People are sometimes reluctant to describe themselves as introverts to work colleagues due to misconceptions surrounding their personality traits.
In a professional context, it isn’t a negative characteristic, but the 30% of UK adults who believe it’s part of their makeup fear there’s a stigma attached.
On the contrary, introverts bring valuable qualities to the workplace, especially when supported in the right environment. They can be part of an effective mix of co-workers whose different personalities complement each other.
What is an introvert?
If you’ve watched any of the Addams Family TV and film franchise, you’ll have seen the perfect example of an introvert in Wednesday Addams. Since the series was created by American cartoonist Charles Addams in 1938, Wednesday has evolved from a dark and morbid child, with a fascination for the macabre, into a rounded and modern character who is highly intelligent and creative. Described by reviewers as the “ultimate introvert”, her role has been reworked to turn her into a hardworking author and musician, with a hidden passion for all that she does. She’s often found in the solitude of her room, typing away as she writes gothic mystery novels, with her best ideas forming when the environment is quiet and her roommate is away.
An introverted person’s energy is drawn from their innermost feelings and thoughts, rather than external social interactions. Usually, they prefer quiet activities in order to thrive, as prolonged socialising with a group of other people can leave them feeling drained.
Difference between introverted and extroverted
Typically, introverts in the workplace will prefer spending time alone to recharge, as they are self-reliant and are comfortable focusing on their own ideas and thoughts. They will socialise with one or two other people but are often uncomfortable in a large group.
On the other hand, extroverts in a workplace setting will thrive on social interaction, gaining energy from being around co-workers. They are typically talkative, outgoing and enjoy collaboration, feeling more comfortable and productive in an open plan office environment that fosters teamwork.
Unlike extroverts, an introvert will enjoy quiet time as a chance to think clearly, solve challenges and be creative. The high levels of noise that may suit others can prove distracting, impacting their performance and energy negatively. However, this doesn’t mean introverts can’t work well with extroverts. This is shown by Wednesday Addams forming a firm bond with her extrovert roommate, Enid, as they collaborate to solve a mystery, dispelling the myth that introverts work better with other introverted people. The two personality types can actually complement each other, with each person excelling at particular tasks, their individual strengths combining to form a strong and diverse team.
A flexible workspace office environment can provide an ideal setting for collaboration between the two personality types, as when each is allocated tasks within their own skills zone, they can form a high-performing unit. Being based in serviced office space in London can support introverted employees, providing workspaces with both quiet and collaborative areas and boosting overall productivity. An example could be running a workshop for a client, when an extroverted employee might lead the session and their more introverted colleague might analyse the workshop and give feedback to the client.
Managing introverts in the workplace
An adept manager will have the relevant skills set to manage employees like Wednesday Addams by focusing on their optimum working environment, as they bring valuable qualities to the workplace when supported well.
Introversion commonly means being independent and having a dislike of unnecessary noise and small talk. It’s important to debunk the myths too, as introverts aren’t shy, antisocial or poor team players. In reality, they prefer deep work, thoughtful communication and low stimulation environments.
Open plan offices and constant interruptions can de-energise introverts, so flexible office space in London offers solutions such as quiet areas and flexible layouts to support focus and mental wellbeing for all. Understanding team personalities, such as Wednesday’s, by respecting focus time and different working methods leads to better all-round results.
Benefits of introverts in the workplace
An introvert’s personality may be mistaken for a lack of interest, as they seldom voice their passion in public. However, Wednesday Addams shows intense passion when feeling inspired, especially through her love of music when playing the cello.
While an extrovert will be openly enthusiastic about a topic, an introvert will be more likely to be fully focused on the task in hand and invested in the outcome, to the point of excluding all external distractions from their consciousness. This is a positive trait, as they will shine in certain scenarios, being natural problem solvers due to their deep-thinking skills. Wednesday becomes almost obsessed with trying to find out the answer to a mystery and uses her quiet powers of observation, deduction, curiosity and resourcefulness to find out all she needs to know. She speaks less in some situations, but rather than this being down to aloofness, she is actually taking in and analysing information, making connections.
It is commonly thought that an introvert is lacking in confidence, due to the fact they tend to speak less and don’t self-promote in the same way an extrovert might. As Wednesday Addams shows, an introvert has an inner confidence and belief in themselves: being quiet should never be mistaken for a lack of confidence, as it usually means exactly the opposite.
© Cinematic / Alamy Stock Photo
