Introverts have always been criticized of being lonely, shy etc. Its worth mentioning Marti Laney description of an introvert “as someone who is a good listener, who enjoys time alone, appears calm and is self contained.”
Introversion is not the same as shyness, though introverts may also be shy. Introverts choose solitary over social activities by preference, whereas shy people avoid social encounters out of fear.
4.0 INTROVERT PERSONALITY AND WORK
The various characteristics of an introvert personality have been studied and debated with various conclusions. However a few characteristics are a vital and cannot be overlooked as a characteristic.
4.1 Introverts are more private, and less public
The characteristic of an introvert brings out a process of their emotions, thoughts, and observations internally. Many a time introverts are found to be social people; but reveal less than extroverts do. Introverts take their time to think before they respond or react in a given situation, and develop their ideas by reflecting privately. Introverts' personality traits are in general passionate, but not aggressive. In short, they are more private, and less public.
However at workplace, when boss or a senior asks for the status or an explanation for a pending assignment, it will be considered impertinent on the part of an employee to be silent. The employee is expected to speak up and be answerable. It is highly empirical that an introvert will not be selected or cannot sustain a job involving public contact. Silence will not be granted for introversion of an individual.
4.2 Introverts are shy and quiet?
Some introverts aren't stereotypically shy and can strike up conversations with anyone; they do talk and listen to people. However, most introverts avoid striking a conversation with someone. In comparison to out going natured people, Introverts lack the tactic of talking up by themselves. They'd rather have meaningful conversations about the depths of human souls and minds, but find few opportunities (those aren't the usual conversations at work during regular briefings or board room meetings).
While working in a company any good role involving public contact, it is a part of the normal routine to make presentations. Introversion of an individual will make the audience of the presentation raise questions on the ability of the individual. This can result in high levels of demotivation and can result in side lining of the employee during presentations.
4.3 Introverts and motivation
Being self motivated calls for a good dosage of positively aggressive behaviour at work place. Introverts would find it highly difficult to be self motivated. In a job where it involves regular public contact, it would be quite normal to encourage and appreciate people around. It would be next to impossible to expect introverts to do so. The very fact and reason that introverts need a push to motivate themselves, rules out any chances of motivating others.
Such individuals will find it highly difficult to gain avenue growth in the organizational ladder. At higher levels in the organization it is quite understandable to have good leadership qualities. Introverts because of their silence will be understood to lack self confidence.
4.4 Introverts and Self Confidence
Introverts in general fear accepting responsibility. They avoid taking ownership of responsibilities. They suggest their brains on how out going confident persons are. They never less often motivate themselves to be confident; but are rather obvious to question ‘Can I’ or ‘Why am I not’.
This lack of confidence puts them in a back seat of confidence. In the journey of career, confidence is like the steering. If there is good confidence in hands, the journey will be in full throttle. If the steering (confidence) is missing, then no one knows when the car (job) is gonna crash.
4.5 Introverts and leadership
Introverts lack self confidence and authority. They take no responsibility of actions. Being a good leader calls for leading 999 men amongst the group of 1000. Introverts are in constant search for a leader to guide them with vision. Leadership skills calls for choosing a vision and goal and consistently be the reason or driving force to achieve the same.
However it is difficult for a person with low self confidence to develop leadership skills. At a job involving public contact, it is apparent that fellow colleagues will expect coordination leadership and support from their boss. Lack of leadership skills of an individual; results in junior and fellow colleagues basing a grudge and dislike. In all these cases, it is the introvert employee at work place whose integrity and leadership skills are at stake.
5.0 REPURCUSIONS OF BEING INTROVERT
Being introvert is not something which is uncommon. Introversion is not a disease; it’s a state of mind. In the fast moving world, it is very important to move faster than ones inner self. Introverts tend to live at a pace close to their inner self. However in a job involving public contact, it calls for being out going and interactive. It is necessary to respect an individual person’s privacy within himself; but privacy to inner self should not affect work and performance in any way.
For instance at work place, it involves lots of interaction with new people, faces, voices, and characters. An introduction to so many new varieties results in heavy load on the head of introverts. It becomes nerve wrecking for them to make any cold calls of marketing. They cannot make new relationships in business or work very easily. This results in hindering them from growth of business and their career as well.
In a job involving public contact, say public relations, it’s a part and parcel of the job responsibilities to interact with various publics of the organization. This includes the media, share holders and other stakeholders in an organization. But introverts will find it highly difficult to sustain and survive in this job, success being a second question. Handling so many people in a single day will tire them out instantly. The very fact of public interaction tires them out.
Managerial level decisions require tones of confidence and responsibility assumption. Introverts run miles away from responsibility of actions. They fear being given responsibility of decisions. Taking decisions can be disastrous to them. The confidence required for the decision making process tires them out.
However this does not imply that an introvert will or will not take a good decision. But the time taken by introvert to take a good decision is much longer than that of an extrovert. This is due to the lack of interaction and information in hand with an introvert. If the same is done with much faster pace, it would make decision making at work place much smoother and responsible.
On a long run, every employee in an organisation is expected to have some degree of vision and goal set for him. This is required by the company to keep the employee motivated to work that extra mile of performance. The company expects of its employees to be individuals who can be better managers and future leaders.
It is obvious of them to expect this from their employees. Companies in the public domain and interaction are in constant lookout for people who are zestful, passionate and have a go get it attitude. Introverts lack the very basic qualities of eligibility in this context. They need a push of motivation than leading a team. Introverts prefer being a part of the team than leading it. Leadership is like an added burden to their already loaded task list. This on a long run calls for rectification in a company where there is constant public contact.
6.0 CONCLUSION
In a world where everything moves at a pace where wink of an eye is a moment, it is taken for granted that introversion can lead to failure. However derogatory it sounds, most situations record the success of extroverts to quite an extent. Introverts take decisions after deep thinking, and are firm and less speculative in their decisions. They believe in ‘slow and steady wins the race’ procedure of life. The formula of success in the job world today is ‘fast and steady wins the race’.
As a requisite, a combination of confidence, leadership skills, out going nature, easy conversation and many such factor which are very bleakly present in an introvert’s personality; may lag them behind in the race at job. All jobs involve interaction and public contact. Introversion does not mean end of life or career but it is rather advisable for an individual to involve himself towards extroversion for better results in career and personal life.
REFERENCES
-
CIO. Introversion - Myers. October 1, 1995. http://www.cio.com/CIO/oct_01_95_myers.html (accessed January 2, 2008).
-
Huczynski, Andrzej, and David Buchanan. Organizational Behvaiour, An Introductory Text. Second Edition. Hemel Hempstead: Prentice Hall, 1991.
-
Kagan, J, and E Havemann. Psychology : An Introduction. Third Edition. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1976.
-
Whitten, Meredith. Psych Central - All About Shyness. August 21, 2001. http://psychcentral.com/library/shyness.htm (accessed January 5, 2008).
