FOR INTROVERTS: How to Succeed as an Introvert in the Corporate World

“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” ~ Aristotle

I have a thing for Introverts in business, (probably because I'm one myself, so 🤷😀).

Oftentimes, we find it hard to settle and be comfortable in the corporate space - designed for extroverted ideal.

We strive to conform to these ideals not because we really want to, but because it is the only way to appear successful, get a promotion, or climb up the corporate ladder. The end result though is that we lose ourselves in the process.

To succeed as an introvert in business, you must recognise your gifts, work on it and most importantly be comfortable in it. The greatest gift of the extrovert is his/her "energy", the greatest gift of the introvert is his/her mind.

Fnd your flow by using your gifts. Like Susan Cain rightly stated in her book, Quiet:

"...You have the power of persistence, the tenacity to solve complex problems, and the clear-sightedness to avoid pitfalls that trip others up.

You enjoy relative freedom from the temptations of superficial prizes like money and status. Indeed, your biggest challenge may be to fully harness your strengths.

You may be so busy trying to appear like a zestful, reward-sensitive extrovert that you undervalue your own talents, or feel underestimated by those around you. But when you’re focused on a project that you care about, you will probably find that your energy (which is innate) is boundless."

That is not to say you cannot learn skills that can help you get by. Public speaking for example - the bane of so many a introvert - though it seem to come easy for extroverts, it is still a skill that can be learnt by anyone. (A course in public speaking combine with an attention to detail can make an introvert a brilliant communicator, especially of things he/she is passionate about).

WHAT ORGANISATIONS CAN DO:

I believe organisations should invest more in studying introversion in the workplace.

• Many organisations (especially in this part of the world), do not carry out personality tests for their staff. Hence they force round pegs in triangular holes and vice versa. The result is emotionally worn out employees and a continuous reduction in workplace efficiency.
• Executives and Team Leads can do more in understand how different employees communicate.

In an organisation where "soft-spokeness" is seen as weakness, and being loud is mistaken for being assertive, an introvert probably wouldn't go far. But research and indeed history has shown that the contributions of introverts should not be discounted. (the Enron scandal of 2001, and the financial crisis of 2008 are a few examples where advice from experts were discredited in part because they had the wrong personality type).

• Also, the reward system for Introverts is different to that of an extrovert.

In most organisations, introversion is mistaken for lack of motivation. Introverts are not going to be the ones who are super-buzzed about making a presentation to a large group or participating in a team-building event with people they've never met; these are typical scenarios they would rather avoid.

They take a bit of time to warm up to the group setting, so they will likely be hesitant to share their ideas at the onset. They are more comfortable flying below the radar, doing the heavy lifting behind the scenes.
An introvert may not be moved by fame and status, but they appreciate reward all the same.

Introverts are the lifeblood of organisations, It helps to create an environment where they can thrive.

Your introversion is a gift, not a character flaw. Instead of changing to fit into a certain mould, own it and by all means if necessary flaunt it. Like Susan Cain said "solitude matters, and for some people, it is the air they breathe."