Love Your Working Life
  • Work With Carleen
    • About Carleen
    • Awards
    • Career Strategy Session
    • Coaching Programs >
      • The Art of Influence at Work
      • Realize Your High Potential
      • Recognizing Your Leadership Potential >
        • Welcome to Recognizing Your Leadership Potential
      • Individual Assessments
      • Customized Coaching
    • Career Transition
    • Services for Organizations >
      • Workshops That Work >
        • Communicating Comfortably in a Virtual Setting Workshop
        • Career Health Check Workshop
        • Leading in Ambiguity Workshop
        • Accomplishing Work Through Others Workshop
        • Leading Teams Virtually Workshop
        • Working Successfully From Home Workshop
        • New Habits for Life Workshop
        • Valued Living Workshop
        • Working Resilience
        • Addressing Conflict Workshop
        • Building A Culture of Trust Workshop
        • Time Management Workshop
        • Business Intelligence of Empathy Workshop
        • Finding Your Leadership Compass Workshop
        • Foundational Conversations Workshop
        • Conscious Conversations Workshop
        • Leading with Emotional Intelligence Workshop
        • Success in A Mulitgenerational Workforce Workshop
        • Networking in A Digital Age Workshop
        • The Psychology of Decisions Workshop
        • Purpose Driven Feedback Workshop
        • Dynamic Team Communication Workshop
      • How do Virtual Workshops Work?
      • Developmental Coaching
      • Online Assessments
      • Group Facilitation
  • Client Stories
  • Blog | Everyday Potential
  • Hello Monday Videos
  • Make Your Career Merry & Bright
  • Just For You
  • Testimonials
  • Career Resources
  • Life Practices
    • I Feel Angry
    • I Feel Stuck
    • I Am Overwhelmed
    • I Need Self-Compassion
    • Emotions At Work
    • Mindfulness
    • Triggers At Work
    • Naming Emotions
    • I Feel Frustrated
  • Career Health Quiz
  • Working Life Persona Quiz
  • Connect
BLOG

EVERYDAY POTENTIAL

Introvert/Extrovert…With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility

3/5/2015

 
Extroversion and introversion are concepts that have become more familiar in the working world…in fact sometimes they show in a relationship as early as the introductions.  I met a new professional in my network last week and after introducing himself he apologized for seeming reticent because he was an introvert.  I found this confession (for that is what it was based on his demeanor) fascinating.  It is important to make the distinction between extrovert and introvert; an extrovert (among other things) gains energy from interaction with other people, conversely an introvert finds interaction with others will eventually (or maybe even quickly) drain his/her energy levels.  Of note here is the distinction between introversion and shyness; being shy is the feeling of apprehension, a lack of comfort with the setting, or feelings of awkwardness and it can be present for both introverts and extroverts.  Introversion is not shyness (my new colleague was likely experiencing shyness in addition to being introverted).  I’ve met shy extroverts, know they exist.

So what does introversion and extroversion tell us about ourselves when it comes to the workplace and interpersonal relationships?  The interesting thing is it may not be readily apparent if someone is an introvert or extrovert, although it has certainly become more socially acceptable to let people know which one you are as a way to help smooth along the process of learning to work together.  However, it is import not to take your natural preference and wear it like a label, using it to excuse certain behaviors, like talking too much or not talking at all. 

As someone who is a “raging extrovert” I recognized this had drawbacks.  While I am comfortable speaking in public, mingling in groups and building comfortable one-on-one interactions with others, extroversion can have its drawbacks as well.  I can take up a lot of “space” if I am not careful.  I can provide too much information too fast for others to be able to digest and respond to.  My body language is expressive, which adds to the information overload.  If you watch a raging extrovert in the throws of unawareness you may actually (subtly) see the people around her/him physically shrink back (sit back in their seat, cross their arms, stop making eye contact, etc.).  Extroverts can be very charismatic and it is easy to know where you stand when you are speaking/working/living with one, but it carries a measure of accountability with it.  With great power comes great responsibility; manage it for all its benefits, but be aware there are disablers as well.

