INTROVERT CHALLENGES: What to do When You’re Viewed as Not Being Passionate About Your Role

I am not viewed as being as passionate about my job or my results as my extroverted colleagues. It’s easy for my voice to get lost in this environment. What can I do?

As introverts, our quiet, calm, nature can be mistaken for aloofness, or not caring. Others may think that we are not passionate enough about our work. Because of the many misconceptions about introversion, you may worry that this will impact your ability to be seen as an effective leader, or that it may negatively affect your chances of a promotion.

You may think that you have to put on a persona and try to be more talkative and outgoing like your extroverted colleagues, only to find that it leaves you feeling drained and stressed out. 

But just because you don’t outwardly show animation or excitement in a loud, gregarious way, it doesn’t mean that you can’t let others show how passionate you are for your work and the results that you achieve.

Understand where your extroverted colleagues are coming from

As frustrating as it might be for you to feel your passion is drowned out by your extroverted colleagues who are the epitome of it (and exude it so animatedly and excitedly), gaining an understanding of why they are like this will help you to be aware of why you may be viewed as lacking in passion. This awareness will make it easier for you to find ways to relate in a meaningful way.

Extroverts draw their energy from external things. They typically thrive in environments that enable them to talk and be sociable. In the workplace, that can translate to displaying excitement and vigour about the things that you may think are trivial.

By recognising that this is their naturally, preferred way of being, just like how you wouldn’t want people to expect you to be something that you’re not, offer them the same accord.

It can be draining if you’re in an extroverted environment

It can be frustrating though if you are in an environment that is full of extroverts, and you are the only quiet, reserved one. Because being in such an environment can be draining and you may find that you retreat even more in to yourself.

If that is the case, find ways in which you can re-energise throughout the day. Having moments of solitude, going for a walk in nature during your lunch break, doing something pleasurable that you can immerse yourself in on your own such as reading a book, or sticking your headphones on and listening to your favourite music.

There are different ways to show your passion, so don’t feel that you have to put on a gregarious persona and act in ways that are not you.

If you tend to keep yourself to yourself, engage with your colleagues more so that they get to know the real you. This doesn’t mean you have to go down to the pub as part of a large group, you can do this by developing and nurturing relationships with colleagues on a one to one basis.

Show an interest in them and get to know them better, utilise your listening skills to make them feel heard.

If people really know you, they will know how much you care. I once had a colleague complain to my manager that I didn’t care about performance, but because I had a good relationship with my manager, she knew that this couldn’t be further from the truth. My manager knew how passionate I was about my work and the teams that I had responsibility for.

It is easier to talk about the things we are passionate about

What are the things that you do that light you up? What results have you achieved that you get excited about? Identify those things that light you up and talk about them with enthusiasm. Introverts tend to prefer meaningful discussions to small talk, so have meaningful conversations about the aspects of your role that you are most passionate about. 

When you talk about the things you love, do you find that you are naturally more confident and self assured? Do you notice that people listen more keenly because of the passion you exude? Whether you are loud and gregarious, or you are quiet and reserved, people are drawn to passionate people.

Let your passion shine through in other ways

Passion doesn’t just need to be shown verbally, it can be shown in other ways. Demonstrate your passion through writing. Whether this is writing articles or blogs for your intranet or newsletter, or in an email to your team, stakeholders, clients, or CEO, show how enthusiastic you are, in your own measured way.

A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face; a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day.

Proverbs 15:13 (MSG)

Do you smile a lot, or do you look sullen most of the time? There is a lot to be said about smiling and the impact it has on other people. Making eye contact and smiling, helps to develop trust. It can make you more attractive, more welcoming, and more likeable.

Passionate people smile a lot, so show your passion through your smile. But be genuine when you smile, because people can see through a fake smile.

Leaders need to show passion if they are to get people enthused and get buy in to their vision. Because of our quiet, reserved nature, introverts can be seen to be lacking in passion. If you are an introverted leader who has been told you’re lacking in passion, find ways to show that you are passionate in ways that work for you.

Are you an introverted leader and been told you lack passion for your work? If so, how did you deal with it? Please share in the comments below.

This article is in response to one of the many questions I get asked, concerning challenges faced by introverted women all over the world.

#quietlyvisible #introverteandproud #introvertedleaders #womeninleadership

ABOUT ME:

I am The Coach for High Achieving Introverted Women, an Executive, Career, Business Coach, Writer, Speaker, LinkedIn Top Voice UK 2017 and the founder of Abounding Solutions . With over 25 years coaching and leadership experience, I help women (with a particular emphasis on introverted women) to be authentic, bold, confident leaders and excel in their careers and businesses.

I also help organisations develop the talent pipeline of female employees so that more women make it to senior management roles.

Are you a high achieving introverted woman who wants to thrive as a leader and learn how to deal with the challenges that introverted women face as leaders, and want to become your best possible authenic self? If so, join my Facebook community for high achieving introverted women here.

All high achieving women who want to be authentic, bold, confident leaders and excel in their careers and businesses are welcome to join my other, more general community of High Achieving Women here

If you are a senior introverted woman, and a member of a senior management team or executive team. Come and join the conversation here.