There’s been a lot of discussion about introversion and extroversion in the media lately. But how do these different personality types relate to our careers and our work environments? Turns out, introverts and extroverts benefit from different work environments. It’s also beneficial for the company as a whole to have introverts and extroverts work together, because of their different strengths. The challenge is to create a work environment that is comfortable for everyone, no matter where they are on the introversion/extroversion spectrum.
Here’s a brief definition of these different personality types, in case you weren’t previously aware: extroverts draw energy from other people and from social situations, introverts draw energy from within. Ambiverts are defined as people who are in the middle, who don’t fall completely into either category. Many people misinterpret the definitions of introvert and extrovert to have to do with social skills and shyness, but that is actually false; many people are introverted but are also quite social.
So how can we accommodate both introverts and extroverts in the work environment? The first thing to do, especially if you are in a management position, is to find out which category your employees fall into. This can be done with a quick quiz during the onboarding process. Then you can raise awareness of the different social needs of introverts and extroverts. Introverts often need more privacy than extroverts, for example, and work better on solo projects than in teams. They learn better in one on one situations, and like to observe a situation before taking action. This can be incorporated into the workplace by giving introverts solo projects, and assigning them to workspaces that are more private. They can also really benefit from solo mentorship.
Extroverts, on the other hand, need social interaction to do their best, and will really shine when working in teams. They need to be able to talk through issues and ideas with others, and benefit most from learning through group work. To support extroverts at work, let them work together in open plan offices, and encourage collaboration. Give them opportunities to speak up and contribute as much as you can – it will help them get their creative juices flowing.
This isn’t to say that introverts can’t be social and extroverts can’t work alone. No one is completely introverted or extroverted – we are all unique individuals with different skill sets. Everyone can learn to adapt to a new environment, and develop new skills outside of their comfort zone. The trick is to give people opportunities to work outside their comfort zone, without pushing too fast. Over time, introverts may find that they actually do well in group settings like meetings and presentations when they’ve had practice and encouragement to make them feel comfortable. Likewise, extroverts may surprise themselves by completing large solo projects when given the opportunity and encouragement. The key is to just be aware of how different personality types function, and provide opportunities that will make every employee feel like their work is valued.
