This article came from one of the many introvert authors or coaches I connect with online. Rather than my weekly round-up – find your introvert freedom this weekend with Dorothy Tannahill-Moran’s insights on:
2 Ways Introvert Personality May Impact Career Goals and what to do
If you’re reading this, chances are you are an Introvert, or think you are. That probably means you have some idea of specific behaviors associated with your personality.
The question I would like you to ponder about your personality is: When or where is your introversion creating issues in your career?
I believe it’s important for you to understand as much as you can about your Introvert personality. I also think you need to have awareness of where it might not be serving you so you can pursue meaningful improvements.
In my work with “our type” of career clients, I started seeing some trends of challenges that were limiting their professional potential. I’d like to bring these to your attention for some self-awareness and at the same time, offer some solutions.
Issue: Not developing, nurturing and expanding your network.
We do like to focus on work and tasks which can often times mean we ignore nurturing our networking and meeting new people. Add to that issue, most of us would rather lick the floor than go to a cocktail party or networking event. I get it. Those things suck the energy right out of your battery and competing with louder more talkative people for talk time is no fun. In other words, there are all sorts of good Introvert reasons this issue exists.
Solution: No, I’m not going to tell you to turn into an Extravert (notice I spelled it with an “a” – that’s me being all proper!) You don’t have to become a party gladiator. In fact, all you really need to do is to pay attention to people you encounter in your job. You may have vendors, customers and co-workers at your disposal. Enough to keep you busy for a long time. Take time every day to get to know these people better. If that circle is too small, no problem. You can also:
- Get on Linked In and reconnect with college friends and co-workers from previous jobs.
- Get better acquainted with your neighbors or people in a group you belong to (like religious group, hobby, etc.)
- Pay attention to the people you encounter like at Starbucks, the gym or your massage therapist.
When you really get the wheels turning, you’ll suddenly discover tons of people out there you can get to know fairly easily. This also plays to our personality of forming and nurturing relationships one person at a time. Pure gold!
Issue: Not developing relationships with decision makers.
While we’re busy ignoring our network, we are usually ignoring relationships with upper management. This kind of behavior is sometimes looked at with disdain because it can come off as a “suck-up”. I’m here to say, its important and which would you rather have: 1- the high moral ground that you’re not a suck-up or 2- a promotion? I hope you picked #2.
You need to understand that management is the decision makers over your next promotion or opportunity to excel. They need to know 2 things about you:
- What and how you are doing that is noteworthy, especially to them.
- Whether or not you “get it” about what’s important to them.
In order for your leader to know these things, you need to develop a working relationship with them. They need to know not only how you do your work, they need to know if you have their back. In other words, do you know and understand their priorities? The only way is if you spend time with them, develop a relationship and support what’s important to them.
Yes, it’s all about them. It always is. Your customer is the big “C” or management or both. Until your customer knows you understand what’s important to them and will support them, decisions will go to others.
Understanding your personality is important as long as you understand how to lean in to the parts that work well for you and have strategies for the parts that don’t work as well. The strategies for improvement are simple but powerful for your long-term success.
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Am personally mainly extrovert and do all the things suggested easily. However if you are introvert learn from intovert Patricia Weber. We are online friends that met on Linkedin which is proof in point. Would never have known she is introvert if she had not worked with it.
Hi Catarina, I’m sure your comments are heart warming for Patricia. She’s a great person.
Catarina, how many years has it been? No! Don’t say. I value our relationship since we first met. I have so much respect for your insight. Knowing that as someone more extroverted like yourself just reflects how so wrong some of our labels are, except for giving us basic understandings of one another. Thanks so much for your continued support.
It is important to try different ways to network with people (clients, coworkers, or associates). One way may work better than another depending on your industry. I also like word of mouth referrals from friends and coworkers. I value that more than any other form of networking. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Sabrina for your comments. Yes, there are great ways to network without having go to do “Introvert black hole” of a networking event. We don’t all have to do things the same way. Find what works best for you but still its important to constantly meeting new people and nurturing the ones you already know.
Sabrina you bring up a wonderful distinction: networking different ways is both dependent on what works for us as well as what works for the people we want to get to know! Brilliant.
I am an introvert but it is not always obvious to others. Perhaps I am good at ‘playing the game’!
