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It is a question I regularly get: how do I find work as an introvert that really suits me? And how do I hold my own in a more extroverted workplace. A few tips for you as an introvert.
Sales, consultancy or entrepreneurship: these are branches that many introverts quickly write off because they think it will never suit them. But nothing is less true. As an introvert you have many more qualities that determine whether or not you will feel at home in a certain place. And so it is very important to get a good overall picture of who you are and what suits you.
As a coach, I always start my trajectories with an inventory of you as a person. Who are you, what do you want and what are you good at? And do you see your qualities well enough? It can be very difficult to see what you are good at when it is something that feels natural. But that is often not so obvious for others.
Although it really differs per person where you will feel comfortable, there are a number of general things that make you feel at home as an introvert. A few things to watch out for:
Small-scale and personal
Introverts prefer one-on-one conversations over large meetings. That way they can make a deeper connection and they are not overstimulated by a large group of people. It is important to take this into account when looking for a suitable working environment. Small-scale companies where there is room for a lot of personal contact are usually the best fit. Do you work in a slightly larger company? Then it can help to work from home more often, so that you experience more peace during your working day. Of course, make sure that your day is not yet fully planned with online meetings.
People-oriented
Introverts are usually very people-oriented: they like to give others space and look for deeper connections. That quality comes in very handy in environments that are also more people-oriented. For example, think of healthcare or education. In those places you will also notice that as an introvert there is more space for you. After all, people are central there. There are also introverts who do very well in sales for this very reason. After all, they make a deeper connection, which can ensure that someone becomes a long term client.
Innovative
Research shows that introverted leaders are best at companies where innovation is important. An introverted leader naturally gives the team more room to come up with new ideas. He or she will then also want to take those ideas further. This is different from the extroverted leader, who can sometimes feel attacked by team members who come up with new ideas.
Independent
Introverts like to have a lot of independence in what they do. This gives them the space they need to use their creativity and also leads to less stimulation. Work environments where teal working or self-managing teams are the norm fit that preference very well. Think, for example, of the IT sector, where a lot of work is already done without real team leaders. An introvert can feel very comfortable in such a place. Another way to have a lot of independence is to work from home more often. That way you have more control over your working day.
Analytical
Introverts are often analytically strong. Their natural preference to look at things from multiple perspectives and to take a step back to see the whole picture makes them very good at doing so-called 'deep work'. Think of figuring things out, researching and mapping. An added benefit is that that type of work can often be done largely independently, which is another introverted preference. You will find places where this talent comes in very handy, for example within science, R&D departments, but also more strategic departments.
More Introverted Cultures
Lastly, the culture of a company is also very decisive in whether or not you feel at home. As described above, healthcare, IT and education are cultures where introverts usually thrive. But also think of everything art related or charities, for example.There's also a difference between countries. For example, Asian, African and also Eastern European countries are generally more introverted than Western European and American ones. That is also something to keep in mind when looking for a suitable working environment.
Do you want to know more about the best work environment for you? Feel free to contact me.
