The Power of Introverts in the Workplace

If you're someone who's always advised to 'speak up, 'participate more, or 'not be so shy', you probably were made to think that being an introvert is not a great thing, especially in the workplace. Well, that's about to change. Firstly, it's essential to know that many types of introverts exist. It's not necessarily the person who is always turning down after-work socializing invites or the one shying away from any form of public speaking. An introvert might even be someone who has no problem expressing themselves (without necessarily taking over the room) or just someone more of a quiet leader. Instead, introversion is a trait that makes people focus more on their inner world than the world around them.

Some people prove that possessing introverted traits is not a challenge but a strength, which they used to achieve tremendous success: Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Page, Marissa Mayer and many more. That said, most of us fail to see introverts' many valuable contributions to any business. In the words of Bill Gates: "Well, I think introverts can do quite well. If you are clever, you can learn to get the benefits of being an introvert, which might be, say, being willing to go off a few days and think about a tough problem, read everything you can, push yourself very hard to think out on the edge of that area…."

Strength introverts bring to the workplace:

Observation

Introverts listen more than they speak and take in more information and data. Instead of thinking about what to say next, introverts pay attention to every detail. Because of this, they often think things through, and their suggestions and opinions are more insightful and balanced.

Teamwork

You'd be surprised to know that introverts are better at teamwork in the workspace than extroverts. Instead of competing for the spotlight, introverts focus more on the job at hand.

Independence

Introverts are easy to manage because they're usually self-motivated. They immerse themselves in their work and focus on getting the job done.

Calm environment

Since introverts listen more, they're mostly quiet, calm, and collected. This calming presence provides an outstanding balance, especially in a loud, stimulating work environment.

Introverts empower the workplace in their unique ways. So now it's time to make the workspace more comfortable for them.

Ways to make your organization more introvert-friendly

Since the general view of a leader or manager is someone outspoken with a powerful and dynamic personality, introverts are sometimes overlooked or underappreciated. It is especially true in the work environment, which is highly social with policies based on an extroverted mindset.

Flexible work

Since introverts prefer to focus and have more control over their work, they could benefit from having the option to work remotely.

Quiet spaces

Though some office chatter is comforting and normal to most people, some might find it distracting while working on particular tasks. It would be nice to step into a quiet room for those instances.

Check-ins and feedback

Many introverts don't feel heard or seen, so it might be a good idea to have regular check-ins with all employees or even have quick feedback sessions planned in such a way so that no one talks over the others.

Written communication

Communicating through text or email allows an introvert to think, process, and react. In this way, they can calmly express their views.

These are just some ways we can support introverts in the workspace. 

As people become more aware of the capabilities and needs of introverts, the workplace will gradually change into a place where everyone can flourish.