Similarly introverts can build capabilities that allow them to comfortably do many of the same things extroverts do, albeit with a measure of energy cost to them.  They can speak powerfully in public (check out Susan Cain’s TEDTalk  https://www.ted.com/speakers/susan_cain), introverts can “work a room” and build strong relationships.  But some introverts may choose to opt out of being participative in meetings, being present but not really “there”.  If you tell people enough times you are an introvert they will eventually stop calling for your opinion in meetings or engaging you in important discussions, which can also be a disabler to career and overall well being.  Introverts are typically strong listeners, picking up on subtexts and nuances in meetings that others (who may be more directly engaged in debate) may not.  However, this is only useful if, as an introvert, you can voice it in a meaningful way that helps the participants to see when they are speaking about exactly the same thing just in different ways (as an example).  As with extroversion, introverts also need to be mindful that with great power comes great responsibility.

Introversion and extroversion are key components to self-expression that help us (and others) to understand how we may most comfortably express ourselves.  Both can be powerful tools in fostering strong interpersonal relationships that enable others to see our authentic selves and build supportive relationships.

You can hear Carleen speak at the Institute of Professional Management Annual Conference in Ottawa on April 16th On “Women in the Workplace; Why Gender Diversity Program Fail To Meet Targets” (http://www.workplace.ca/events/event.php?id=164).


Comments are closed.

    Subscribe 

    Looking for a Blog? Search here:

    ABOUT MY BLOG

    I believe in giving back to others in many tangible ways.  When I learn something new, or see something that might help others, I share it using my blog and website.  You can always find my latest blog entries here, on Facebook or Linked In. 

    ABOUT SUBSCRIBING
    Your information will never be sold, it will be held in confidence.  You can safely unsubscribe at any time.

    View my profile on LinkedIn

    Archives

    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    October 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    December 2013

All photography on my website is courtesy of the generous artists at Pexels and Unsplash.
Book Your Career Strategy Session
Privacy Policy
Integral Coach™ is a registered trade-mark in Canada owned by Integral Coaching Canada Inc. and licensed to Carleen Hicks.

  • Work With Carleen
    • About Carleen
    • Awards
    • Career Strategy Session
    • Coaching Programs >
      • The Art of Influence at Work
      • Realize Your High Potential
      • Recognizing Your Leadership Potential >
        • Welcome to Recognizing Your Leadership Potential
      • Individual Assessments
      • Customized Coaching
    • Career Transition
    • Services for Organizations >
      • Workshops That Work >
        • Communicating Comfortably in a Virtual Setting Workshop
        • Career Health Check Workshop
        • Leading in Ambiguity Workshop
        • Accomplishing Work Through Others Workshop
        • Leading Teams Virtually Workshop
        • Working Successfully From Home Workshop
        • New Habits for Life Workshop
        • Valued Living Workshop
        • Working Resilience
        • Addressing Conflict Workshop
        • Building A Culture of Trust Workshop
        • Time Management Workshop
        • Business Intelligence of Empathy Workshop
        • Finding Your Leadership Compass Workshop
        • Foundational Conversations Workshop
        • Conscious Conversations Workshop
        • Leading with Emotional Intelligence Workshop
        • Success in A Mulitgenerational Workforce Workshop
        • Networking in A Digital Age Workshop
        • The Psychology of Decisions Workshop
        • Purpose Driven Feedback Workshop
        • Dynamic Team Communication Workshop
      • How do Virtual Workshops Work?
      • Developmental Coaching
      • Online Assessments
      • Group Facilitation
  • Client Stories
  • Blog | Everyday Potential
  • Hello Monday Videos
  • Make Your Career Merry & Bright
  • Just For You
  • Testimonials
  • Career Resources
  • Life Practices
    • I Feel Angry
    • I Feel Stuck
    • I Am Overwhelmed
    • I Need Self-Compassion
    • Emotions At Work
    • Mindfulness
    • Triggers At Work
    • Naming Emotions
    • I Feel Frustrated
  • Career Health Quiz
  • Working Life Persona Quiz
  • Connect