If you are an introvert, you’ve probably heard so many stereotypes about yourself. After all, many people misunderstand the distinction of being an introvert, ambivert and extrovert. The reality is that being an introvert does not mean you are ineffective at social interactions but rather that you tend to draw energy from solitude and expend energy in social situations. In fact, you can thrive in your career as an introvert. Here are 6 strategies to help you do so.
Prepare Ahead of Time
One of the things that many introverts dislike are large social gatherings such as networking events, career fairs, or conferences. This is because they suck up a lot of energy. However, preparing in advance can help you navigate these situations. Decide on the people you want to target and what you want to get across. Opt for one-on-one conversations instead of larger group ones. This will help you best conserve your energy and have an intentional approach.
Create a Meeting Free Day
Introverts are often energized by time alone and being able to get things done. Meetings are necessary, but can also be a burden to this. A great way to gain energy and cross valuable things off your to-do list is to set a meeting-free day each week. Many people enjoy setting Fridays or Mondays for this as these can be great ways to end or start off the week. However, setting a midweek date may be a great strategy for getting time to recharge.
Create a Safe Space after Social Interactions
Introverts often need to recharge after engaging in in-depth social situations. If you have to be overly social frequently for your work, creating a safe space to recharge afterwards can be an effective strategy. For example, if you have to give a presentation, you might want to spend about 10 or 15 minutes of alone time before and afterwards. This can be done by closing the door to your office, going for a short walk, reading a book, or doing your preferred activity. Susan Cain’s ‘Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking’ provides great insight on this.
Find Allies
Collaboration is key to succeeding in the professional environment. If you are an introvert, consider bringing in extroverts to your team. Finding allies that support your plans or ideas is a great way to help amplify your voice without having to literally amplify your voice. Having allies will help you to better advocate for your positions by outsourcing some of that to others. This can help you thrive in your career as an introvert.
Be Upfront
Be upfront with others about your introversion. There is no point in hiding who you are! Feel free to tell colleagues about your introversion including ways you prefer to communicate and other things that help you to excel in the professional environment.
Lead by Listening
You don’t have to be outspoken to be a leader. Many successful leaders are able to lead by listening. In fact, leaders need to listen in order to fully understand the complexity of situations and people. Listening and processing information are strong suits introverts possess. This can give you a leg up on creating impactful relationships, building coalitions, and doing the behind-the-scenes work of leadership.
In Conclusion
Traditionally, people felt pressured to be more extroverted in the pursuit of their careers. However, as you have seen in these 6 ways to thrive in your career as an introvert, you don’t have to change who you are to be successful. After all, the loudest one in the room is not always the leader. It’s perfectly okay to be quieter in today’s loud world. You can advance your career by staying true to yourself. You can learn more on how to do this in our blog post ‘3 Ways to Get Noticed and Promoted as an Introvert’.
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