Do you feel invisible during meetings? Do you feel drained after a presentation? Do you prefer emailing colleagues rather than stopping by their offices or cubicles to chat? Are you more likely to ask for some time to reflect on a question posed to you rather than answering right away?
Well, you if you answered “Yes” to more than one of these questions, you may be an Introvert, according to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator ® (MBTI®). As conceptualized by the MBTI®, a widely respected assessment tool, used for a variety of functions in organizations from team building to conflict management to leadership development, an Introvert is an individual who is more focused on his or her inner world of ideas and impressions and gets energy from solitary activities (e.g. problem solving in their own office). Extroverts, on the other hand, are energized by the outer world of people and things. They tend to think out loud, are very active during meetings, and are adept at promoting their work. As one may expect, in American society, Extroverts tend to outnumber Introverts. As such, Introverts can be misunderstood, and may be erroneously viewed as disengaged, lacking assertiveness, having poor leadership skills, and not being a high potential candidate. Therefore, many Introverts struggle to have their work recognized and appropriately valued, due to their lack of self-promotion. They tend to feel that their work should speak for itself, and fail to do the necessary networking for their career advancement. Unfortunately, this can lead to Introverts being stuck in their career progress, and missing out on promotion opportunities.
The reality is that networking does not end once you begin your job. In order to advance in your chosen field, it will be important for you to continue to build connections with colleagues, supervisors, and other stakeholders (e.g. customers, clients). The Myers-Briggs® does not place judgment on type, and asserts that all types are needed for a productive workplace. However, if you are an Introvert working in a predominantly Extroverted environment, it will be important to stretch yourself, and to utilize your non-dominant type (i.e. Extrovert) to benefit your career. The expectation is not that you will become an Extrovert, but rather you will push yourself to be a bit more Extroverted. The following are some tips for Introverts to ensure that they will increase their visibility and value, while protecting their Introverted needs.
1) Be more vocal during meetings or when working in groups- it is important to be heard so that people know who you are and you are able to develop your brand. Introverts benefit from preparing ahead of the meeting or workgroup. Therefore, think about some key points you may wish to make and write them down beforehand. This will allow you to feel ready to contribute. If new critical issues emerge during the meeting, it may be useful to return to your office, gather your thoughts, and then send out a follow up email to your colleagues.
2) Engage in small talk- you may never be the first person at the water cooler on Monday morning to debrief your weekend, but you should be more open to engaging your colleagues in conversations about weekend activities, family, etc. Take a genuine interest in their lives and be willing to share appropriately with them. Although we would like to believe in the idea of the meritocracy, the harsh truth is that the most competent persons are not always the ones who are promoted. Rather it may be the most likable and personable one who advances.
3) Be more accessible- simply keeping your door open, or going to a colleague’s office or cubicle rather than sending off emails will positively impact your visibility and presence. Consider going to lunch more often with your co-workers as well. You may not transform into a social butterfly, but you will definitely bolster your profile.
4) Document your accomplishments and think about your areas for growth- if you are regularly evaluated, take the time to engage in a discussion with your supervisor about your strengths and explore your professional needs. If you are not evaluated, ask for an opportunity to discuss these issues formally with your supervisor to clarify your work role expectations and the steps to take to move up in the organization.
5) Find your alone time- as an Introvert, it will be essential that you also take the opportunity to recharge your batteries and set aside some time for your Introverted needs. It may be checking your emails at the beginning of the day, or winding down and reflecting on the day’s events at the end of your work schedule. Make sure that you have your “thinking” period or “alone” moment to benefit your personal and professional health.
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