Being an introvert can be a double-edged sword when it comes to creativity and self-expression.
On the one hand, we have the gift of introspection; being able to reflect and attend to our inner world is a wonderful foundation for the growth of creative ideas.Being able to work happily for hours in silence and isolation further supports this creative process.
On the other hand, our natural reticence towards sharing our most inner thoughts with strangers can block the outward expression of these creative ideas.
Being an introvert myself, I’ve often been ignored, overlooked, and dubbed “not a team player.” It does hurt. Especially when you are surrounded by over-confident extroverts who have little to no understanding of what makes us different and that being different is not necessarily a bad thing.
We all have an opportunity to make it better for ourselves by simply playing extroverts at their own game. Here are some tips on how to get started:
- Become a social introvert
Just because we are introverts doesn’t mean we are to be glued to our work desks and avoid speaking to others. While we may find it undesirable to “waste time” with small talk, there is no better way to benefit our careers than by engaging in office networking for few minutes a day. At the very least, others will notice that we exist, and we may even make a few true friends along the way. If you don’t know what to say, ask others about themselves—this strategy is always a winner.
2. Walk the walk
It’s no secret that straight posture, eye contact, and a head held high are all signs of confidence. It is also a way to make a great impression and to get noticed—the thing that introverts usually try to avoid at all costs. Research supports the idea that non-verbal communication, in the form of posture and gestures, constitutes the largest part of how others see us. More importantly, though, it is related to self-respect and self-assurance. While we don’t necessarily need to show off, we can still demand appreciation from others and assert that we are good at what we do and that we do mean business. Remember that slouching won’t make us invisible—it will only make us look insecure and give us a hefty medical bill from the subsequent back problems.
3. Play the game
It simply means one thing: learn flexibility. Yes, such advice may feel like going straight against our very nature, and it contradicts everything we stand for, but a little social chameleon-ism can, in fact, bring great benefits. In order to do this, we don’t need to change who we are or betray our principles. It merely involves showing different parts of our personality to different people so that we can better relate to them. Simply put, converse with others about things you know they are interested in. And that is really what adaptability in action is.
Being an introvert in an extrovert-dominated world is still, by no means, easy. Striving for a successful career in such a skewed environment is even more challenging. But the silver lining is that the world is not static. Public opinions have begun to shift. Research tells us over and over that introverts generally perform better and are more reliable and creative than their extroverted counterparts. Until that shift is complete, exercising some social introvert skills that still align with our personality type can help us reap the benefits of our society’s favoritism for the extrovert, outgoing personalities. By pushing ourselves a little more persistently in front of others, we can help people appreciate us for who we truly are and recognize the skills we have to bring to the table.
4. Not asking for help
Some Introverts are more staunchly independent than others. If you’re one of these introverts, then it might be hard for you to admit that there is something you can’t do for yourself.
Start here: Ask for help. It’s that simple. Make sure you’re asking the right person, of course—if it’s a work-related question, ask a coworker or your direct supervisor rather than the company’s CEO—but beyond that, I promise you it’s not that scary.
5. Always expecting others to start the conversation
Remember, even though Extraverts outnumber us (at least in the U.S.), about a third of the population is introverted. That means that there are other people who are afraid to start a conversation as well. Also, not all extraverts are the stereotypical talkative, bubby social butterflies we make them out to be, so try to be the first to initiate a conversation once in awhile.
Start here: If you’re at a gathering with 30 other people, chances are that at least 10 of them are Introverts too, and they’d probably love it if you rescued them from having to start a conversation or from a particularly overbearing, over-talkative extravert! (We Introverts have to help each other out, after all.)
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