You got a job and started working in an office. Everything seemed good, the salary and benefits, You were very happy, but you wanted to work in solitude and you were enjoying working alone. Your manager assigns you to work with team. Who loves to going on lunch together, playing games, andcollaborating closely. You started feeling uncomfortable in the office and it was hard for you to work as a team member, eventhough you excel in working independently.
What you gonna do? You consider quitting and chnging of team but you were given another team. So You finally decide to challange yourself and adapt a little extroverted environment to excel with extroverted members in your team.
Understanding Introverts and Extroverts
Common Traits
Introverts:
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- Often prefer solitude and quiet environments
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- Recharge by spending time alone
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- May enjoy deep conversations over small talk
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- Can be highly creative and focused
Extroverts:
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- Typically enjoy social interaction and highly active environments
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- Gain energy from being around others
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- May thrive in group discussions and networking events
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- Can excel at public speaking and presentations
Common Misconceptions
Introverts:
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- Are not always shy or socially anxious
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- Can still enjoy social events, but often need time to recharge afterward
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- Can be confident and assertive in the right context
Extroverts:
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- Are not always outgoing and talkative
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- Can also need solitude and downtime in their personal lives
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- Do not always dominate conversations, and can be great listeners too
But despite the prevalence of introverts, being extroverted seems to have distinct benefits—with 38% of people saying extroverts experience advantages in the workplace compared with only 10% who see pluses for introverts. People also see extroverts having advantages as leaders (52% compared with 9%) and as colleagues (25% compared with 13%). But there is hope for introverts, since large proportions of people also saw no difference between extroverts and introverts in the contributions they make. All of this is according to the YouGov data.
So how can introverts thrive at work—and still be true to themselves? These are the primary strategies for success.
1. Be Yourself
Perhaps the most significant response is for introverts to be themselves and play to their strengths. Teams are more effective when they have greater diversity of thought and perspective, and introverts deliver terrific talents. People view introverts as quiet, shy and reserved—but 45% of people also see introverts as calm, 35% see them as thoughtful and 17% view them as loyal, based on YouGov. Popular wisdom credits introverts with being good listeners, good at focusing, observant, independent, reflective and disciplined. And these characteristics are necessary for all kinds of success—including leadership, influencing others and getting things done.
Unfortunately, 38% of introverts sometimes wish they were more extroverted, 16% often wish the same and 2% always wish they had a penchant for extroversion. But the popular saying is true that, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” Introverts bring significant value to organization, and they are wise to embrace them.
As an introvert, appreciate your ability to
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- Stay calm under pressure, expressing calm and confident leadership through challenging situations.
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- Listen, reflect and bring clarity in meetings.
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- Provide thoughtful, well-developed ideas which can move the team forward.
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- Bring focus to your work, achieving results without flurry, swirl or distraction.
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- Learn and adapt based on substantive assessments of circumstances and considered action.
All of these will leverage your strengths and enhance your fulfillment and happiness as well.
2. Embrace Teamwork
It may seem counterintuitive, but introverts can also embrace teamwork as an opportunity to enhance happiness, wellbeing and effectiveness at work.
While introverts may want to socialize, it can be tough to go to mixers or strike up friendships out of the blue. But work can be a productive place to create connections. In fact, a separate YouGov survey found that 75% of people made their friends at work (ranking between high school as number one and college as the number three venues for creating lasting friendships).
And for introverts, higher levels of engagement also resulted in greater self-esteem, according to a study published in Frontiers in Psychology.
It makes sense that working in teams can be good for the introvert experience in multiple ways.
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- In the midst of working on tasks together, get to know others (as much or as little as you choose).
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- Use time with the team to nurture the need for interactions without having to make bigger social investments like mixing and mingling at a social event.
- Express your opinions within the structure of the team’s processes.
- Tune into the positive feedback you’ll receive for what you’re contributing to the group.
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- Appreciate the regularity of the team’s connections for ongoing interactions with others.
With their structure, cadence and focus on tasks, teams can be the perfect place to get to know colleagues and make connections.
3. Leverage Informal Interactions
Too much time alone can be damaging for even the most committed introverts. In fact, social isolation is linked with mental health issues, depression, anxiety and overall malaise, according to an impressive global study of more than 226,000 people by Columbia University.
And having a few close friends is more critical for health outcomes like blood pressure, heart disease, cancer, dementia and mental health than diet or exercise, according to research conducted by Holt-Lunstad at Brigham Young University. Only smoking has an effect as intense as a lack of close relationships.
But importantly, even superficial interactions with others are correlated with happiness and wellbeing. Interacting with others in seemingly inconsequential moments can drive positivity and joy, according to a study by the University of Chicago.
Work can be an opportunity for all kinds of interactions which feed the need for social connection. From chatting with someone in line at the coffee bar to exchanging pleasantries on the elevator or at the start of a video call—all of these can be more important than you think—and tremendously impactful in terms of fulfillment, happiness and wellbeing.
So lean into these opportunities for superficial, but consequential contact.
4. Do Work You Love
Another sure way to enhance your happiness as an introvert at work is to find responsibilities that match your preferences.
As an introvert, you can be successful at any career, even if it’s a role that is traditionally defined as more extroverted. But you may also want to consider jobs which afford greater opportunities for autonomy, time alone and more contemplative—rather than collaborative—tasks.
Consider roles like the following: accountant, artist, data scientist, delivery driver, graphic designer, landscape designer, librarian, mechanic, paralegal, researcher, software developer, writer or editor.
There are plenty of roles in lots of different industries and sectors that feature jobs that are more likely to match introverts’ preferences. But no matter what you do or where you work, you have substantive contributions you’ll make as an introvert.
5. Choose Your Boundaries
Regardless of your work, another key factor in happiness is being able to make your own choices about when you’re alone—so introverts are wise to set boundaries and reinforce the need for time away.
Being alone can be depressing if you haven’t chosen it, but it is especially rejuvenating when you’ve made the choice to be apart from others, according to a study by the University of California.
Introverts can set boundaries at work using a variety of strategies.
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- Block your calendar for focused time, so that you control when you’ll be meeting with others.
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- If your employer allows it, work from home now and then.
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- If you have a flexible schedule, consider coming into the office during off-peak hours.
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- Find places where you can work on your own—in the cafeteria at an out-of-the-way table or within a small enclave.
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- Wear headphones as a cue to others that you prefer not to be disturbed.
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- Initiate a discussion with your team about establishing shared guidelines about when you’ll interact and when you’ll provide each other with (mostly) uninterrupted time.
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- Be transparent with your team about the work you are doing and aspects which demand less distraction. You can also create boundaries in terms of the relationships you choose. Sometimes, you may be content to have casual interactions and friendly exchanges without getting close to colleagues. But you may also choose to build deeper friendships at work.
When introverts had strong support networks across family and friends, their happiness was measurably higher, according to a study published in Health Psychology Open.
So consider getting to know others selectively by asking questions, initiating one-on-one get-togethers, listening, offering support, and asking for help as well.
References
The Thriving Introvert. (2023, May 22). 7 tips for introverts to thrive in an extroverted workplace. https://www.thethrivingintrovert.com/introverts-guide-to-thriving-in-an-extroverted-workplace/