When some people think of an introvert, they may picture a person hiding in the safe confines of their house, or perhaps someone quiet, shy, and a bit of a loner. Of course, there are all levels of introversion, but most of the time it’s not as dramatic as one might think. And it certainly doesn’t affect one’s ability to be a successful employee.
I always find it interesting when people are surprised when I tell them I’m an introvert. They’ll see me out and about and I’ll be smiling, chatting up a storm, and participating. “No way,” they’ll say to me. “You’re always involved in the conversation.” Inside, I know differently.
An introverted person can appear extroverted when the occasion calls for it. After all, we introverts have to make a living and have to interact with other people on a regular basis. It’s just how life goes. However, often times as I’ve developed in my career, I worry how being an introvert might affect my progression. Would my fear of public speaking (even to a couple people) hold me back? Would my preference to schedule calls rather than pick up an unexpected one send the wrong message? Would my partiality to work remotely or away from my desk in quiet areas of the office make my colleagues think I didn’t like them?
There are a lot of quirks to being an introvert that can make you feel like you won’t reach your full potential. But you need to know that being introverted doesn’t mean you can’t do amazing things. Albert Einstein, Bill Gates, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Mark Zuckerberg are all considered introverts and look at what they’ve done. You can be successful as an introvert in the workplace, too. You just have to find a way to make the workplace work for you.
Find Better Ways to Communicate
Maybe it’s just me, but I hate receiving unscheduled phone calls. I wonder who is calling or, if I do know, I wonder what the conversation will be about. It throws me off if I don’t feel mentally prepared for the conversation. I want to add value to the conversation and sometimes it takes a moment to consider the best response. This goes for drop-bys at my desk also. A simple heads up even just a few minutes before stopping by or calling can go a long way to making the most out of that interaction. If a vendor emails me or a coworker shoots me an IM prior to giving me a ring, I feel much more prepared for our conversation.
Set up the expectation with people you normally talk to. It may be an extra step but a simple one that can get you in the right frame of mind.
Prep for Meetings and Face-to-Face Time
Rushing from meeting to meeting with barely a moment to spare between can be stressful. You may need to spend a few minutes trying to decompress and process from the last meeting that you could miss important information in the one you’re currently sitting in.
If possible, give yourself some buffer time between meetings. Block off your calendar so people can’t schedule you back to back. If not, try to give yourself a moment or two before a meeting to mentally prepare. Take a breath and always bring something to take notes so you can mull over things later without missing a beat.
Join Groups & Events that Make Sense to You
They say introverts like to be included but also like the option to not have to participate. It can take a lot to muster up the energy for small talk, especially after a long day of work. And forcing yourself to participate in everything can burn you out super fast. I learned that the hard way.
The important thing is to not feel guilty if you don’t participate in everything. It’s all about finding a balance; know which events/groups are important for you to show face and rub elbows and which ones are simply nice to stop by if you’re feeling up for it. Understanding this will help you build relationships and get involved without completely overloading yourself.
Take Advantage of Intranets
Maybe large crowds aren’t the easiest way to build relationships for you. Thanks to technology, a lot of companies are now finding ways to increase communication through various channels such as workplace social media groups, Intranets, chat rooms/instant messaging, and more. Take advantage of these platforms to post, comment, and communicate with your fellow colleagues. It could be a great way to build relationships if you aren’t a huge fan of traditional networking initially.
Manage Your Digital Communication
Being put on the spot may make you feel off-kilter. Having endless emails or IMs coming in may also make you frazzled. For me, I feel the need to respond to things right away for a sense of closure but if you work in a role where you receive a ton of messages a day, this can be draining to manage while also trying to do quality work.
To manage my distractions but also provide timely responses to my colleagues, I like to dedicate time in the morning and before I sign off for the day to focus strictly on my responses to emails that take more than a quick answer. Setting aside this time allows me to focus and dig deeper into the request to ensure I’m providing the best information possible. It also limits the amount of distractions that pop up so my mind can focus on important tasks at hand.
More importantly, it helps me manage my inbox. An inbox with a ton of messages (especially unread ones) can get overwhelming so this method not only puts my mind at ease but also makes sure I’m providing a level of support to the people who are reaching out to me.
Find the Right Organization Tools
To feel like I’m in control, I need a plan. To feel like I’m on top of everything, I need to make sure I’m documenting it. Over the last couple of years, I fell in love with Trello. This tool has been great for project management. I love to use it as a way to create to-do lists, checklists, and document responses and updates. The less energy I have to focus on wondering what I need to do next, sorting through old emails, or worrying if I forgot something, the more I can spend actually collaborating with others and getting work done. It really is the little things that can make the difference.
Limit Your Distractions
Working from home was one of the best things I discovered in my career. Most people say that the isolation and quietness of being home all day would drive them mad but this was some of the best work I’ve done. I’ve accomplished more, have grown my career faster, and have felt better about the work I was doing.
When I had to go back to an office environment, I learned why I did better. Working in an office (especially one with an open floor plan) meant constant stimulation. People walking and talking, events, and phone conversations were all around me. Not to mention people popping by my desk and the back to back meetings in different areas of the building with no time to recuperate in between.
Distractions are everywhere and a part of the workplace so it’s important to find time or space to limit these. Can you book a conference room or hang out in a quieter section of the office during the week? Can you avoid back to back meetings so you aren’t dashing around like a lunatic? Can you schedule 10-minute breaks where you go outside and take a breath alone? These things can help. When working on a campus, the two minutes I took walking outside between buildings helped lower the stress levels. The fresh air, sunshine, nature, and quiet were enough to help boost my energy.
Managing the workplace as an introvert isn’t as hard as it might seem. It’s about taking time to manage energy level and stress, and also finding some time to process and decompress. Little tips like these can not only help you do better at work, but can also help you build better relationships with those around you. You don’t have to change who you are, you just need to find ways to make work work for you.
Ashley Perez is the Talent Brand Ambassador at Carbon Black. Follow her on Twitter: @ashlaurenperez