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1. Use your scheduling skills to book
times to meet regularly – in person!
2. Prepare what you want to discuss
(on the phone, with your boss, in a
meeting) in advance and don't get
into too much detail.
3. Your extroverted boss is deadline-
driven so put on your "project
manager hat" to keep on track with
assignments. Break your tasks into
manageable chunks and set dead-
lines for each piece.
4. Let your boss know you need time
to reflect on things: "Great idea,
boss. Let me think about it and I'll
get back to you with my feedback
first thing tomorrow."
5. Your boss likely won't notice all
your accomplishments so it's up
to you: "I fixed the problem with
the database." "The report's all
finished."
If you're an extrovert working for
an introvert:
1. Your boss will love it if you take the
initiative and schedule set times to
meet. Sending an email noting the
topics you want to discuss and what
you need from them will ensure a
productive discussion.
2. Your boss prefers to deal with one
topic at a time; don't jump around.
3. Practice listening without interrupt
-
ing. Pause before speaking to make
sure your boss has finished speak-
ing. Many introverts need more
time to express themselves.
4. Work with your boss to figure out
their "best times" for meetings with
colleagues. Your boss will need time
to restore their energy after meet-
ings and group discussions.
5. Try not to interrupt them when they
are engrossed in their work and if
an interruption can't be avoided,
give them time to get present.
They've been deep in thought and
it's not easy for introverts to reen-
gage.
6. Remind them of deadlines. Help
them with project management,
breaking down assignments into
manageable chunks.
Introverts and meetings: If your
days are meeting heavy, here are some
tips to take out some of the sting:
1. Arrive early before the room is
filled. It's easier to break the ice
with one or two people and have
the room fill up around us. I'm a
member of a business networking
group and even though I know ev
-
eryone, I still arrive early so I don't
have to walk into a crowded room.
2. Smile when you come into the room
and say hello to everyone.
3. Plan what you would like to say
ahead of time.
4. If you're not speaking, pay atten-
tion to those who are by making
eye contact, nodding and taking
notes.
5. Thank the speakers and meeting
organizers as you leave.
6. Send a follow-up email with any
thoughts that occur to you after
you've left the meeting.
It took me a long time to under-
stand how being introverted made
my needs different from those of my
colleagues (and my family). Practice
has made it easier to draw on my in-
ner extrovert so I can participate more
fully in the extroverted world of work.
I'm also much more aware of the
toll that it takes to operate outside
of my natural settings and try to set
up the supports I need to restore my
energy. I'm also more confident about
advocating for myself: No more meet-
ings today, please and thank-you! It's
quiet time.
Helen Latimer is a dynamic keynote speaker,
coach and facilitator/workshop leader. She
loves to share her expertise on mentoring,
networking, personal branding and career
development in pursuit of her goal of
having everyone love their work. Principal
of 925 Resources, www.925resources.com,
helen@925resources.com
Where do you fall on the introvert/
extrovert scale?
Three online tests can provide the answer
https://www.quietrev.com/the-introvert-test/
https://www.16personalities.com/
https://www.truity.com/test/type-finder-research-edition
Additional reading
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking,
by Susan Cain
The Introvert Advantage: How Quiet People Can Thrive in an Extrovert World,
by Marti Olsen Laney Psy.D
Famous introvert/extrovert pairs:
John Lennon and Paul McCartney, Sheryl Sandberg and Mark Zuckerberg,
Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak.
— Helen Latimer
Confessions of
an introvert
Continued from page 1
Helen Latimer