Boy, do I need time out after being around people all day! I have to recharge my batteries and take time to reflect on my mood, my day.
Introverts are more likely to sit on the sidelines, meaning they may miss opportunities that extroverts grab quickly with both hands. For example in a company, networking is deemed as important and employees who network tend to be kept in the loop about new developments. It is an effort but something one needs to push themselves to do rather than think
“It is just not for me, therefore I will not do it”.
Phoenicia,,Yes being around others can really take it out of you. I advice “planning your energy” which is to say when you do things like being around others, plan for solitary activities before and after. Then, during the activity treat it like running a race. Put all you’ve got into it knowing you’ll have a recharge later. Relationships are critically important to our success.
Phoenicia I was just thinking about your recent post about integrity and how much it fits into what Dorothy is writing about. Networking for success is for each of us about doing it with the integrity of WHO and WHO we are. Thanks.
I am an introvert although I didn’t realize it until I took a quiz on Pat’s blog. When I was working I had no choice but to network, set up large scale events, participate with other community groups, etc. I also had to drive a lot which I always found a blessing because I would not have any noise – including the radio – coming at me and the time in my car would give me the time needed to recharge.
I guess, even being an introvert we tend to be more conscientious, doing what needs to be done, even if you prefer otherwise.
Hi Lenie, I laugh because yesterday I was thinking of how valuable my car time is for recharging so thanks for mentioning it all of us. We do learn to adapt to situations – some faster than others but adapting is key.
Lenie I think riding solo in a car as a salesperson was so important to my career success back then. WAY back then! That quiet time gave me the solitude to reflect and then recharge and be ready for the inevitable, next all.
I must admit that this is something I still need to work on… I will often overlook the value of networking thinking I can do it another time:) One good example is the Starbucks you show above. It wouldn’t be likely for me to talk to anyone; I keep my head own and order! LOL I’ll work on it!
Hi Jacqueline, glad that resonated for you. I would far rather chat someone up at Starbucks than go to a party or networking event. When you become a “regular” anywhere it’s easier to connect with others – you’ll notice there are others at places like Starbucks that are also regulars. It will always be “who you know” that gets you ahead professionally but it’s easy to forget that sometimes.
Starbucks is not always fun for me either Jacqueline. I’m so grateful they now have mobile orders in my closest one. The truth is when I go, unless it ‘s with my most extroverted husband, I’m in and out of there. I get it. I have to work on it too! Thanks for that reminder Dorothy.
If it’s not Starbucks, it can be any place you frequent like the gym. We often overlook what’s in front of us, so Patricia if Starbucks doesn’t work for you, I’m sure there are other places. The idea is to look up and connect with a familiar face.
I really like your suggestions for expanding your network and engaging with it fairly painlessly. Those should be eye-openers for the very introverted who never thought of doing it that way. I would only add, just always make the person you are connecting with who it’s about. It takes the pressure off yourself.
Hi Beth, I totally agree – the focus being the other person. Whoever came up with the idea of ‘work the room” wasn’t thinking of really connecting with someone, just collecting business card. Yuk..
Beth my position as a networker is – be the hub, not the hunter. Look at how you can help the other person with something else they might be needing or wanting. Even my more extroverted husband takes this approach. Maybe it comes up they need a hair stylist – recommend yours and a couple of more. It’s all about being other-focused.
Anyone who is not taking the time to build that relationship with their boss is doing their career a big disservice. If you are an introvert, and this proces is difficult for you, it will be work, but rest assured it will be with it in the end. Like you said, without that relationship, how are they going to know that you get it… What’s important to them. They need that relationship to build trust in you and your work. You know that “out of sight, out of mind”. If you are not taking the time to get to know them, you wont come to mind when it’s time to promote somebody.
Susan you are so right about the payoffs. Anyone in business benefits from building relationships up, down and sideways! Thanks.
Less friends, less baggage. That is all. In that case, introverts can try to upgrade themselves by innovating themselves instead of teaming up with other people.
Stephen, that is one way: innovate self instead of collaborating. Since we each are different in what works for us, this is another valuable idea. One key is to know, which direction would help you both reserve/maintain personal energy and allow for the greatest creativity. Thanks for the comment!