An introvert is a person who tends to be on the shy and quiet side. An individual who is an introvert may be reluctant to speak to others. He or she may not be willing to divulge much to other people. There are many introverts in this world who hold steady jobs. If you’re a manager or supervisor who could benefit from some guidance in managing introverted personality types, there are a number of tips that can help you considerably.
Understand the Value of Personal Boundaries
Introverts tend to take comfort in personal boundaries. They, as a result, generally don’t appreciate when others show no regard for their individual space. If you want to manage an introvert with success, it can help to establish a designated “silent zone” in your office. This can serve as a nice sanctuary for introverts who want to get away from things and spend some time on their own for a while.
Think about adding a sofa and literature to the silent zone. Introverts may want to enjoy quick snoozes there. They may even take the time to do a little reading.
Offer the Gift of Time
Introverted people tend to be individuals who do a lot of contemplation. They don’t usually communicate until they know exactly what to say. If you want to manage an introvert like a champion, you have to understand that. Don’t expect introverts to be speedy with their responses all of the time. Their minds generally don’t operate in that manner. They like to deliberate and mull things over before taking action. It can help significantly to give introverts a “heads up” whenever possible.
If there’s an office meeting on the schedule, brief everyone in advance. Tell them what to expect from the meeting. Doing so will enable introverts to plan accordingly. Never make the mistake of putting an introvert on the spot. That can lead to a lot of discomfort and awkwardness for everyone.
Curious to know how you can improve employee engagement using neuroscience? Download our free eBook on Neuroscience in the Workplace!
Stress the Importance of Team-Building Activities
Team-building activities can do so much for people who have introverted personalities. They can encourage introverts to come of their shells and cultivate them to exit their comfort zones and take chances as well. Games for teamwork building often promote healthy and effective communication practices. For example, playing the escape room game may be a fun activity for your employees. If you want to encourage an introvert you manage to come into his or her own, the escape room could be the perfect option. This game requires a lot of communication and team effort. It gives extroverts and introverts alike the invaluable opportunity to bond. That’s because the game gives them a mutual goal. Mutual goals can go a long way in extrovert and introvert communication. If an extrovert wants to learn how to communicate with an introvert, that can be great preparation. It can help him or her communicate better with other introverts in the future.
Introverted people tend to respond well to certain types of conversational flows. They generally appreciate flowing and natural dialogue that goes at a slower pace. Rapid and dynamic conversations can often make them feel stressed. If you’re interested in team building for introverts, you need to pay careful attention to communication approaches at all times.
Understand That Quiet Behavior Isn’t a Bad Thing
Quiet behavior sometimes makes people feel suspicious and uneasy. If you want to succeed in the management of an introvert, however, you have to understand that silence isn’t always a heavy concept. Silence simply is a natural state for most introverts.
Don’t interpret silence in introverts as being an act of aggression or hostility. That couldn’t be further from the truth. When an introvert doesn’t speak, it usually indicates that he’s hard at work. It can indicate that he simply has nothing to communicate at the moment, too. Don’t make your employees feel like they have to talk when the need simply isn’t there. Silence is golden.
Shut Doors
Workplaces these days are becoming increasingly more “open.” This is thought to promote successful collaboration and teamwork in employees. There are definite advantages to open door workplaces. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t any drawbacks to them, either, however. Doors that are constantly open often make introverts feel unsettled and nervous.
If you want to manage an introvert well, you should think about keeping their doors shut. Introverts often thrive on silence and being all by themselves. If you want to give your introverted employee the convenience and ease of “alone time,” shutting the door can go a long way. It may even help your employee in the productivity department.
Bottom Line : Realize That Differences Can Be a Good Thing
People are all different. There are so many diverse personality types in this world. That’s a great thing, too. Not everyone was meant to be a confident extrovert who can talk to everyone and anyone with ease. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with being an introvert. If you want to manage an introvert like an expert, you have to acknowledge the fact that differences can actually be positive.
People often have zero control over their natural personality types. That’s why it’s always 100 percent important to take the time to look for the elements that make introverts the one-of-a-kind individuals they are. The better you understand the mind of an introvert, the easier it will be for you to manage.
Download the eBook and learn how to use neuroscience to attract the right talent, retain high-performing employees and foster collaborative teams.
Image via Pexels.com
About the author
Riya is an inspired writer, passionate about traveling, lifestyle and encouraging startups. With spending her years in business administration, she understands the importance of productivity at work. Riya never stopped finding new ways to create her work productivity. Follow Riya on Twitter.
Using phrases like: “can encourage introverts to come of their shells and cultivate them to exit their comfort zones and take chances…” illustrates that you don’t really get introverts.