What Would it Be Like if Introverts Dominated the Workplace?

In the recent televised production of the book Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman, it shows what life could be like if white people had been the ones that had been enslaved, and black people were the rulers of the Kingdom.

It makes for interesting viewing and makes you realise just how different the world would be if it had been true.

It got me thinking about introversion and what it would be like in those countries for whom the extrovert ideal is the norm (a term coined by Susan Cain), if the situation was reversed and the introvert ideal was the norm. We only have to look at certain countries and cultures to get a glimpse of what this would be like.

Some cultures value introversion as a leadership quality

Nordic countries and certain Asian countries such as China and Japan, value introversion as a leadership quality. I recently had a conversation with Ed Sant’Anna, Managing Director of Remarkable Focus who grew up in Brazil and was considered introverted because of his quiet nature. But in the UK where he resides and most of Northern Europe, he is considered extroverted.

Ed advises C-level executives on how to leverage digital technologies, automation and AI in their businesses, and has worked for Japanese businesses where the more extroverted members of the international team (UK, US) would be coached to "dial down" in meetings with their Japanese colleagues. He said their usual western ways of conduct in meetings (e.g.: sometimes talking over themselves) are actually perceived as rude with the Japanese management.

This goes to show the extent of differing perspectives dependent on location and culture. Sweden is well known for its introverted culture. Small talk is kept to a minimum and gregariousness is not something that abounds. Those new to the nation find it difficult to make new friends and it was named as the worst place in the world for foreigners to make new friends.

Yet it is said to have one of the highest standards of living in the world, and a booming start-up culture. Some consider it to be the introverts paradise.

If the situation was reversed in those countries where the extrovert ideal is the norm and there was the introvert ideal instead, here’s how I imagine our workplaces would be.

Extroverts would be told to act more introverted

I am frequently told by introverts that they are told they need to act more extroverted or they are told they need to speak up more in meetings. If the situation was reversed, extroverts would be told to act more introverted. And perhaps, many extroverted people could benefit from being acting a bit more introverted at times.

A good leader however, whether introverted or extroverted, knows how to adapt in any given situation. They know whether they need to be more out there, or when they need to rein it in.

An introverted woman once told me she was ‘summoned’ by her manager who wanted to talk to her about her lack of confidence. This woman did not have a confidence issue. Because she was quiet, her quietness had been mistaken for a lack of confidence.

In the introvert ideal, confident extroverted people would be told they are too arrogant.

Job interviews

In the introvert ideal, interview candidates would receive a briefing in advance with a list of questions they are likely to be asked. This would allow those whose preference is to think and reflect before giving a response, time to do their thinking beforehand.

I can imagine many would be in uproar about this because this is something that doesn’t tend to be done. However, interviews aren’t meant to catch people out, they are supposed to give someone the opportunity to demonstrate that they are the best person for the role. Here are 10 reasons why Lou Adler, the CEO of Performance Based Learning Systems, says interview questions should be given to candidates in advance.

Networking

Because introverts typically don’t like making small talking, and because of the draining effect that overly stimulating large social environment of many networking events has, networking would be done very differently.

Where there are large events, there would be a focal point for discussion, e.g. a speaker, panel discussion or activity, followed by open networking. Small talk would be discouraged in favour of more meaningful conversations. There would also be more gatherings of smaller group networking, allowing for the depth of conversation that introverts prefer.

Unfortunately, extroverts would find it all draining and complain that they don’t get to work the room and speak to as many people as possible.

Meetings

Agendas and all paperwork would be sent out for meetings at least 3 days in advance. This would allow time for thinking and reflecting about points of discussion. That way introverts can give their best contribution to the meeting. If it is not on the agenda, it won’t get discussed and AOB would no longer be an agenda item because anyone with anything to raise would have had it added to the meeting in advance.

Topics of discussion would stay on track and where someone does waffle on, they would politely be asked to get to the point. Like Ed’s experience above, extroverts would be told they need to stop being so vocal and that they need to be quiet more often.

Brainstorming

Brainstorming would no longer be called brainstorming, and instead of having brainstorming sessions we would have premeditating sessions. Briefings would be given in advance, giving people time to think through and come up with ideas and possible solutions before getting together as a group to discuss the best solution to go with.

Alternatively, the way I do brainstorming sessions whereby individuals are given some time to think through an issue, then get together in small groups to discuss, before feeding back to the larger group.

Whilst I have put forward an alternative of what it would be like if we lived in the introvert ideal, I am not advocating for introverts to dominate the workplace. My purpose is to challenge thinking and perceptions, in order to increase awareness of the bias that exists.

I have a saying that goes ‘Comparing introverts to extroverts is a bit like comparing apples to pears. They’re different but they’re both tasty fruits.’ We need both, and having a balance gives for dynamic thought and perspective.

What are your thoughts on this? What do you think it would be like if we lived in an introvert ideal?

About Me

I am the Coach for High Achieving Introverted Women, an Executive, Career and Leadership Coach. I help quiet women to excel as leaders. I also help organisations to get more women and BAME (Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic) employees into senior leadership roles, and provide workshops, training and talks on personal development, career development and leadership development.

Are you an introverted woman in a leadership role who understands the importance of increasing your visibility online in order to increase your influence and impact as a leader, but struggle to do it in a way that feels authentic? If so, download my free training, Be Seen Be Heard, Stand Out Online: Self Promotion Training for Introverted Women Leaders here.

?My book Quietly Visible: Leading with Influence and Impact as an Introverted Woman addresses many of the challenges that introverted women face as leaders and shows how these challenges can be overcome. The hardcopy is available here.

Or you can get it on Kindle here.