An Introvert in the Workplace

Believe it or not, I'm an introvert, and maybe you are too. In fact, somewhere between a third and half of people are introverts, but the workplace is still disproportionately optimized for extroverts. 

After all, in most work environments, the people who get rewarded are the ones who constantly speak up in meetings, who network all the time and go to the office happy hour, and can't seem to get enough of socializing. That's great for them, but if that's not your nature, and it's certainly not mine, what can you do?

You've probably tried faking it and forcing yourself to act like an extrovert. Don't do that anymore. It's miserable. Here's what to try instead, and how to speak up in a way that feels true to you. 

First, understand that being an introvert isn't a pass to avoid speaking up. “Oh, I can't do that, I'm an introvert.” That's just an excuse. But what you can do is start making a conscious effort to play to your strengths. 

A major area where this comes up at work is in meetings, where you might feel overwhelmed by many voices and lack confidence in making your voice heard. Here is one way to combat this – know the agenda! 

Being Prepared

If you are prepared for the content of a meeting, you can take time to write down your thoughts beforehand. If you have special expertise or want to go into more depth, you can circulate a short memo before the meeting.

When you're on the spot, it's common to freeze up. But if you've already created notes for yourself, you can glance at them as a fallback, and be a lot more confident in speaking up.

There are many strategies you can use in the workplace, even using your introverted nature to your advantage.

Working with a coach on a regular basis can help you identify your strengths and put you in a position to find meaning and reward in a work environment that largely caters to extroverts.