introvert works for the sales department but s/he hate one-on-one telemarketing and excels at other areas of the department that doesn’t require one-on-one customer interaction, then s/he should go for a role that has his/her core strengths. If need be, one should talk to team lead to let him/her know about those strengths and ask for a chance to prove. 

2. Lead by listening

I’ve observed that introverts generally like to speak less and listen more. This is one of the major personality strengths that extroverts badly lack, particularly during meetings or decision making forums, though it might feel as though introverts at a disadvantage because everyone’s contributing. One can use this opportunity to listen to the conversation and figure out what everyone has been missing because they’ve been busy thinking about taking. 

When introverts decide to speak, they must make sure they have analyzed all the scenarios critically, and they will be able to contribute something meaningful albeit short. As time goes on, one can be regarded as colleague who is analytical and thorough that everyone looks upto for solutions when they’re done talking.

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3. Leave Your Comfort Zone

Some businesses actually want to hire introverts at the top positions due to the nature of the business. They want quiet, analytical and good listeners as CEOs and CXOs. Such professionals are actually very private in their outlook thus Introverts. Same goes for some of our favourite movie stars who happen to be introverts, yet they are always in public eye. Introverts typically hate being the center of attention, so they might shy away from uncomfortable situations especially about their private life. However, if someone wants to be recognized for all the hard work that s/he has put in, its better to do a give and take and make a transition from the comfort zone to growth zone.

In such situations, one must volunteer to head that meeting, present that project or speak to your boss if you think a fellow employee needs help. It’s more difficult than it sounds, of course, but the best way to make your managers recognize you is to do something. Speak to your colleagues if you have any questions or concerns instead of bottling it all in. This will make your teams see you as being more open and approachable.

4. Be Forthcoming 

Introverts possess a variety of skills that can make them good business leaders, particularly in businesses that value innovation and entrepreneurship. Introverts happen to be more creative, critical thinkers and possess greater listening skills without losing their cool during meetings or otherwise. Introverts also tend to excel at written communication, outside-the-box-thinking and problem solving.

People who lean more toward being reserved or shy can have natural leadership traits that can make them valuable employees and leaders. Be your self and confident in what makes you special, even if others disagree with your style. Your strengths as a leader are as unique as anyone’s, so don’t hide them just because they’re different from other people’s skillsets. Embrace who you are!

5. Be Adaptable

Many of the introverts with careers in extroverted industries were able to adapt to their work environments over time. Unlike listening and empathy, this skill wasn’t something that came naturally to them. It was something they had to acquire, learn and work towards. Since effective communication is fundamental to success in consulting, introverts are up for the challenge, and over time, with practice, it becomes second nature.

To be successful in an industry that favors extroverts, like banking, people who are more introverted need to use both the analytical strengths that come second nature to them and develop the social skills that may not. As per the research, organisations have found that the willingness and effort to adapt was a key skill of the most successful introverts. In fact, theyfound that by the time many introverts reach the C-Suite level, they are more likely to perceive themselves as having a mix of introverted and extroverted tendencies.

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Last Word 

As a professional coach, I have been studying personality and leadership for over a decade now. I’ve learned that the central difference between introverts and extroverts is not how well they communicate, but how they respond to stimuli. Extrovert brains are energized by stimulation and seek it out in social situations. Introverts, on the other hand, may equally enjoy being social, but prefer taking breaks to recharge.

When it comes to actually communicating and building relationships, however, introverts may have the advantage. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need a big, loud presence to impress powerful people. A study that assessed the performance of more than 900 CEOs found that people with introverted personalities exceeded the expectations of their investors more often than extroverted ones. Further studies show that while highly extroverted people are 25% more likely to land top jobs, introverts often make better leaders.

About the Author

Muhammad Sajwani is the Founder and Managing Director of Evolve HR which aims at transforming, enriching and evolving Human Capital of Pakistan, Evolve HR thrives in challenging assumptions that hinder organisational aspirations, by creating innovative solutions that yield maximum impact, scalability & benefit to a wider base of stakeholders. As a Business Coach and Organisational Consultant, Sajwani knows how to combine business insights with people insights to transform organisations and put them on the path to growth. 

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