3 Strategies for Introvert Success at Work

If you’re an introvert, you know that it can be tiresome to slog through extrovert expectations within the workplace. The good news is that, across the world, INTJ Masterminds, like me, are quietly writing terse emails that will surely captivate the whole corporate race. In addition, INFJ Counselors, like Kari, are creating glitter-filled posters that will transform the workplace into an idyllic vision of introverts and extroverts frolicking in harmony. Or not.

The truth is that until employee engagement isn’t equated with being a company cheerleader during forced festivities and a thoughtful written response is equally valued as a half-baked verbal one, introverts need to sit on the sideline and and let extroverts take all the credit. Or not.

From Zero to Sixty in 10 Years

Historically, my number one strategy for gaining respect at work has been time. Give me a decade and I can get practically anyone to like me or at least respect the value I bring to the team. However, it seems many people now view jobs as mere pit stops. Before I get to the point of caring whether “Josie” and “Jimmy” are someone’s garden plants or children, that person has driven off, their resume sporting a couple of shiny, new bullet points. And then, a new person parks their butt in the recently vacated chair and I’m left wondering how I can quickly get this new make and model up to speed on the value I provide.

Rule the Road

During this episode we talk about three strategies to make your value more visible at work. These include adapting your communication style to extrovert expectations (Kari insists that Klingon fluency is not required), leveraging the power of internal influencers (all those extroverts are good for something) and finding ways to let your work speak for itself (I mean beyond asking Siri to read your latest novel). The bottom line is that both extroverts and introverts provide value to an organization — it’s just that extroverts are just a bit louder about it.  So the next time you have something share, rev that engine and let everyone know that you rule the road. You might feel like you shouldn’t have to do it but sometimes that’s the only way to get people to pay attention.

Favorite Things

Kari let the cat out of the bag and revealed that she has betrayed all of dog-loving kind by ordering a print of a cat by Etsy artist Bo & Friends.  In her defense it is pretty cute. That being said, you wouldn’t catch me buying a dog print.

My favorite thing was a note left on my chair at work. It read, “Can you please throw you trash in the boots thank you boats!” I have no idea what it means. I love the mystery and the randomness of it all.  While I would love to address whatever issue prompted this note, I also love not knowing. Will tomorrow be the day that there will be boats in my boots?

Stuff We Talked About

• INFJs
• INTJs
• Business leaders have psychopathic traits
• Note: the three introvert strategies are adapted from this article